System and method for automatic configuration of home network computers

• US 5,826,000 A
• Filed: 02/29/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US08/613,432
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.03, 395/200.01, 395/200.15, 395/200.16, 395/200.1, 395/617, 395/651, 395/200.12, 395/712, 395/182.02, 395/114, 395/601, 395/610, 395/856, 395/658, 395/684, 395/609, 395/462, 395/619, 395/762, 395/703, 395/187.01, 395/182.01, 395/182.05, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 379/96, 379/97, 379/207
• US Class Current: 714/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2885 Arrangements interfacing with optical systems optical network equipment H04B10/00; optical multiplexers H04J14/05 and H04J14/07
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An automated configuration system and method configures home network client computers, including determining local service provider information, without any user assistance. The distributed computer network includes network home client computers and at least one autoconfiguration server. When the home network client computer is powered on it determines whether it possesses the requisite configuration information. If not, the home network client computer sends a configuration request along with client computer identifying information to the autoconfiguration server. The autoconfiguration server uses the client identifying information to determine a local service provider information and client computer specific data. The autoconfiguration server determines the local service provider information by looking up a directory of local service providers, the directory being stored on the autoconfiguration server or on another server. The autoconfiguration server determines the client computer specific data by accessing a database containing client computer information for each home network client computer, the database being stored either on the autoconfiguration server itself or on another server. The client computer specific data is stored in the database at the time of sale or shipment of the home network computer to the user. Local service provider information and the client computer specific data are downloaded to the requesting home network client computer. The home network client computer uses the configuration information downloaded by the autoconfiguration server to configure itself and establish a connection to the local service provider.

Claims

1. A method for automatic configuration of home network client computers comprising the steps of:

a) receiving requests from said home network client computers for autoconfiguration, said requests each providing client computer identifying information;

b) using said client computer identifying information in said request to determine

i) local service provider information, selected from information in a predefined directory of local service providers; and

ii) client computer specific data corresponding to said client computer identifying information, selected from a database of client computer information;

wherein at least a portion of the client computer specific data for each one of the home network client computers includes data selected from the group consisting of computer model information for the one computer, data identifying an internal hardware or software configuration of the one computer, and data identifying a designated end user or recipient of the one computer; and

c) providing instructions for downloading said local service provider information, and said client computer specific data to a respective home network client computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

said client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with said home network client computer, and

said database of client computer information includes data for said home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of said home network client computers and/or shipment of said home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein said stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales information identifying said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to said designated recipient.

3. A method for automatic configuration of home network client computers comprising the steps of:

a) receiving requests from the home network client computers for autoconfiguration, each requests providing client computer identifying information;

b) using the client computer identifying information in the request to determine

i) local service provider information, selected from information in a predefined directory of local service providers; and

ii) client computer specific data corresponding to the client computer identifying information, selected from a database of client computer information; and

c) providing instructions for downloading the local service provider information, and the client computer specific data to a respective home network client computer;

wherein

the client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with the home network client computer, wherein the telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which the home network client computer is located; and

the directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping the first portion of the telephone number associated with the home network client computer to a local service provider.

4. A method for automatic configuration of a home network client computer, comprising the steps of:

when said home network client computer is powered on, determining whether said home network client computer lacks required configuration information, said required configuration information including information concerning a local service provider, and client computer specific data;

if said home network client computer is determined to lack any of said required configuration information, then performing the steps of;

connecting to an autoconfiguration server;

sending a configuration request to said autoconfiguration server, said request including client computer identifying information associated with said home network client computer;

receiving from said autoconfiguration server said required configuration information; and

said home network client computer using said received configuration information to configure itself; and

when said home network client computer has the required configuration information and has been configured therewith, automatically establishing a connection to said local service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

said client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with said home network client computer, and

said database of client computer information includes data for said home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of said home network client computers and/or shipment of said home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein said stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales information identifying said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein

said client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with said home network client computer, wherein said telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which said home network client computer is located;

said directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping said first portion of said telephone number associated with said home network client computer to a local service provider.

7. An autoconfiguration server for configuring home network client computers, comprising:

a communication interface for receiving requests from the home network client computers for autoconfiguration, each request providing client computer identifying information;

a data processor, coupled to the communication interface;

the data processor further coupled to a predefined directory of local service providers and a database of client computer information;

a memory coupled to the data processor, the memory storing procedures for execution by the data processor;

the stored procedures including a configuration procedure for using the client computer identifying information in each request to determine local service provider information, selected from information in the predefined directory of local service providers, and to further determine client computer specific data corresponding to the client computer identifying information, selected from the database of client computer information;

the configuration procedure further including instructions for downloading the local service provider information, and the client computer specific data to a respective home network client computer;

wherein at least a portion of the client computer specific data for each one of the home network client computers includes data selected from the group consisting of computer model information for the one computer, data identifying an internal hardware or software configuration of the one computer, and data identifying a designated end user or recipient of the one computer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with the home network client computer, and

the database of client computer information includes data for the home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of the home network client computers and/or shipment of the home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein the stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales information identifying the designated recipient of the respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to the designated recipient of the respective home network client computer.

9. An autoconfiguration server for configuring home network client computers, comprising:

a communication interface for receiving requests from the home network client computers for autoconfiguration, each request providing client computer identifying information;

a data processor, coupled to the communication interface;

the data processor further coupled to a predefined directory of local service providers and a database of client computer information;

a memory coupled to the data processor, the memory storing procedures for execution by the data processor;

the stored procedures including a configuration procedure for using the client computer identifying information in each requests to determine local service provider information, selected from information in the predefined directory of local service providers, and to further determine client computer specific data corresponding to the client computer identifying information, selected from the database of client computer information;

the configuration procedure further including instructions for downloading the local service provider information, and the client computer specific data to a respective home network client computer;

wherein;

the client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with the home network client computer, wherein the telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which the home network client computer is located; and

the directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for-mapping the first portion of the telephone number associated with the home network client computer to a local service provider.

10. A client configuration system for automatic configuration of a home network client computer, comprising:

a communication interface for sending requests from said home network client computer for autoconfiguration, said requests each providing client computer identifying information;

a data processor coupled to said communication interface;

a memory coupled to said data processor, said memory storing procedures for execution by said data processor;

said stored memory procedures including a client configuration procedure for determining, when said home network client computer is powered on, whether said home network client computer lacks required configuration information, said required configuration information including information concerning a local service provider, and client computer specific data;

if said home network client computer is determined to lack any of said required configuration information, then said client configuration procedure further;

using said communication interface to send said request to an autoconfiguration server;

receiving said required configuration information from said autoconfiguration server;

using said configuration information received from said autoconfiguration server to configure said home network client computer;

when said home network client computer has the required configuration information and been configured therewith, automatically establishing a connection to said local service provider.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein

said client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with said home network client computer, and

said database of client computer information includes data for said home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of said home network client computers and/or shipment of said home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein said stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales information Identifying said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein

said client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with said home network client computer, wherein said telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which said home network client computer is located;

said directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping said first portion of said telephone number associated with said home network client computer to a local service provider.