Simplified creation and termination of an ad hoc wireless network with internet connection sharing

• US 20060221915A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Manchester, Scott, Duplessis, Jean-Pierre, Guven, Savas, Gatta, Srinivas Raghu
• Granted Patent: US 7,616,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for simplified creation of, connection to, and termination from an ad hoc wireless network. Graphical user interfaces are used to guide users though creation and joining ad hoc network. The option to share one user'"'"'s Internet connection with the entire ad hoc network is also described. The ad hoc networks described can provide some managed services traditionally unavailable in ad hoc networks, such as IP address assignment and name resolution services. The ad hoc networks can be created with termination criteria, such that a computer'"'"'s connection to the ad hoc network is automatically terminated and previous network configuration settings are restored when one or a combination of termination criteria are met.

Claims

1. A method for establishing an ad hoc wireless network performable by a first computing device, the first computing device comprising a first wireless network adapter for communicating with the ad hoc network, and further comprising a second network adapter for communicating with a second network, the method comprising the steps of:

guiding a user of the first computing device through a process for generating network configuration parameters for creating the ad hoc network;

informing the user of at least one method for transferring the network configuration parameters to a second computing device, by which the second computing device can connect to the ad hoc network; and

allowing the second computing device to communicate with the second network through the ad hoc network and the second network adapter on the first computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

invoking a network protocol address assignment server on the first computing device to assign a network address to the second computing device after the second computing device has connected to the ad hoc network; and

invoking a name resolution server on the first computing device to provide name resolution service to the second computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

informing the user to insert a temporary storage device for storing the network configuration parameters;

wherein the at least one method for transferring the network configuration parameters comprises removing the temporary storage device and giving it to a user of the second computing device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the network configuration parameters comprise one or more of:

a network name;

authentication information; and

termination criteria.

7. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

8. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 2.

5. The method of claim I further comprising the steps of:

terminating connection to the ad hoc network upon determination that termination criteria have been met.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the termination criteria comprises one or more of:

wireless signal quality to the ad hoc network falling below a threshold value;

other computing devices becoming disconnected from the ad hoc network;

initiation of a logout or shutdown process; and

passage of a fixed duration of time.

9. A method for establishing an ad hoc wireless network performable by a first computing device, the first computing device comprising a first wireless network adapter for communicating with the ad hoc network, the method comprising the steps of:

guiding a user of the first computing device through a process for generating network configuration parameters for creating the ad hoc network;

informing the user of at least one method for transferring the network configuration parameters to a second computing device, by which the second computing device can connect to the ad hoc network;

invoking a network protocol address assignment server on the first computing device to assign a network address to the second computing device after the second computing device has connected to the ad hoc network; and

invoking a name resolution server on the first computing device to provide name resolution service to the second computing device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the only active network adapter on the first computing device is the wireless network adapter connected to the ad hoc network.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

informing the user to insert a temporary storage device for storing the network configuration parameters;

wherein the at least one method for transferring the network configuration parameters comprises removing the temporary storage device and giving it to a user of the second computing device.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the network configuration parameters comprise one or more of:

a network name;

authentication information; and

termination criteria.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

terminating connection to the ad hoc network upon determination that termination criteria have been met.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the termination criteria comprises one or more of:

wireless signal quality to the ad hoc network falling below a threshold value;

other computing devices becoming disconnected from the ad hoc network;

initiation of a logout or shutdown process; and

passage of a fixed duration of time.

15. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 9.

16. A computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claim 10.

17. A system for establishing an ad hoc wireless network between two or more computing devices, each computing device comprising a wireless network adapter for communicating with the ad hoc network, the system comprising:

an ad hoc network initiator user interface for execution on a first computing device;

a transfer mechanism for transferring ad hoc network configuration information from the first computing device to one or more other computing devices; and

an ad hoc network joining user interface for execution on the one or more other computing devices;

wherein the initiator user interface provides user instruction for using the transfer mechanism to convey the network configuration information, and wherein the joining user interface provides user instruction for using the transfer mechanism to input the conveyed network configuration information onto the one or more computing devices.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a network protocol address assignment server for execution on the first computing device to assign a network address to the one or more other computing devices after the one or more other computing devices has connected to the ad hoc network; and

a name resolution server for execution on the first computing device to provide name resolution service to the one ore more other computing devices.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

an option within the initiator user interface for sharing a second network connection with the one or more other computing devices;

wherein the second network connection exists between the first computing device and a second network via an additional network adapter on the first computing device.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

an option within the initiator user interface for selecting a method by which the ad hoc network can be automatically terminated.