Automatic Internet Connection Device

• US 20080172443A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smartcom
• Original Assignee: Smartcom
• Inventors: Roger, Julien, Azulay Roger, Colette Abigael
• Application Number:
  US11/794,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

An automatic connection device in a data transmission system comprises the Internet, several local networks which are connected to the Internet, a first host computer being used by a first user and a second host computer being used by a second user connected to the Internet. The device further has a hardware connection mechanism, such as a USB port which is intended to be connected to a corresponding hardware connection of the first host computer, and a software connection which mechanism automatically connects the first host computer to one of the local networks once the hardware connection mechanism of the device has been physically connected to the corresponding hardware connection mechanism of the first host computer, thereby enabling the exchange of data between the first host computer and the second host computer.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. Automatic connection device comprising:

a box in a data transmission system including the Internet or an equivalent network, several local networks connected to said Internet, a first host computer being used by a first user and a second host computer being used by a second user connected to said Internet, said first user exchanging data between said first host computer and said second host computer connected to the Internet,

said box including a hardware connection means connected to a corresponding hardware connection means of said first host computer, and a software connection means which automatically connects said first host computer to one of said local networks through a local network interface (LNI) device once said hardware connection means of the box has been physically connected to said corresponding hardware connection means of said first host computer, thereby enabling an exchange of data between said first host computer and said second host computer, with said software connection means including a declaration software which allows said box to be recognized as a CD ROM by an operating system of the first host computer of said first user when said hardware connection means is connected to said corresponding hardware connection means of said first host computer, and a self-executable “

autorun.inf”

file that is immediately executed by the operating system of said first host computer so as to install said software connection means and at least one of drivers and utility software needed for the connection.

16. Device according to claim 15, wherein said software connection means include a connection software intended to establish the connection immediately and automatically without intervention on the part of the user, said connection software being installed by said operating system of said first host computer during a first installation of said software connection means.

17. Device according to claim 16, wherein said box includes a switch including a single output position connected to said LNI device and an incoming line linked to said hardware connection means, and an activation means permanently connected to said incoming line, said activation means controlling the activation of said switch on said output position when receiving an instruction from said operating system.

18. Device according to claim 17, wherein said LNI device is an independent device placed between said box and said local networks.

19. Device according to claim 17, wherein said LNI device is incorporated into said box.

20. Device according to claim 17, wherein said operating system of said first computer configures the connected box when said software connection means are run before said connection software automatically establishes the connection.

21. Device according to claim 15, wherein said software connection means includes a specific optimization routine which makes it possible, when the connection is established, to automatically choose a best connection by ensuring at the same time an LCR function, with the best connection being the connection to the one of said local networks with a best transfer rate speed.

22. Device according to claim 15, wherein said software connection means includes a specific software used when the connection does not take place automatically and which allows, when said first user performs a single click on a shortcut icon of a determined application to run a connection software that performs an establishment of the connection and to run said application by using the established connection.

23. Device according to claim 16, wherein said connection software uses a connection profile that characterizes an established connection and which groups together parameters and settings known in advance and which are specific to each of said local networks and to each user, which thereby avoids the respective user having to perform manual key entry or settings.

24. Device according to claim 15, wherein said software connection means are intended to consult an update server by sending the update server a request, so as to run an update procedure of the software means of the device when versions that the said server has are more recent that versions of the device.

25. Device according to claim 15, further including means for said first user to perform a certain number of actions after the connection has been established, said actions including sending and receiving SMS and EMS messages, managing contacts, establishing voice calls, and freely accessing a memory of the device.

26. Device according to claim 15, wherein said local networks are a LAN.

27. Device according to claim 15, wherein said local networks are each a wireless network selected from the group consisting of a WiFi network, and a cellular telephone network of the GPRS/GSM, EDGE, CDMA or UMTS type.

28. Device according to claim 15, wherein an icon is installed on a desktop of said first host computer at the time of the connection of said box in a such a way that, by clicking on said icon, a cleaning function is implemented and makes it possible to uninstall the software and files that had been installed by said software connection means.

29. Device according to claim 15, wherein a cleaning function is implemented in said first host computer when said box is disconnected from said computer and makes it possible to uninstall the software and files that had been installed by said software connection means.