WIRELESS INTERFACE FOR ACCESS CONNECTIONS

• US 20100138794A1
• Filed: 11/30/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hill, David W., Stewart, Aaron M., Ganey, Harriss C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,389,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A process of pairing a wireless PAN (personal area network) device with a system can be facilitated first by assuming default PIN codes that are traditionally used with wireless PAN devices and then by attempting such presumed default codes before querying the user for input. Accordingly, a cumbersome task conventionally required of the user is most often removed. Also, the devices that are paired and connected are preferably graphically conveyed on a display or graphical user interface (GUI) in a manner that solidly implies that each PAN device is connected only to its system, and not (directly) to other PAN devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a visual user interface;

said user interface comprising a first region and a second region;

said first region acting to graphically convey a device connectable to a system;

said second region acting to graphically convey a network comprising a system and devices connected with a system;

said second region further acting to graphically convey that each device of the network is solely connected with a system depicted in said network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus corresponds to the system depicted in said network in said second region.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said devices in said second region are WPAN devices and said network is a PAN.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first region acts to graphically convey devices connectable to a system.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first region acts to graphically convey devices within range of a system depicted in said network.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first region acts to graphically convey devices available and within range of a system depicted in said network.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first region acts to graphically convey devices previously employed with a system depicted in said network.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an arrangement for graphically transferring to said second region, from said first region, an icon corresponding to a device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said arrangement for graphically transferring acts to initiate a connection between a device and a system upon graphically transferring said icon from said first region to said second region.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said arrangement for graphically transferring acts to automatically assume a code associated with a device upon graphically transferring said icon from said first region to said second region.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said arrangement for graphically transferring acts to automatically connect the device to a system if the assumed code is correct.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said arrangement for graphically transferring acts to query for a code entry if the assumed code is correct.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second region comprises a ring graphic.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a system is graphically depicted towards a center of said ring graphic.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein devices connected with a system are depicted away from a center of said ring graphic.

16. A method comprising:

providing a visual user interface having a first region and a second region;

g graphically conveying, at the first region, a device connectable to a system;

graphically conveying, at the second region, a network comprising a system and devices connected with a system; and

said graphical conveying at the second region further comprising graphically conveying that each device of the network is solely connected with a system depicted in the network.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said graphical conveying at the first region comprises graphically conveying devices previously employed with a system depicted in said network.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising permitting graphically transfer to the second region, from the first region, an icon corresponding to a device.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said permitting of graphical transfer comprises initiating a connection between a device and a system upon graphical transfer of the icon from the first region to the second region.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said initiating comprises automatically assuming a code associated with a device.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said initiating comprises automatically connecting the device to a system if the assumed code is correct.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second region comprises a ring graphic.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein a system is graphically depicted towards a center of the ring graphic.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein devices connected with a system are depicted away from a center of the ring graphic.

25. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method comprising:

providing a visual user interface having a first region and a second region;

graphically conveying, at the first region, a device connectable to a system;

graphically conveying, at the second region, a network comprising a system and devices connected with a system; and

said graphical conveying at the second region further comprising graphically conveying that each device of the network is solely connected with a system depicted in the network.