System, computer program product and method for managing and controlling a local network of electronic devices and reliably and securely adding an electronic device to the network

• US 20060161664A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tetsuro Motoyama
• Original Assignee: Tetsuro Motoyama
• Inventors: Motoyama, Tetsuro
• Granted Patent: US 7,500,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system method and computer program product for setting up a wireless electronic device to join a wireless local area network (LAN). The method upon which the system and computer program product is based includes sending a setup request from the wireless electronic device to a control device, the setup request including a request to be added to the wireless LAN, and receiving at the wireless device a data package from the control device, the data package including network information necessary for the wireless device to join the wireless LAN. The network information are then executed at the wireless device to establish a wireless connection to an access point of the wireless LAN. The setup request may be sent at a low power to ensure that only the control device in close proximity can receive the request. After the wireless connection to the LAN is established, the wireless electronic device resumes full power communications.

Claims

1. A method of using a hand held control device to set a wireless electronic device to join a wireless personal area network comprising:

accessing from the wireless electronic device to the hand held control device via a limited access connection and requiring the wireless electronic device to be added to the wireless personal area network;

receiving at the wireless device a data package from the hand held control device, the data package including network information necessary for the wireless device to join the wireless personal area network; and

utilizing the network information at the wireless device to establish a full access wireless connection to an access point of the wireless personal area network, wherein said full access wireless connection is not provided via said hand held control device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessing step comprises:

sending information identifying the wireless personal area network that the wireless device is required to be added to; and

sending information identifying the type of wireless device required to be added to the wireless personal area network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiving step comprises receiving network protocol software operable on the wireless electronic device identified and compatible with the personal area network identified.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said accessing step comprises sending information requesting optional network services for the wireless electronic device; and

said receiving step comprises receiving network information necessary to obtain the optional network services of the wireless personal area network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said optional network services include at least one of encryption and backup storage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessing comprises sending a setup request from the wireless electronic device to the control device by way of a hard wired medium that provides limited access to the wireless electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessing comprises sending a setup request from the wireless electronic device to the control device by way of a wireless medium that provides limited access to the wireless electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said sending a setup request by way of a wireless medium comprises sending a wireless setup request to the control device at a low power corresponding to a predetermined range of communication less than a full communication range of the wireless device such that the control device must be within the predetermined range to receive the setup request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said predetermined communication range is approximately one meter.

18. A computer readable storage medium containing program instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to perform the steps in the method recited in any one of claims 1-17, 32-33 and 35-36.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessing comprises sending a setup request from at least one of an office equipment, an entertainment device, an appliance, or an environmental control device.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the hand held control device is not part of the wireless personal area network.

10. A method of using a hand held control device to set up a wireless electronic device to join a wireless personal area network comprising:

receiving at the hand held control device an access request from the wireless electronic device via a limited access connection, said access request requiring the wireless electronic device to be added to the wireless personal area network;

creating in the hand held device a data package including network information necessary for the wireless electronic device to join the wireless personal area network via a full access wireless connection that is not provided via said hand held control device; and

sending the data package from the hand held control device to the wireless electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein

said receiving step comprises:

receiving information identifying the wireless personal area network that the wireless electronic device is required to be added to, and

receiving information identifying the type of wireless device required to be added to the wireless personal area network; and

said creating step comprises creating a data package including network protocol software operable on the wireless electronic device identified and compatible with the personal area network identified.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

said receiving step comprises receiving information requesting optional network services for the wireless device; and

said sending step comprises sending network information necessary to obtain the optional network services of the wireless personal area network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said optional network services include at least one of encryption and backup storage.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said receiving comprises receiving an access request from the wireless electronic device via a hard wired medium that provides limited access to the wireless access device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said receiving comprises receiving a wireless access request from the wireless electronic device via a wireless medium that provides limited access to the wireless access device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving comprises:

locating the control device within a predetermined range of communication less than a full communication range of the wireless electronic device; and

receiving a wireless setup request transmitted at a low power corresponding to said predetermined range of communication.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said predetermined communication range is approximately one meter.

33. The method of claim 10, wherein said accessing comprises sending a setup request from at least one of an office equipment, an entertainment device, an appliance, or an environmental control device.

36. The method of claim 10, wherein the hand held control device is not part of the wireless personal area network.

19. A wireless electronic device comprising:

a memory device having embodied therein, data related to setting up the wireless electronic device to join a wireless personal area network; and

a processor in communication with said memory device, said processor configured to;

access a hand held control device via a limited access connection, and require the wireless electronic device to be added to the wireless personal area network;

receive a data package from the hand held control device, the data package including network information necessary for the wireless device to join the wireless personal area network; and

utilize the network information to establish a full access wireless connection to an access point of the wireless personal area network, wherein said full access wireless connection is not provided via said hand held control device.

20. The wireless electronic device of claim 19, wherein said processor is configured to access the hand held device by:

sending information identifying the wireless personal area network that the wireless device is requesting to be added to; and

sending information identifying the type of wireless device requesting to be added to the wireless personal area network.

21. The wireless electronic device of claim 20, wherein said processor is configured to receive a data package by receiving network protocol software operable on the wireless device identified and compatible with the personal area network identified.

22. The wireless electronic device of claim 19, wherein:

said processor is configured to access the hand held device by sending information requesting optional network services for the wireless electronic device; and

said processor is configured to receive a data package by receiving network information necessary to obtain the optional network services of the wireless personal area network.

23. The wireless electronic device of claim 19, wherein said processor is configured to access the hand held device via a hard wired medium that limits access to the wireless electronic device.

24. The wireless electronic device of claim 19, wherein said processor is configured to access the hand held device via a wireless medium that provides limited access to the wireless electronic device.

25. The wireless electronic device of claim 24, wherein said processor is configured to control the wireless transmit power of the wireless electronic device so as to send the wireless setup request to the control device at a low power corresponding to a predetermined range of communication less than a full communication range of the wireless electronic device such that the control device must be within the predetermined range to receive the setup request.

26. The wireless electronic device of claim 25, wherein said predetermined communication range is approximately one meter.

34. The wireless electronic device of claim 19, wherein the wireless electronic device comprises at least one of an office equipment, an entertainment device, an appliance, and an environmental control device.

37. The wireless electronic device of claim 19, wherein the hand held control device is not part of the wireless personal area network.

27. A hand held control device comprising

a memory device having embodied therein, data related to using the hand held control device to set up a wireless electronic device to join a personal local area network;

and

a processor in communication with said memory device, said processor configured to;

receive an access request from the wireless electronic device via a limited access connection, and require the wireless electronic device to be added to the wireless personal area network;

create a data package including network information necessary for the wireless electronic device to join the wireless personal area network via a full access connection that is not provided via said hand held control device; and

send the data package to the wireless electronic device.

28. The control device of claim 27, wherein

said processor is configured to receive an access request by:

receiving information identifying the wireless personal area network that the wireless electronic device is required to be added to, and

receiving information identifying the type of wireless device required to be added to the wireless personal area network; and

said processor is configured to create a data package by creating a data package including network protocol software operable on the wireless electronic device identified and compatible with the personal area network identified.

29. The control device of claim 27, wherein:

said processor is configured to receive an access request by receiving information requesting optional network services for the wireless device; and

said processor is configured to send a data package including information necessary to obtain the optional network services of the wireless personal area network.

30. The control device of claim 27, wherein said processor is configured to send the access request via a hard wired connection that provides limited access to the wireless access device.

31. The control device of claim 27, wherein said processor is configured to receive the access request via a wireless connection that provides limited access to the wireless access device.

38. The hand held control device of claim 27, wherein the hand held control device is not part of said wireless personal area network.