AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20130288601A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chhabra, Kapil
• Application Number:
  US13/456,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20130288601A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the configuration of a first electronic device. During operation, the system detects a non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to a second electronic device. Next, the system establishes a network connection between the first and second electronic devices. Finally, the system uses the network connection to transmit configuration information from the second electronic device to the first electronic device, wherein the configuration information is used to configure the first electronic device without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface of the first electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the configuration of a first electronic device, comprising:

detecting a non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to a second electronic device;

establishing a network connection between the first and second electronic devices; and

using the network connection to transmit configuration information from the second electronic device to the first electronic device, wherein the configuration information is used to configure the first electronic device without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface of the first electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of:

network credentials for a wireless network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and

account credentials associated with one or more user accounts, wherein the account credentials are used by the first electronic device to access the one or more user accounts.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining the network credentials based on a preferred network list from the second electronic device and the wireless network in proximity to the second electronic device; and

obtaining the account credentials from one or more applications on the second electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

further obtaining at least some of the network credentials and the account credentials based on user input from the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to the second electronic device comprises:

if the first electronic device is not connected to a wired network, detecting the non-configured state using at least one of;

a beacon frame from the first electronic device; and

a probe response frame from the first electronic device; and

if the first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using a discovery protocol to obtain a message indicating the non-configured state of the first electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the network connection between the first and second electronic devices comprises:

if the first electronic device is not connected to the wired network, using the second electronic device to connect to an ad hoc network created by the first electronic device; and

if the first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using an access point connected to the wired network to establish the network connection between the first and second electronic devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device lacks a touch-based keyboard and a physical keyboard.

8. A method for configuring a first electronic device, comprising:

enabling detection of a non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to a second electronic device;

receiving configuration information from the second electronic device over a network connection between the first and second electronic devices; and

using the configuration information to configure the first electronic device without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface of the first electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

if the first electronic device is not connected to a wired network;

using the first electronic device to create an ad hoc network; and

using the ad hoc network to establish the network connection; and

if the first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using the wired network to establish the network connection.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein enabling detection of the non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to the second electronic device comprises at least one of:

transmitting a beacon frame from the first electronic device;

transmitting a probe response frame from the first electronic device in response to a probe request frame from the second electronic device; and

using a discovery protocol to provide a message indicating the non-configured state of the first electronic device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

verifying the configuration information with the user prior to configuring the first electronic device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of:

network credentials for a wireless network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and

account credentials associated with one or more user accounts, wherein the account credentials are used by the first electronic device to access the one or more user accounts.

13. A system for facilitating the configuration of a first electronic device, comprising:

the first electronic device configured to;

enable detection of a non-configured state of the first electronic device; and

use configuration information from a second electronic device to configure the first electronic device without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface of the first electronic device; and

the second electronic device configured to;

detect the non-configured state of the first electronic device;

establish a network connection between the first and second electronic devices; and

use the network connection to transmit the configuration information to the first electronic device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of:

network credentials for a wireless network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and

account credentials associated with one or more user accounts, wherein the account credentials are used by the first electronic device to access the one or more user accounts.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second electronic device is further configured to:

obtain the network credentials based on a preferred network list on the second electronic device and the wireless network in proximity to the second electronic device; and

obtain the account credentials from one or more applications on the second electronic device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second electronic device is configured to detect the non-configured state using at least one of:

a beacon frame from the first electronic device;

a probe response frame from the first electronic device; and

a message from a discovery protocol indicating the non-configured state of the first electronic device.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first electronic device is further configured to:

create an ad hoc network if the first electronic device is not connected to a wired network.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein establishing the network connection between the first and second electronic devices comprises:

if the first electronic device is not connected to the wired network, using the second electronic device to connect to the ad hoc network; and

if the first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using an access point connected to the wired network to establish the network connection between the first and second electronic devices.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first electronic device is at least one of a digital media receiver, a digital media player, a television, a video game console, and an audio output device.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the second electronic device is at least one of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a portable media player, a laptop computer, and a personal computer.

21. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating the configuration of a first electronic device that lacks a keyboard, the method comprising:

detecting a non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to a second electronic device;

establishing a network connection between the first and second electronic devices; and

using the network connection to transmit configuration information from the second electronic device to the first electronic device, wherein the configuration information is used to configure the first electronic device without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface of the first electronic device.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of:

network credentials for a wireless network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and

account credentials associated with one or more user accounts, wherein the account credentials are used by the first electronic device to access the one or more user accounts.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, the method further comprising:

obtaining the network credentials based on a preferred network list from the second electronic device and the wireless network in proximity to the second electronic device; and

obtaining the account credentials from one or more applications on the second electronic device.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein detecting the non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to the second electronic device comprises:

if the first electronic device is not connected to a wired network, detecting the non-configured state using at least one of;

a beacon frame from the first electronic device; and

a probe response frame from the first electronic device; and

if the first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using a discovery protocol to obtain a message indicating the non-configured state of the first electronic device.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein establishing the network connection between the first and second electronic devices comprises:

if the first electronic device is not connected to the wired network, using the second electronic device to connect to an ad hoc network created by the first electronic device; and

if the first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using an access point connected to the wired network to establish the network connection between the first and second electronic devices.