Automatic web-based detection and display of product installation help information
First Claim
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1. A method for providing device-specific help information for a network-attachable device, comprising:
- receiving a connection notification for the network-attachable device over a first data path;
retrieving a device-specific help information for the network-attachable device over a second data path in communication with a first memory associated with the network-attachable device, such memory containing device-specific help data; and
providing the device-specific help information to a configuration interface providing access to the device-specific help information.
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Abstract
The invention provides device-specific help information, such as help, warranty, configuration, installation information, etc., for network-attachable devices. After a connection notification from a network-attachable device is received over a first data path, device-specific help information for the network-attachable device is retrieved. This device-specific help information is then provided to a configuration interface, thus facilitating installation, configuration and customization of the device.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for providing device-specific help information for a network-attachable device, comprising:
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receiving a connection notification for the network-attachable device over a first data path;
retrieving a device-specific help information for the network-attachable device over a second data path in communication with a first memory associated with the network-attachable device, such memory containing device-specific help data; and
providing the device-specific help information to a configuration interface providing access to the device-specific help information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
wherein the first data path is in communication with a private-access network, and the second data path is in communication with a public-access network.
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3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
wherein the first memory is a selected one of ROM, PROM, EPROM, flash memory, magnetically-recordable computer-readable media, and optically-recordable computer-readable media.
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4. A method according to claim 1, in which device-specific help information has associated version data, and the retrieved device-specific help from the second data path is a first device-specific help, the method further comprising:
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retrieving a second device-specific help information from the public-access network over a third data path;
comparing version data for the first and second device-specific help information; and
if the first device-specific help information has an older version than the second device-specific help information, then updating the first information with the second information.
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5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
retrieving a characteristic profile for the network-attachable device, such profile including at least one interface for controlling operation of the network-attachable device.
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6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:
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configuring a control device to perform automatic control of the network-attachable device through the at least one interface;
wherein the characteristic profile includes an interface description formatted according to an interface description language, such language indicating functionality of controls available through the at least one interface.
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7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising:
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maintaining a manifest of devices attached to the first data path; and
providing a concordance between manifest entries and device-specific help information for such devices attached to the first data path.
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8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:
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receiving a disconnect notification from the network-attachable device over the first data path; and
secluding, in response to the disconnect notification, the network-attachable device from the manifest.
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9. A method according to claim 1, in which the configuration interface is incorporated into a graphical user interface for configuring network-attachable devices, the method further comprising:
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displaying the device-specific help information on a display;
selecting a configurable option of the network-attachable device;
modifying the configurable option; and
committing modifications to cause an update to the device-specific help information.
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10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:
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maintaining a manifest of devices attached to the first data path; and
providing a concordance between an entry on the manifest and device-specific help information.
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11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:
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receiving a disconnect notification from the network-attachable device over the first data path; and
secluding, in response to the disconnect notification, the network-attachable device from the manifest.
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12. A method according to claim 1, in which the characteristic interface includes an input and an output for configuring the network-attachable device, the method further comprising:
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outputting the device-specific help information to the output;
receiving a configuration command from the input; and
updating the device-specific help information according to the configuration command.
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13. A method according to claim 12, wherein updating the device-specific help information includes:
storing such modified device-specific help information in a local configuration memory for the network-attachable device.
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14. A method for configuring a removably-attachable network device in communication with a private network, such private network in communication with a public network, the method comprising:
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receiving a connection notification over the private network from a newly-attached device having a configuration interface;
adding an entry to a manifest tracking connection notifications, such entry including an identifier for the newly-attached device;
providing an interface for inspecting and selecting each manifest entry;
retrieving a configuration profile for an attached device corresponding to a selected manifest entry, said retrieving including accessing a remote configuration profile from a remote memory associated with the attached device, such remote memory accessed over the public network; and
storing at least a portion of the configuration profile by way of the configuration interface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
retrieving a local configuration profile from a local memory associated with the attached device, such local memory accessed over the private network;
wherein the local configuration includes a network location indicator identifying a location on the public network from which the remote configuration can be retrieved.
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16. A method according to claim 14, in which configuration profiles are formatted in a web-browser format, and wherein the interface is a web-browser.
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17. An article of manufacture, comprising a readable medium having programming instructions encoded thereon capable of causing a processor to perform the operations of:
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receiving a connection notification for the network-attachable device over a first data path;
retrieving a device-specific help information for the network-attachable device over a second data path in communication with a first memory associated with the network-attachable device, such memory containing device-specific help data; and
providing the device-specific help information to a configuration interface providing access to the device-specific help information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
wherein the first data path is in communication with a private-access network, and the second data path is in communication with a public-access network.
