Embedded user interface in a communication device

• US 20030231206A1
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jennifer Phoebe Armstrong
• Original Assignee: Jennifer Phoebe Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, Jennifer Phoebe
• Application Number:
  US10/423,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

An embedded user interface within a communication device communicates with a user'"'"'s computer for configuring Internet access, troubleshooting Internet service, and controlling user access to the Internet. Upon receiving a request to provide content from the Internet, the communication device determines if Internet access is available. If the communication device is not connected or the Internet connection is already in use, the device returns a web page generated locally within the communication device. Otherwise, the request is delivered via a broadband connection.

Claims

1. A system for providing a user interface for a hardware communication device comprising:

the hardware communication device including a processor for providing an embedded user interface, the hardware device operative for providing data communications between a user computer and a communication network;

the processor associated with the hardware communication device, the processor operative, prior to configuration of the hardware communication device, to intercept n network request provided by a user'"'"'s computer and return an embedded HTML document associated with a host device IP address wherein the embedded HTML document comprises the embedded user interface;

the embedded user interface being operative for prompting an input of user configuration information; and

the processor operative to store the user configuration information in memory associated with the processor.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the processor operative to determine if access to a wide area network is currently available; and

the embedded user interface being operative for displaying troubling shooting information directed to establishing access.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the processor operative to determine if an additional computer is requesting access to a wide area network;

the embedded user interface being operative for authenticating access privileges to the wide area network; and

if the access privileges are authenticated, controlling the wide area access of any computer.

4. A system for providing a user interface for a hardware communication device comprising:

the hardware communication device including an embedded user interface, the hardware device operative for providing data communications between a user computer and a communication network;

a processor associated with the hardware communication device, the processor operative to determine if access to a wide area network is currently available;

if access is not available;

the processor is operative to intercept a network request provided by a user'"'"'s computer and return an embedded HTML document associated with a hardware communication device IP address wherein the embedded HTML document comprises the embedded user interface;

the embedded user interface being operative for displaying troubling shooting information directed to establishing access.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

the processor operative to determine if the communication device has been configured;

the embedded user interface being operative for prompting an input of user configuration information; and

the processor operative to store the user configuration information in memory associated with the processor.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

the processor operative to determine if an additional computer is requesting access to a wide area network;

the embedded user interface being operative for authenticating access privileges to the wide area network; and

if the access privileges are authenticated, controlling the wide area access of any computer.

7. A system for providing a user interface for a hardware communication device comprising:

the hardware communication device including an embedded user interface, the hardware device operative for providing data communications between a user computer and a communication network;

a processor associated with the hardware communication device, the processor operative to determine if an additional computer is requesting access to a wide area network;

if an additional computer is requesting access;

the processor is operative to intercept a netowrk request provided by the additional computer and return an embedded HTML document associated with a hardware communication device IP address wherein the embedded HTML document comprises the embedded user interface;

the embedded user interface being operative for authenticating access privileges to the wide area network;

if the access privileges are authenticated, controlling the wide area access of any computer.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

the processor operative to determine if access to a wide area network is currently available; and

the embedded user interface being operative for displaying troubling shooting information directed to establishing access.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

the processor operative to determine if the communication device has been configured;

the embedded user interface being operative for prompting an input of user configuration information; and

the processor operative to store the user configuration information in memory associated with the processor.

10. A method for providing a user interface for a hardware communication device comprising the steps of:

generating an embedded user interface;

prior to configuration of the hardware communication device, intercepting a network request provided by a user'"'"'s computer and returning an embedded HTML document associated with a host device IP address wherein the embedded HTML document comprises the embedded user interface;

prompting an input of user configuration information; and

storing the user configuration information in memory associated with the processor.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

determining if access to a wide area network is currently available; and

displaying troubling shooting information directed to establishing access.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

determining if an additional computer is requesting access to a wide area network;

authenticating access privileges to the wide area network; and

if the access privileges are authenticated, controlling the wide area access of any computer.

13. A method for providing a user interface for a hardware communication device comprising the steps of:

generating an embedded user interface;

determining if access to a wide area network is currently available;

if access is not available;

intercepting a network request provided by a user'"'"'s computer and returning an embedded HTML document associated with a hardware communication device IP address wherein the embedded HTML document comprises the embedded user interface;

displaying troubling shooting information directed to establishing access.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

determining if the communication device has been configured;

prompting an input of user configuration information; and

storing the user configuration information in memory associated with the processor.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

determining if an additional computer is requesting access to a wide area network;

authenticating access privileges to the wide area network; and

if the access privileges are authenticated, controlling the wide area access of any computer.

16. A method for providing a user interface for a hardware communication device comprising the steps of:

providing an embedded user interface;

determining if an additional computer is requesting access to a wide area network;

if an additional computer is requesting access, intercepting a network request provided by the additional computer and returning an embedded HTML document associated with a hardware communication device IP address wherein the embedded HTML document comprises the embedded user interface;

authenticating access privileges to the wide area network;

if the access privileges are authenticated, controlling the wide area access of any computer.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

determining if access to a wide area network is currently available; and

displaying troubling shooting information directed to establishing access.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising steps of:

determining if the communication device has been configured;

prompting an input of user configuration information; and

storing the user configuration information in memory associated with the processor.

19. A method for communication management comprising the steps of:

receiving a network request to access a wide area network wherein the wide area network is not available to receive the request; and

returning a response generated locally that associates the local host address instead of providing the requested content associated with the requested address.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of returning a response comprises:

providing an embedded user interface, wherein the embedded user interface requests configuration information; and

transmitting the embedded user interface to a computer that originated the request.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of returning a response comprises:

testing segments of a the wide area network;

providing an embedded user interface, wherein the embedded user interface provides troubleshooting information.

transmitting the embedded user interface to a computer that originated the request.