Method and system for configuring an electronic device

• US 7,511,848 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chandley, Adrian M., Crosier, Dale C., Westerinen, William J., Manchester, Scott, Ledbetter, Carl J., Kaneko, Steven T., Nick, Benjamin, Phillips, Thomas G., DeMaio, Pasquale, Beck, Taryn K., Adams, Aditha M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Douglas Q
• Application Number:
  US10/999,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20060082817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11- 115, 700/1
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a new device are disclosed. The method includes using a host system to create a configuration file including data useable to configure the new device. A portable storage device is interfaced to the host and the configuration file is transferred to the storage device. The storage device is then interfaced to the new device and the configuration file is transferred to the new device. The configuration file is optionally used to configure the new device for communication over a network. A method for configuring the new device using a direct connection between the new device and a system bus of the host is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a wireless device, via a host having a system bus, to operate in a wireless network, the method comprising:

interfacing with the wireless device via the system bus;

receiving, from the wireless device, a plug and play enumeration phase;

receiving, at the host, data indicative of a product identifier associated with the wireless device;

determining, at the host, which drivers are required to support the wireless device;

loading the appropriate drivers;

sending, from the host to the wireless device, a query over the system bus, wherein the query includes a request for identification of a set of wireless capabilities associated with the wireless device, wherein the set of wireless capabilities include a type of wireless network supported by the wireless device;

receiving, at the host, the set of wireless capabilities;

creating a profile of the wireless device based on the set of wireless capabilities, wherein the profile includes wireless settings, and wherein the wireless settings include a network ID and a wireless network type; and

sending the wireless settings to the wireless device over the system bus to enable the wireless device to operate in the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the wireless device, a confirmation message signifying successful configuration of the wireless device based on the wireless settings.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless settings further comprise a security protocol and cryptographic key.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the security protocol is WEP.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the security protocol is WAP.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating over the wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the system bus is a USB bus.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the system bus is a PCI bus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the system bus is a 1394 bus.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a wireless access point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless access point includes an interface to an external network, further comprising temporarily disabling access to the external network.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising disabling the wireless network after the wireless device is interfaced to the system bus.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising disconnecting the interface between the wireless device and the system bus and enabling the wireless network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a client device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising disconnecting the network device from the system bus.

16. A method for configuring a wireless device, via a host having a system bus, to operate in a wireless network, the method comprising:

interfacing with the wireless device via the system bus;

receiving, from the wireless device, a plug and play enumeration phase;

receiving, from the wireless device, data indicative of a product identifier associated with the wireless device;

determining, at the host, which drivers are required to support the wireless device;

loading the appropriate drivers;

querying the wireless device over the system bus, wherein the query includes a request for identification of a set of wireless capabilities associated with the wireless device;

receiving, from the wireless device, the set of wireless capabilities;

creating a profile of the wireless device based on the set of wireless capabilities, wherein the profile includes wireless settings, and wherein the wireless settings include a network ID and a wireless network type; and

sending the wireless settings to the wireless device over the system bus to enable the wireless device to operate in the wireless network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a confirmation message signifying successful configuration of the wireless device based on the wireless settings.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless settings further comprise a security protocol and cryptographic key.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising temporarily disabling access to an external network.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising disabling the wireless network after the wireless device is interfaced to the system bus.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising disconnecting the interface between the wireless device and the system bus and enabling the wireless network.

22. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for configuring a wireless device, via a host having a system bus, to operate in a wireless network, wherein the computer-executable instructions include instructions for:

interfacing with the wireless device via a system bus, the system bus establishing a wired connection between the wireless device and a host;

receiving, from the wireless device, a plug and play enumeration phase;

receiving, at the host, data indicative of an identifier associated with the wireless device;

determining, at the host, which drivers are required to support the wireless device;

loading the appropriate drivers;

querying the wireless device over the system bus, wherein the query includes a request for identification of the set of wireless capabilities, wherein the set of wireless capabilities include a type of wireless network supported by the wireless device;

receiving, at the host, the set of wireless capabilities;

creating a profile of the wireless device based on the set of wireless capabilities, wherein the profile includes wireless settings, and wherein the wireless settings include a network ID and a wireless network type; and

sending the wireless settings to the wireless device over the system bus to enable the wireless device to operate in the wireless network.