Method and apparatus for mapping electronic devices coupled to a wireless network

• US 7,231,605 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ramakesavan, Sundaram
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US09/545,707
• Time in Patent Office: 2,622 Days
• Field of Search: 345/734, 345/736, 345/853, 345/969, 715733-740, 715/744, 715/747, 715/853, 715/859, 715/969, 715751-759, 709217-219, 709204-207, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/102.07, 379/74, 379/185, 379/106.01, 379/93.21, 379157-160, 379/202, 34821199-2118, 348/211.13, 348/734, 348 1401- 1416, 348/211.12, 455 301- 306, 455/418, 455/420, 455352-353
• US Class Current: 715/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A user selects a wireless network mapping option on their computer and is presented with a list of names of electronic devices coupled to the wireless network to which the computer is coupled. When one of the electronic devices transmits a wireless identification signal to the computer, a visual cue identifies the default name associated with the electronic device in the list. The user may then rename the default name to a local name. The user may also opt to transmit a wireless identification signal of their own to one or more of the electronic devices coupled to the wireless network. Alternatively, the user may select one or more electronic devices from the list, and nudge the selected devices by sending an activation signal, causing the electronic devices to identify themselves using an audio or visual cue.

Claims

1. A method of mapping electronic devices coupled to a wireless network comprising:

displaying a first list of names on a display screen of a first electronic device coupled to the wireless network, each name in the first list associated with an active electronic device coupled to the wireless network;

displaying a visual cue on the display screen of a first electronic device in response to receiving a first wireless identification signal from a second electronic device, the cue identifying a default name associated with the second electronic device in the first list of names of electronic devices;

broadcasting a second wireless identification signal identifying the second electronic device or its user, the second wireless identification signal directly perceivable by the senses of the user of the first electronic device, the second wireless identification signal sent contemporaneously with the first wireless identification signal; and

providing an option on the first electronic device to rename the default name associated with the second electronic device to a local name.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an option on the first electronic device to broadcast a third wireless identification signal from the first electronic device, the third identification signal including a first default name assigned by a user of the first electronic device;

displaying a visual cue on the display screen of the second electronic device in response to the second electronic device unable to translate the first default name, the visual cue identifying a second default name associated with the first electronic device in a second list of names of a plurality of electronic devices coupled to the wireless network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing an option on the first electronic device to broadcast a wireless activation signal to a user-selected electronic device from the first list of names of electronic devices;

sending an audio or visual cue from the user-selected electronic device in response to the activation signal, the audio or visual cue directly perceivable by the senses of the user of the first electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an option on the first electronic device to broadcast a wireless activation signal to multiple user-selected electronic devices from the first list of names of devices;

sending an audio or visual cue from the user-selected electronic device in response to the activation signal, the audio or visual cue directly perceivable by the senses of the user of the first electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a data exchange option on the first electronic device to send a file to the second electronic device, the data exchange option identifying the second electronic device by the local name.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the first list of names is done in response to a user of the first electronic device selecting a wireless network mapping menu option.

7. A computer system programmed to implement the method of claim 1.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an option on the first electronic device to rename the default name associated with the second electronic device to a local name.

8. A computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions readable therefrom, the instructions, when executed by a first electronic device, cause the first electronic device to perform operations comprising:

displaying a first list of names on a display screen of a first electronic device coupled to the wireless network, each name in the first list associated with an active electronic device coupled to the wireless network;

displaying a visual cue on the display screen of a first electronic device in response to receiving a first wireless identification signal from a second electronic device, the cue identifying a default name associated with the second electronic device in the first list of names of electronic devices;

broadcasting a second wireless identification signal identifying the second electronic device or its user, the second wireless identification signal directly perceivable by the senses of the user of the first electronic device, the second wireless identification signal sent contemporaneously with the first wireless identification signal; and

providing an option on the first electronic device to rename the default name associated with the second electronic device to a local name.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

providing an option to broadcast a wireless identification signal from the first electronic device to multiple electronic devices, including the second electronic device, the identification signal including a first default name assigned by a user of the first electronic device;

displaying a visual cue on the display screen of the second device in response to the second electronic device unable to translate the first default name, the cue identifying a second default name associated with the first electronic device in a second list of names of a plurality of electronic devices coupled to the wireless network.

10. The medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise providing an option to broadcast a wireless activation signal to multiple user-selected electronic devices from the first list of names of electronic devices, the activation signal to cause the user-selected electronic devices to identify themselves using an audio or visual cue.

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise providing an option to broadcast a wireless activation signal to multiple user-selected electronic devices from the first list of names of electronic devices, the activation signal to cause the user-selected electronic devices to identify themselves using an audio or visual cue.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise providing a data exchange option on the first electronic device to send a file to the second electronic device, the data exchange option identifying the second electronic device by the local name.

13. The medium of claim 8, wherein displaying the first list of names is done in response to a user of the first electronic device selecting a wireless network mapping menu option.