Networking hardware element to couple computer network elements and method of displaying information thereon

• US 20080046561A1
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pham, Anthony, Bettino, Jonathan, Reay, Robert W., Lin, Steven, Hoard, David W.
• Application Number:
  US11/650,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20080046561A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a networking hardware element (1100, 3100) capable of coupling together computer network elements (1010) includes a network diagnostic mechanism (2140) and a display (2110, 3110, 5110). The display is electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and is capable of displaying network information and additional information.

Claims

1. A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of;

displaying network information; and

displaying additional information.

2. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the networking hardware element is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a router;

a hub;

a switch;

a wireless network access point; and

a wireless networking card.

3. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display is iconographic.

4. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display comprises an LCD.

5. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network layout map;

a network security indicator;

a service set identifier;

a guest service set identifier;

a wired network speed;

a wireless network speed;

a wireless channel;

a network security standard;

an unauthorized user alarm;

a counter indicating a number of unauthorized user attempts;

an actual Internet connection speed;

a maximum Internet connection speed;

a network usage time;

a network traffic type;

a network traffic load;

an Internet Protocol address;

a firewall status; and

a guest security password.

6. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a service set identifier; and

a guest service set identifier.

7. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a wired network speed;

a wireless network speed; and

a wireless channel.

8. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

an unauthorized user alarm; and

a counter indicating a number of unauthorized user attempts.

9. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

an actual Internet connection speed; and

a maximum Internet connection speed.

10. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network usage time;

a network traffic type; and

a network traffic load.

11. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

an Internet Protocol address;

a firewall status; and

a guest security password.

12. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a time;

a date;

a calendar;

a weather forecast;

a news report;

a stock quote;

a sports score;

an email ticker;

an instant messenger ticker;

a radio channel;

information regarding a song played on the radio channel;

an available storage space on a memory device;

a used storage space on the memory device; and

a total storage space on the memory device.

13. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a time;

a date; and

a calendar.

14. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a weather forecast;

a news report;

a stock quote; and

a sports score.

15. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

an email ticker; and

an instant messenger ticker.

16. The networking hardware element of claim 1 further comprising:

speakers,

wherein;

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a radio channel; and

information regarding a song played from the radio channel and on the speakers.

17. The networking hardware element of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory device;

wherein;

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

an available storage space on a memory device;

a used storage space on the memory device; and

a total storage space on the memory device.

18. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display is capable of displaying network setup advice.

19. The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display is capable of displaying network troubleshooting advice.

20. A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of;

displaying network information; and

displaying network advice.

21. The networking hardware element of claim 20 further comprising:

a removable label located over the electronic display; and

network setup advice located on the removable label,

wherein;

the network advice comprises additional network setup advice.

22. The networking hardware element of claim 21 wherein:

the network setup advice is designed to be followed by a user of the networking hardware element before the user removes the removable label from the electronic display and before the user follows the additional network setup advice.

23. The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

turning on or off a wireless local area network radio;

modifying a power output of the wireless local area network radio;

modifying an antenna configuration of the wireless local area network radio;

setting a quality of service by application or client;

minimizing noise and interference with the wireless local area network radio;

dedicating one or more wireless channels to one or more clients;

providing a security password;

providing a PIN for Windows Rally connection setup;

providing instructions for a WPS push button;

providing one or more technical support telephone numbers;

providing a troubleshooting wizard;

permitting handling of a Windows ConnectNow thumb drive method; and

providing Microsoft SideShow support.

24. The networking hardware element of claim 20 further comprising:

a wireless local area network radio having one or more channels,

wherein;

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

turning on or off the wireless local area network radio;

modifying a power output of the wireless local area network radio;

modifying an antenna configuration of the wireless local area network radio;

minimizing noise and interference with the wireless local area network radio; and

dedicating at least one of the one or more channels to one or more clients.

25. The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

setting quality of service by application or client;

a security password;

a PIN for Windows Rally connection setup;

instructions for a WPS push button;

handling of a Windows ConnectNow thumb drive method; and

Microsoft SideShow support.

26. The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

one or more technical support telephone numbers; and

a troubleshooting wizard.

27. The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the networking hardware element is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a router;

a hub;

a switch;

a wireless network access point; and

a wireless networking card.

28. The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the electronic display is iconographic.

29. The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the electronic display comprises an LCD.

30. A method of displaying information on a networking hardware element coupling together computer network elements, the method comprising:

displaying on the networking hardware element;

network information; and

additional information.

31. A method of displaying information on a networking hardware element coupling together computer network elements, the method comprising:

displaying on the networking hardware element;

network information; and

network advice.

32. A networking hardware element to allow computer network elements to communicate with each other, comprising:

one or more network communication ports to couple to the computer network elements;

a network diagnostic mechanism coupled to the one or more network communication ports and creating an output;

network information based on the output;

network advice triggered by the output; and

additional information.

33. The networking hardware element of claim 32 wherein:

the additional information is based on information separate from the output.

34. The networking hardware element of claim 32 further comprising:

an LCD electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism to display the network information, the network advice, and the additional information.

35. The networking hardware element of claim 32 wherein:

the networking hardware element is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a router;

a hub;

a switch;

a wireless network access point; and

a wireless networking card.

36. The networking hardware element of claim 32 further comprising:

an iconographic, electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of displaying the network information, the network advice, and the additional information.

37. The networking hardware element of claim 32 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network layout map;

a network security indicator;

a service set identifier;

a guest service set identifier;

a wired network speed;

a wireless network speed;

a network security standard;

an unauthorized user alarm;

a counter indicating a number of unauthorized user attempts;

an actual Internet connection speed;

a maximum Internet connection speed;

a network usage time;

a network traffic type;

a network traffic load;

an Internet Protocol address;

a firewall status; and

a guest security password;

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a time;

a date;

a calendar;

a weather forecast;

a news report;

a stock quote;

a sports score;

an email ticker;

an instant messenger ticker;

a radio channel;

information regarding a song played on the radio channel;

an available storage space on a memory device;

a used storage space on the memory device; and

a total storage space on the memory device; and

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

turning on or off a wireless local area network radio;

modifying a power output of the wireless local area network radio;

modifying an antenna configuration of the wireless local area network radio;

setting quality of service by application or client;

minimizing noise and interference with the wireless local area network radio;

dedicating one or more wireless channels to one or more clients;

providing a security password;

providing a PIN for Windows Rally connection setup;

providing instructions for a WPS push button;

providing one or more technical support telephone numbers;

providing a troubleshooting wizard;

permitting handling of a Windows ConnectNow thumb drive method; and

providing Microsoft SideShow support.

38. A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of displaying a security password.

39. The networking hardware element of claim 38 wherein:

the security password permits a first one of the computer network elements to log onto the networking hardware element.

40. The networking hardware element of claim 38 wherein:

the electronic display is capable of displaying a second security password different from the security password; and

the electronic display is capable of displaying simultaneously the first and second security passwords.

41. The networking hardware element of claim 40 wherein:

the security password permits a first one of the computer network elements to log onto the networking hardware element; and

the second security password permits a second one of the computer network elements to log onto the networking hardware element

42. A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of displaying a network speed.

43. The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed is displayed as an analog speedometer.

44. The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed is displayed as a digital number.

45. The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed comprises an actual network speed.

46. The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed comprises a maximum network speed.

47. The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed comprises an historical network speed.