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19. The medium of claim 17, further comprising:
wherein the first memory is a selected one of ROM, PROM, EPROM, flash memory, magnetically-recordable computer-readable media, and optically-recordable computer-readable media.
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20. The medium of claim 17, in which device-specific help information has associated version data, and the retrieved device-specific help from the second data path is a first device-specific help, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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retrieving a second device-specific help information from the public-access network over a third data path;
comparing version data for the first and second device-specific help information; and
if the first device-specific help information has an older version than the second device-specific help information, then updating the first information with the second information.
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21. The medium of claim 17, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
retrieving a characteristic profile for the network-attachable device, such profile including at least one interface for controlling operation of the network-attachable device.
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22. The medium of claim 21, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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configuring a control device to perform automatic control of the network-attachable device through the at least one interface; and
including an interface description, formatted according to an interface description language, with the characteristic profile, such language indicating functionality of controls available through the at least one interface.
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23. The medium of claim 22, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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maintaining a manifest of devices attached to the first data path; and
providing a concordance between manifest entries and device-specific help information for such devices attached to the first data path.
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24. The medium of claim 23, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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receiving a disconnect notification from the network-attachable device over the first data path; and
secluding, in response to the disconnect notification, the network-attachable device from the manifest.
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25. The medium of claim 17, in which the configuration interface is incorporated into a graphical user interface for configuring network-attachable devices, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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displaying the device-specific help information on a display;
selecting a configurable option of the network-attachable device;
modifying the configurable option; and
committing modifications to cause an update to the device-specific help information.
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26. The medium of claim 17, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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maintaining a manifest of devices attached to the first data path; and
providing a concordance between an entry on the manifest and device-specific help information.
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27. The medium of claim 26, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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receiving a disconnect notification from the network-attachable device over the first data path; and
secluding, in response to the disconnect notification, the network-attachable device from the manifest.
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28. The medium of claim 17, in which the configuration interface includes an input and an output for configuring the network-attachable device, said programming instructions including further instructions for:
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outputting the device-specific help information to the output;
receiving a configuration command from the input; and
updating the device-specific help information according to the configuration command.
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29. The medium of claim 28, wherein said instructions for updating the device-specific help information includes further instructions for:
storing such modified device-specific help information in a local configuration memory for the network-attachable device.
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30. An article of manufacture for configuring a removably-attachable network device, said article comprising a readable medium having programming instructions encoded thereon capable of causing a processor to perform the operations of:
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receiving a connection notification over a private network from a newly-attached device having a configuration interface;
adding an entry to a manifest tracking connection notifications, such entry including an identifier for the newly-attached device;
providing an interface for inspecting and selecting each manifest entry;
retrieving a configuration profile for an attached device corresponding to a selected manifest entry, said retrieving including retrieving a remote configuration profile from a remote memory associated with the attached device, such remote memory accessed over the public network; and
storing at least a portion of the configuration profile by way of the configuration interface. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
retrieving a local configuration profile from a local memory associated with the attached device, such local memory accessed over the private network;
wherein the local configuration includes a network location indicator identifying a location on the public network from which the remote configuration can be retrieved.
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32. The medium of claim 30, in which configuration profiles are formatted in a web-browser format, and wherein the interface is a web-browser.
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33. An article of manufacture, comprising a readable medium having programming instructions encoded thereon capable of causing a processor to perform the operations of:
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receiving a connection notification for the network-attachable device over a first data path;
retrieving a device-specific help information for the network-attachable device over a second data path in communication with a memory associated with the network-attachable device, such memory containing device-specific help data; and
providing the device-specific help information to a configuration interface of the network-attachable device, the configuration interface providing access to the device-specific help information. - View Dependent Claims (34)
maintaining a manifest of devices attached to the first data path;
associating manifest entries with device-specific help information;
receiving a disconnect notification from the network-attachable device over the first data path; and
tracking the disconnect notification within the manifest.
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35. A method comprising:
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receiving a connection notification for the network-attachable device over a first data path;
retrieving a device-specific help information for the network-attachable device over a second data path in communication with a memory associated with the network-attachable device, such memory containing device-specific help data; and
storing the device-specific help information in a memory associated with a configuration interface of the network-attachable device, the configuration interface providing access to the device-specific help information. - View Dependent Claims (36)
maintaining a manifest of devices attached to the first data path;
associating manifest entries with device-specific help information;
receiving a disconnect notification from the network-attachable device over the first data path; and
tracking the disconnect notification within the manifest.
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Specification