Bootstrapping devices using automatic configuration services

• US 20060168167A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Chharba, Jasmeet, Hazra, Mousumi, Krishnamurthy, Lakshman, Kushalnagar, Nandakishore
• Granted Patent: US 8,085,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to attempting to automatically configure an unconfigured device utilizing a previously configured device and, more specifically, to attempting to bootstrap a universal plug-and-play (UPnP) access point utilizing a previously configured access point

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a wireless mesh network comprising:

establishing communication between a configured device and an unconfigured device;

attempting to discover a configuration server running on the configured device; and

utilizing the configuration server, attempting to automatically configure the unconfigured device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communication includes establishing point-to-point communication between the configured and unconfigured devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing point-to-point communication includes establishing communication via a wired cable.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein establishing communication includes:

connecting the configured device and unconfigured device via a wired cable;

detecting the connection; and

detecting that the connection has disconnected and then reconnected.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing communication includes utilizing a secure out-of-band channel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein attempting to discover a configuration server includes utilizing a protocol substantially compliant with the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) family of protocols.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein attempting to automatically configure the unconfigured device includes attempting to configure the unconfigured device such that the device may operate within the same wireless mesh network as the configured device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein attempting to automatically configure the unconfigured device includes making a single request to the configuration server to configure the unconfigured device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the single request includes an action that allows for setting all the configuration data necessary to bootstrap the unconfigured device into the wireless mesh network utilizing a variable list of parameters.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the unconfigured device is properly configured; and

if the device is not properly configured, providing a physical indication that a proper configuration of the unconfigured device needs to occur.

17. The article of claim 11, wherein the instructions providing for attempting to automatically configure the unconfigured device includes instructions providing for attempting to configure the unconfigured device such that the device may operate within the same wireless mesh network as the configured device.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the instructions providing for attempting to automatically configure the unconfigured device includes instructions providing for making a single request to the configuration server to configure the unconfigured device.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the single request includes an action that allows for setting all the configuration data necessary to bootstrap the unconfigured device into the wireless mesh network utilizing a variable list of parameters.

11. An article comprising:

a machine accessible medium having a plurality of machine accessible instructions, for attempting to optimize code layout, wherein when the instructions are executed, the instructions provide for, facilitating a wireless mesh network comprising;

establishing communication between a configured device and an unconfigured device;

attempting to discover a configuration server running on the configured device; and

utilizing the configuration server, attempting to automatically configure the unconfigured device.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the instructions providing for establishing communication includes instructions providing for establishing point-to-point communication between the configured and unconfigured devices.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the instructions providing for establishing point-to-point communication includes instructions providing for establishing communication via a wired cable.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions providing for establishing communication includes instructions providing for:

connecting the configured device and unconfigured device via a wired cable;

detecting the connection; and

detecting that the connection has disconnected and then reconnected.

15. The article of claim 12, wherein the instructions providing for establishing communication includes instructions providing for utilizing a secure out-of-band channel.

16. The article of claim 11, wherein the instructions providing for attempting to discover a configuration server includes instructions providing for utilizing a protocol substantially compliant with the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) family of protocols.

20. The article of claim 11, further comprising instructions providing for:

determining if the unconfigured device is properly configured; and

if the device is not properly configured, providing a physical indication that a proper configuration of the unconfigured device needs to occur.

21. An apparatus capable of facilitating a wireless mesh network comprising:

a transceiver capable of communicating via a wireless protocol;

configuration data capable of facilitating the operation of the apparatus within a wireless network; and

a configuration client capable of;

attempting to discover a configuration server running on a configured device; and

utilizing the configuration server, attempting to automatically configure the apparatus.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further including a point-to-point interface capable of establishing communication between the configured and the apparatus.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the point-to-point interface is capable of establishing communication via a wired cable.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the point-to-point interface is capable of establishing communication by:

connecting the configured device and unconfigured device via a wired cable;

detecting the connection; and

detecting that the connection has disconnected and then reconnected.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the point-to-point interface is capable of establishing communication utilizing a secure out-of-band channel.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein configuration client is capable of attempting to discover a configuration server utilizing a protocol substantially compliant with the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) family of protocols.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the configuration client is capable of attempting to configure the apparatus such that the apparatus may operate within the same wireless mesh network as the configured device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein attempting to automatically configure the apparatus includes making a single request to the configuration server to configure the apparatus.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the single request includes an action that allows for setting all the configuration data necessary to bootstrap the apparatus into the wireless mesh network utilizing a variable list of parameters.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the configuration client is further capable of:

determining if the apparatus is properly configured; and

if the apparatus is not properly configured, providing a physical indication that a proper configuration of the apparatus needs to occur.

31. A system capable of facilitating a wireless mesh network comprising:

a configured device including;

a transceiver capable of communicating via a wireless protocol,

configuration data capable of facilitating the operation of the apparatus within a wireless network, and

a configuration server capable of facilitating an attempt to configure a device that is not configured to operate within the wireless network; and

an unconfigured device including;

a transceiver capable of communicating via a wireless protocol,

configuration data capable of facilitating the operation of the apparatus within a wireless network, and

a configuration client capable of;

attempting to discover a configuration server running on a configured device, and

utilizing the configuration server, attempting to automatically configure the apparatus.