System of and method for configuring an automatic appliance

• US 6,704,401 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wee, Susie, Thayer, Jennifer J., Piepho, Allen James
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/104,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.07, 379/90.01, 379/93.17, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/102.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A configuration server comprises a web server connected to an Internet and hosting a registration webpage accessible to a registrant on the Internet, the registration webpage including an input area receiving configuration information from the registrant, a configuration database connected to the web server for storing the configuration information, and a direct-dial interface connected to a telephone line and to the configuration database, the direct-dial interface operational to answer an incoming telephone call from an automatic appliance and, in response, transmit the configuration information to the automatic appliance. An automatic appliance configuration registration system comprises (a) an automatic appliance including a memory for storing configuration information for automatically configuring the automatic appliance, and (b) a remote configuration server interface operational to answer an incoming call from the automatic appliance and, in response, transmit the configuration information to the automatic appliance, the remote configuration server comprising (i) a web server connected to an Internet and hosting a registration webpage accessible to a registrant on the Internet, the registration webpage including an input area receiving the configuration information from the registrant; and (ii) a configuration database connected to the web server for storing the configuration information.

Claims

1. A configuration server comprising:

a web server connected to an Internet and hosting a registration webpage accessible to a registrant on said Internet, said registration webpage including an input area receiving configuration information from said registrant;

a configuration database connected to said web server for storing said configuration information; and

a direct-dial interface connected to a telephone line and to said configuration database, said direct-dial interface operational to answer an incoming telephone call from an automatic appliance, wherein said automatic appliance initiates said incomina telephone call to said direct-dial interface, and, in response, transmit said configuration information to said automatic appliance.

2. The configuration server according to claim 1 wherein said configuration database automatically erases said configuration information in response to a successful transmission of said configuration information to said remote device on said telephone line.

3. The configuration server according to claim 1 wherein said configuration information includes information required by said remote device to access said Internet.

4. The configuration server according to claim 1 wherein said configuration information includes ISP and user account information.

5. The configuration server according to claim 1 wherein said input area comprises an input form including areas designated for allowing a user to input information required for said remote device to gain access and connect to said Internet.

6. The configuration server according to claim 1 further comprising a registration database, said registration page further including an input area for receiving registration information form said registrant, said registration information including a name and an address of said registrant.

7. The configuration server according to claim 1 wherein said direct-dial interface includes a modem compliant with modulation, data transfer, and data compression protocols standards set by an organization selected from a group consisting of Bell, CCITT, ITU-T and CCJTT/ITU-T.

8. The configuration server according to claim 1 wherein said web server is configured to authenticate portions of said configuration information corresponding to identification information of said remote device, said identification information including a serial number.

9. An automatic appliance configuration registration system comprising:

(a) an automatic appliance including a memory for storing configuration information for automatically configuring said automatic appliance; and

(b) a remote configuration server interface operational to answer an incoming call from said automatic appliance, wherein said automatic appliance initiates said incoming call to said remote configuration server interface, and, in response, transmit said configuration information to said automatic appliance, said remote configuration server comprising

(i) a web server connected to an Internet and hosting a registration webpage accessible to a registrant on said Internet, said registration webpage including an input area receiving said configuration information from said registrant; and

(ii) a configuration database connected to said web server for storing said configuration information.

10. The automatic appliance configuration registration system according to claim 9, said remote configuration server further comprising (iii) a communication interface connected to a telephone line and to said configuration database for answering said incoming call from said automatic appliance.

11. The automatic appliance configuration registration system according to claim 9, said automatic appliance further including a modem operable in (1) an initialization mode for establishing communications with said remote configuration server and (2) an operational mode for establishing communications with an internet service provider.

12. The automatic appliance configuration registration system according to claim 9 wherein said communications interface comprises a dial-up modem connected to a telephone line.

13. The automatic appliance configuration registration system according to claim 9 wherein said automatic appliance further comprises a device selected from the group comprising a programmable digital entertainment center, digital camera, video camera, global positioning system receiver, personal digital assistant, Internet appliance and a household appliance.

14. The automatic appliance configuration registration system according to claim 9 wherein said automatic appliance further comprises an interface to a television monitor and an integral alphanumeric display.

15. The automatic appliance configuration registration system according to claim 9 wherein said automatic appliance further comprises (i) a compact disc (CD) player configured to play audio encoded using a pulse code modulation (PCM) technique and (ii) a digital music decoder configured to play audio encoded using a perceptual coding technique.

16. The automatic appliance configuration registration system according to claim 9 further comprising a computer comprising a web browser configured to access said registration webpage on said Internet.

17. A method of configuring an automatic appliance comprising the steps of:

receiving configuration information from a client;

storing said configuration information in a memory;

accessing said memory with said automatic appliance operating in an initialization mode;

downloading said configuration information from said memory to said automatic appliance operating in said initialization mode;

automatically configuring a communications interface of said automatic appliance with said configuration information; and

connecting to a remote server with said communications interface, said automatic appliance initiating said connection to said remote server.

18. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17 further comprising transmitting a registration webpage to said client.

19. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17 wherein said step of access said memory includes connecting to a dial-up telephone line and dialing a telephone number of a configuration server.

20. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17, further comprising a step of automatically erasing said configuration information from said memory.

21. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17 further comprising the steps of receiving user registration information from said client and transmitting said user registration information to a user registration database.

22. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17 wherein said step of receiving configuration information from said client comprises receiving automatic appliance identification information and Internet access information including a user account number.

23. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17 wherein said step of connecting to said remote server with said communications interface comprises accessing a music recognition service and downloading information about music stored by said automatic appliance.

24. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17 further comprising the step of inputting said configuration information to said client using a personal computer.

25. The method of configuring an automatic appliance according to claim 17 wherein said step of receiving includes a step of accessing an Internet site using a personal computer.