NETWORK DEVICE DISCOVERY

• US 20110099264A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Stutzman, Andrew T., Edmonds, Jonathan Allen, Glass, Brian Robert, Chapin, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A system and method enable a local area network connected mobile device to discover, via an ancillary wireless communication channel, a local area network connected device and install the appropriate driver and network configuration information when the mobile device and network connected device are brought into physical close proximity with each other.

Claims

1. A system for enabling an end user mobile device to acquire network identification and network configuration information for a networked connected device via an ancillary wireless communication channel to enable a communication therebetween, comprising:

a network providing a plurality of network communication channels;

an electronic device connected to said local area network, said electronic device having an ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver, said electronic device having a network communication device to provide communication between said electronic device and said network over a first network communication channel; and

an end user mobile device having an ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver having a communication protocol that matches a communication protocol of the ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver of said electronic device;

said end user mobile device having a network communication device to provide communication between said end user mobile device and said network over a second network communication channel;

said electronic device transmitting, via the ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver of said electronic device, identification and network configuration information for said electronic device to said end user mobile device and said end user mobile device receiving the identification and network configuration information for said electronic device;

said end user mobile device, based upon the received identification and network configuration information for said electronic device, establishing a communication connection, via said network, with said electronic device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a device having a printing capability and the identification and network configuration information for said electronic device comprises a printer model name and distinguishing network information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said end user mobile device, based upon the received identification and network configuration information for said electronic device, establishing an appropriate device driver to enable said end user mobile device to utilize, via said network, said electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said end user mobile device comprises a personal digital assistant.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said end user mobile device comprises a mobile computing device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a device having a printing capability and the identification and network configuration information for said electronic device includes an internet protocol address for said electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver of said end user mobile device includes a mode of operation that enables said end user mobile device to be discoverable by another device having ancillary wireless communication functionality.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver of said electronic device includes a mode of operation that enables said electronic device to be discoverable by another device having ancillary wireless communication functionality.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the ancillary wireless communication is low-power radio communication.

10. A method to enable an end user mobile device to acquire network identification and network configuration information for a networked connected device via an ancillary wireless communication channel to enable a communication therebetween, comprising:

placing an end user mobile device in close physical proximity to an electronic device connected to a network, the electronic device having an ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver and a network communication device to provide communication between the electronic device and the network over a first network communication channel, the end user mobile device having an ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver having a communication protocol that matches a communication protocol of the ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver of the electronic device and a network communication device to provide communication between the end user mobile device and the network over a second network communication channel;

establishing an ancillary wireless communication connection between the end user mobile device and the electronic device when the end user mobile device is located in close proximity to the electronic device;

obtaining, by the end user mobile device, network configuration connection information for the electronic device from the electronic device via the established ancillary wireless communication connection; and

establishing, by the end user mobile device, a communication connection, via the network, between the end user mobile device and the electronic device based upon the obtained network configuration connection information for the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver of the end user mobile device includes a mode of operation that enables the end user mobile device to be discoverable by another device having ancillary wireless communication functionality.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the ancillary wireless communication transmitter/receiver of the electronic device includes a mode of operation that enables the electronic device to be discoverable by another device having ancillary wireless communication functionality.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

establishing, by the end user mobile device, based upon the received identification and network configuration information for the electronic device, an appropriate device driver to enable the end user mobile device to utilize, via the network, the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the ancillary wireless communication is low-power radio communication.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a printer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the network connected device is a scanner.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the end user mobile device comprises a personal computer.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said end user mobile device comprises a personal digital assistant.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a multifunction device including printing and scanning functionality.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a device having a printing capability and the network configuration connection information for the electronic device includes an internet protocol address for the electronic device.