Method and system for configuring an electronic device

• US 20060101456A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chandley, Adrian M., Crosier, Dale C., Westerinen, William J., Manchester, Scott, Ledbetter, Carl J., Kaneko, Steven T., Nick, Benjamin, Phillips, Thomas G., DeMaio, Pasquale, Beck, Taryn K., Adams, Aditha M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a new device are disclosed. The method includes using a host system to create a configuration file including data useable to configure the new device. A portable storage device is interfaced to the host and the configuration file is transferred to the storage device. The storage device is then interfaced to the new device and the configuration file is transferred to the new device. The configuration file is optionally used to configure the new device for communication over a network. A method for configuring the new device using a direct connection between the new device and a system bus of the host is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a new device using a host computer having configuration data and a portable storage device, wherein the portable storage device is adapted to interface to the host and the new device and to transfer data therebetween, comprising:

interfacing the portable storage device to the host computer;

determining whether the portable storage device includes device specific data, wherein the device specific data uniquely identifies the new device;

selecting first configuration data to be included in a configuration file;

wherein the configuration data is useable by the new device; and

storing a copy of the configuration file on the portable storage device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of interfacing the portable storage device to the new device and storing a copy of the configuration file on the new device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration data includes a network identification and a shared secret, further comprising the step of using, by the new device, the shared secret to facilitate secure communication over the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device includes an RF tag and the host includes an interface adapted to read and write to the RF tag, further comprising the step of reading, by the host, the device specific data from the RF tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device includes an RF tag and the host includes an interface adapted to read and write to the RF tag, further comprising the step of writing the configuration file to the RF tag.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of identifying second configuration data specific to the new device and modifying the configuration file to include the second configuration data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the configuration data further includes identification of a network location wherein third configuration data is stored, further comprising the step of, accessing, by the new device, the third configuration data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device comprises a first connector and a second connector and wherein the first and second connectors are of different types.

9. A method for configuring a new device using a portable storage device, wherein the portable storage device includes a set of configuration files, comprising:

determining that the set of configuration files includes at least one useable configuration file, wherein the at least one useable configuration file includes data suitable for configuring one or more features of the new device;

loading the at least one useable configuration file into the new device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the useable configuration file includes network configuration data, comprising identification of at least one network, further comprising:

initiating, by the new device, communication over the network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the useable configuration file includes identification of a security protocol and a key value, and wherein the communication over the network is a secure communication that uses the key value.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the set of configuration files includes a plurality of useable configuration files, further comprising:

selecting one of the plurality of configuration files as the at least one useable configuration file.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selecting step is based upon a switch setting on the portable storage device.

14. A method for providing data to identify an electronic device to a host computer as part of a device configuration process using a portable storage device, comprising:

first interfacing the portable storage device to the new device;

determining that the portable storage device lacks a useable configuration file having data useable to configure the new device;

identifying device specific data, wherein the device specific data uniquely identifies the electronic device;

storing the device specific data on the portable storage device;

interfacing the portable storage device to the host computer;

reading, at the host, the device specific data from the portable storage device;

creating a useable configuration file based on the device specific data;

second interfacing the portable storage device to the new device; and

loading the useable configuration file onto the new device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the device specific data is includes identification of a product name and model number.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

searching a network for configuration data based on the device specific data to be included in the useable configuration file.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the network is an internal network.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the device specific data is a serial number.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the device specific data is a MAC address.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the device specific data is an RF identification code.

17. The method of clam 16, wherein the network is the Internet and the search of the network includes searching a web site of the manufacturer of the new device.