Peripheral device with visual indicators

• US 20070002877A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuntjoro, Smiley, Rada, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0236 radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a network peripheral device. The network peripheral device includes a plurality of antennas, network communications electronics operable with the antennas, a plurality of electronically controllable visual indicators, and circuitry that activates the selected indicators. The network peripheral device may also include networking electronics, router functionality, a modem, a base band processor, a firewall, and/or a media access control (MAC) processor. The visual indicators may comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs). The visual indicators may correspond to a particular antenna. The visual indicators may also be arranged in a pattern corresponding to an arrangement of antennas in the plurality of antennas, or in a substantially circular pattern. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to various methods and devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in a computer network peripheral device having an interface to a network, network communication electronics operable with the interface, and circuitry that communicates with a client device,

transmitting data within the computer network;

from among the transmitted data, receiving content;

determining an aspect of the content;

controlling a visual user output on the device, the controlling based on the determined aspect of the content; and

streaming the content to the client device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises audio content.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the aspect of the content corresponds to power of the audio content.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the aspect of the content corresponds to rhythm of the audio content.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the content comprises visual content.

60. The device of claim 1, including, in the network peripheral device, decoding the content.

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33. A computer network peripheral device comprising:

circuitry that communicates with a computer;

at least one antenna;

network communication electronics operable with the antenna;

electronics that measure an aspect of radio signal quality of the antenna;

electronics that determine a level of radio signal quality based on the measured aspect of radio signal quality;

a visual user output; and

circuitry that controls the visual user output, the controlling based on the determined level of radio signal quality.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the aspect of radio signal quality of the antenna comprises receive signal strength intensity (RSSI).

35. The device of claim 33, wherein the aspect of radio signal quality of the antenna comprises power level after demodulation.

36. The device of claim 33, wherein the aspect of radio signal quality of the antenna comprises link quality.

37. The device of claim 33, wherein the aspect of radio signal quality of the antenna comprises signal to noise ratio (SNR).

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46. A computer network peripheral device comprising:

circuitry that communicates with a computer;

network communications electronics;

circuitry that determines information regarding communication by the device;

a visual user output;

circuitry that controls the visual user output based on the information;

a form of user input; and

circuitry that at least partially controls the visual user output based on action in the user input while not interrupting communication with the computer or communication through the network communication electronics.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein at least partially controls includes activating and de-activating the visual user output.

48. The device of claim 46, wherein at least partially controls includes causing a level of radio signal quality of antennas selected in the computer network peripheral device to be displayed on the visual user output.

49. The device of claim 46, wherein at least partially controls includes streaming content on the visual user output.

50. The device of claim 46, wherein at least partially controls includes successively activating the visual user output, displaying a level of radio signal quality of antennas selected in the computer network peripheral device, streaming content on the visual user output, and de-activating the visual user output in response to successive user action to the form of user input.

51. The device of claim 46, wherein the form of user input comprises an on/off switch.

52. The device of claim 46, wherein the form of user input corresponds to a capacitive coupling circuit, the capacitive coupling circuit responsive to a user'"'"'s touch to activate or deactivate the visual user output.

53. The device of claim 46, wherein the form of user input comprises a software application coupled to the circuitry, the software application responsive to a user'"'"'s instruction to activate or deactivate the visual user output.

56. The device of claim 46, wherein the information comprises quality of radio signal received by the device.

57. The device of claim 46, wherein the information comprises a video clip from video content received by the device.

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