Wireless enumeration

• US 6,353,599 B1
• Filed: 01/15/1997
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Gopalan, Anush, Wilson, James Y, Bi, Depeng, Gladwin, S. Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcelo, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US08/784,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,875 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/349
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level

Abstract

A system which includes a plurality of wireless interface devices, adapted to be interfaced with a server, connected in either a wireless or wired LAN. Prior to an interface being established, the wireless interface device broadcasts for available servers which, upon acknowledgment are displayed in a dialog box on the display of the wireless interface device. The user selects an available server from the dialog box for connection to the wireless interface device.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

one or more servers, each server connected in a LAN segment, each server having a CPU and a storage device for running and storing one or more programs;

means for generating video data responsive to said one or more programs;

a plurality of wireless interface devices adapted to interface with said LAN segment by way of a radio link, each wireless interface device configured as a remote input/output (I/O) device for selectively controlling and providing I/O capability over a wireless link for one of said one or more servers, each wireless interface device also including a display, means for broadcasting a predetermined query signal to determine which of said one or more servers are available for connection and receiving signals from said servers and displaying servers on said display available for connection, an input device for receiving user input, means transmitting said user input data to said remote server, and means for controlling and accessing said server and said one or more programs on said server, said wireless interface device including means for receiving said video data for displaying any images that are displayed on said server;

a wireless LAN adapter in communication with said LAN segment for enabling radio communication between said server and said plurality of wireless interface devices;

means for enabling selection of one of said available servers by a user;

means for storing identifying information of the selected server; and

means for reconnecting to said selected server upon loss of a connection with said selected server.

2. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined information includes the server name.

3. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined information includes the server node address.

4. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined information includes the version of software running on the server.

5. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined information includes the server domain name.

6. The computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined information is stored in a buffer in said wireless interface device.

7. In a computer system including one or more capital LAN segments, each LAN segment including the server, each server having a CPU, and a storage device for running and storing one or more programs, a system for enabling wireless communication between said one or more LAN segments and a plurality of remote locations, the system comprising:

an access point, said access point including a wireless LAN adapter coupled to said LAN segment for sending and receiving wireless communication to and from LAN segment;

one or more wireless interface devices, including means for controlling and accessing said server and said one or more programs on said server, each of said wireless interface devices configured as a remote I/O device for providing I/O capability for one server in one of said LAN segments by way of a wireless link, at least one of said wireless interface devices including a display for displaying any images that are displayed on said server, means for communicating with said access point and means for broadcasting a predetermined query signal to determine which of said servers are available for connection and receiving signals from said servers and displaying servers on said display available for connection;

means for enabling a user to select at least one of said servers;

means for storing identifying information of the selected server; and

means for reconnecting to said selected server upon loss of a connection with said selected server.

8. The computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said predetermined information includes the server name.

9. The computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said predetermined information includes the server node address.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said predetermined information includes the software version.

11. The computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said predetermined information includes the server domain name.

12. The computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said predetermined information is stored in a buffer in said wireless interface device.

13. A wireless interface device for use in communicating with a server over a radio link, such server having a CPU, and a storage device for running and storing one or more programs, the wireless interface device comprising:

means for communicating over a radio link;

means for controlling and accessing said server and said one or more programs on said server;

a display for displaying any images that are displayed on said server;

means for broadcasting a predetermined query to determine which of said servers are available for connection and receiving signals from said servers and displaying servers on said display available for connection;

means for providing I/O capability of a remote server by way of said radio link;

means for enabling a user to select at least one of said available servers;

means for storing identifying information of the selected server; and

means for reconnecting to said selected server upon loss of a connection with said selected server.

14. A wireless interface device as recited in claim 13, further including means for enabling predetermined signals received over said radio link to be displayed on said display.

15. A server connected to a local area network (LAN) forming a LAN segment, said LAN segment including means for enabling wireless communication with said LAN segment, the server comprising:

a CPU;

a storage device for running and storing one or more programs;

means for communicating over a radio link;

means for broadcasting predetermined information to a plurality of remote devices which do not have a node address of said server prior to the broadcasting of and providing predetermined information including human readable information displayable by said remote devices for identifying said server;

means for providing access and control of said one or more programs to at least one of said remote devices;

means for storing identifying information of the one of said remote devices upon loss of connection with said one of said remote devices; and

means for reconnecting to said one of said remote devices upon renewed signal from said one of said remote devices.

16. A computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said predetermined information includes the server name.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said predetermined information includes the server node address.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said predetermined information includes the software version.

19. A computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said predetermined information includes the server domain name.

20. A computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said server signals are stored in a buffer in said wireless interface device.