Transporting a WAN configuration from a PC to a residential gateway

• US 20030212773A1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Gary E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program enabling a client device to transfer a network configuration from a broadband modem to a residential gateway in a simple, user friendly process. This provides a simple installation procedure for a user. A different network switch such as a router, bridge, or brouter may be used instead of a residential gateway. The method may be implemented through a single command or single small set of user commands, such as through a pull down menu or an icon on the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method of replacing a direct connection of a client device for network communications with a connection through a network switch, comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication connection between the client device and the network switch through network communications; and

automatically transferring all network configuration settings of the client device to the network switch, the client device either responding to a query generated by the network switch or responding to a user input prompt command made from a user interface of the client device to accomplish the step of automatically transferring all network configuration settings of the client device to the network switch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is a personal computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network switch is a residential gateway.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically transferring all network configuration settings of the client device occurs through a computer program resident on the client device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a user interface allows the user to initiate the step of automatically transferring through a single command.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the single command is found in one of several nested levels of menus on the user interface.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the single command is typed in by the user on the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented through computer code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer code is preinstalled on the PC.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer code is found on a removable medium inserted into the PC.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer code is downloaded from a secure site on the web.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer code is launched by activating an icon.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer code is activated by a single command found in a pull down menu of a graphical user interface.

14. A system for allowing a user to replace a direct connection of a client device for network communications with a connection through a network switch, comprising:

a client device having a monitor having a screen which is capable of displaying a graphical user interface and a processor; and

a network switch coupled to the client device,

wherein the user through either a single command or a small number of commands, causes the replacement of the direct connection with a connection through the network switch.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein software instructions for implementing the command or small number of commands reside in a memory coupled to the processor of the client device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory is a read only memory.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the read only memory is an electrically erasable read only memory.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory is a random access memory.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the client device and the network switch communicate in a handshake mode.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the replacement operates by a method which includes the steps of

establishing a communication connection between the client device and the network switch;

and

automatically transferring all network configuration settings of the client device to the network switch, the client device either responding to a query generated by the network switch or responding to a user input prompt command made from a user interface of the client device.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the network switch is a residential gateway which does not contain an integrated broadband modem.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the client device is a personal computer.

23. A computer program of machine readable instructions, comprising code to perform the following steps:

establishing a communication connection between a client device and a network switch; and

automatically transferring all network configuration settings of the client device to the network switch, the client device either responding to a query generated by the network switch or responding to a user input prompt command made from a user interface of the client device.

24. The computer program of claim 23, wherein the code further comprises:

determining whether there is a connection on a port of the network switch from the client device;

if there is a connection on the port, then determining whether the network switch has already been configured for that port; and

if the network switch has not already been configured for that port, then transmitting the network configuration settings.

25. The computer program of claim 24, wherein the client device transmits the network configuration settings in response to no more than ten user commands.

26. The computer program of claim 25, wherein the client device transmits the entire network configuration settings in response to a single user command.

33. The residential gateway of claim 24, wherein the residential gateway contains no broadband modem.

27. A residential gateway for connecting one or more personal computers to a network, comprising:

an enclosure;

a processor within the enclosure;

a memory within the enclosure coupled to the processor;

one or more ports, communicatively linked to the processor and located on the enclosure, each of the one or more ports adapted for connecting a single client device to the residential gateway; and

a network port, communicatively linked to the processor and located on the enclosure, for connecting to a network,

wherein the residential gateway contains a software program which allows a user on the client device to transmit the client device'"'"'s entire network configuration settings to the residential gateway through a single command.

28. The residential gateway of claim 27, wherein the one or more ports are four in number.

29. The residential gateway of claim 27, wherein the one or more ports are eight in number.

30. The residential gateway of claim 27, wherein the ports are wireless ports.

31. The residential gateway of claim 30, wherein the wireless ports are radio frequency ports.

32. The residential gateway of claim 30, wherein the wireless ports are infrared ports.