Set up logic for dual interface wireless IP communication device

• US 20050002367A1
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tordera, Virgil Flores
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

A communication interface device includes a wireless Internet packet (IP) transceiver and a PCMCIA card electrically connected to the transceiver. Also, a universal serial bus (USB) connector is plugged into a hub that holds the PCMCIA card, with a cord extending from the USB connector and terminating in another USB connector. Accordingly, the device can be engaged with the PCMCIA bay of a user terminal or, if a user terminal has no PCMCIA bay, with a USB receptacle of the user terminal, to establish wireless communication. To simplify set-up, a CD containing all operating system versions of PCMCIA and USB drivers is engaged with the user terminal. The terminal'"'"'s operating system is then automatically determined, and only the drivers associated with that operating system are loaded onto the terminal.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user terminal to use a communication interface device having at least one personal computer memory card interface architecture (PCMCIA) interface and at least one universal serial bus (USB) interface, comprising:

engaging a storage device with the user terminal, the storage device containing plural PCMCIA drivers, each associated with a respective operating system, the storage device also containing plural USB drivers, each associated with a respective operating system;

automatically determining an operating system of the user terminal;

automatically loading a PCMCIA driver and a USB driver onto the user terminal in accordance with the determining act; and

undertaking wireless Internet packet (IP) communication using at least one of the drivers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user set-up prompt to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically defining a driver directory, prior to the loading act.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising undertaking diagnostic monitoring after the loading act.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the acts of determining and loading do not require user input regarding a type of operating system on the user terminal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a user set-up prompt to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising automatically defining a driver directory, prior to the loading act.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising undertaking diagnostic monitoring after the loading act.

9. A computer program product engageable with a user terminal, comprising:

plural first communication interface driver means, each being correlated to a respective operating system;

plural second communication interface driver means, each being correlated to a respective operating system;

logic means for determining a type of operating system used by the terminal; and

logic means responsive to the means for determining for providing at least one first communication interface driver means and at least one second communication interface driver means to the user terminal.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the means for providing provides one and only one first communication interface driver means and one and only one second communication interface driver means to the user terminal.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising means for providing a user set-up prompt to the user.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising means for automatically defining a driver directory.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising means for undertaking diagnostic monitoring.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the means for determining and providing do not require user input regarding a type of operating system on the user terminal.

15. A user terminal for providing wireless IP communication using an interface device having at least first and second communication interfaces, comprising:

at least one operating system; and

a computer program determining a type of the operating system without receiving any user input indicating the type and in response automatically loading at least first and second device drivers associated with the first and second communication interfaces without any user input regarding driver types.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the program automatically establishes a device directory using the operating system prior to loading the drivers.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the program provides a user set-up prompt to the user.