Automated configuration of computing system using zip code data
First Claim
1. A method for operating a computing device during an initial first boot sequence, comprising:
- prompting a user to enter a zip code;
determining corresponding configuration information from the zip code; and
using the configuration information to configure the computing device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computing system uses a zip code entered by the user during a first boot sequence to automatically configure itself. The computing system includes a computing device (e.g., computer, laptop, handheld device, smart appliance, etc.) and a zip code database. The zip code database may reside locally at the computing device, or remotely at a server accessible by the computing device over a network. The zip code database correlates zip codes with corresponding configuration information that can be derived from the zip code (e.g., city, state, time zone, area code, and daylight savings settings). During a first boot sequence (i.e., a process executed when the user turns on the computer for the first time), the computing device prompts a user to enter a zip code. The computing device passes the zip code to the zip code database either locally, or over a network. The zip code is then used to look up the corresponding configuration information in the zip code database. The configuration information is returned and used to configure the computing device. The configuration information may be used to populate data fields presented in a graphical user interface for the user to review and confirm its accuracy.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for operating a computing device during an initial first boot sequence, comprising:
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prompting a user to enter a zip code;
determining corresponding configuration information from the zip code; and
using the configuration information to configure the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
passing the zip code over a network to a remote site, the remote site having a database that correlates the zip code and corresponding configuration information;
querying the database at the remote site using the zip code to lookup the corresponding configuration information; and
returning the configuration information from the remote site.
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6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising populating data fields with the configuration information.
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7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a time setting, and the using the configuration information comprises automatically configuring the time/date parameters of the computing device with the time setting.
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8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a city name and a state name, and the using the configuration information comprises automatically configuring the city and state names for the computing device.
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9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes a telephone area code, and the using the configuration information comprises automatically configuring the telephone area code for the computing device.
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10. A method for operating a computing device, comprising:
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executing an initial first boot sequence; and
during the initial first boot sequence, receiving a zip code, looking up corresponding configuration information based on the zip code, and populating data fields used to configure the computing device with the configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for operating a computing device, comprising:
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executing an initial first boot sequence, comprising;
receiving a zip code;
establishing a connection to a remote database server, the database server correlating zip codes with corresponding configuration information;
passing the zip code to the database server;
looking up the corresponding configuration information correlated with the zip code at the database server;
returning the configuration information from the database server to the computing device;
storing the zip code at the computing device;
is populating data fields used to configure the computing device with the configuration information; and
prompting the user to confirm accuracy of the configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a computing device;
a zip code database that correlates zip codes and corresponding configuration information; and
the computing device prompting a user, during an initial first boot sequence, to enter a zip code and using the zip code to look up the corresponding configuration information in the zip code database. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system comprising:
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a portable computing device having a processor, memory, a small-area screen, a data entry mechanism, and a transceiver for data communication;
a zip code database server remote from the portable computing device, the zip code database server correlating zip codes with corresponding configuration information; and
the computing device prompting a user, during an initial first boot sequence, to enter a zip code;
the computing device establishing a data connection with the zip code database server and sending the zip code from the transceiver to the zip code database server;
the zip code database server determining the corresponding configuration information from the zip code and returning the configuration information back to the computing device; and
the computing device storing the configuration information in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for:
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executing an initial first boot sequence; and
during the initial first boot sequence, receiving a user-entered zip code and determining corresponding configuration information from the zip code that can be used to configure a computing device. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification