Configuring network settings using portable storage media

• US 7,546,357 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Technologies Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Manchester, Scott, Abraham, Dalen, Nick, Benjamin, Freeman, Trevor W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US10/806,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/164 at the network layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/065 Continuous authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup

Abstract

A portable computer-readable media device and method of use enable automatic configuration of a computing device, such as a conventional network device or a thin client device, for operation in a network. Configuration information, including network settings and security information, is incorporated in an XML file written to the portable media device while it is installed in a first device. This configuration is then automatically transferred to a second device by installing the portable media device in the second device. The second device then writes device information, incorporated in an XML file, to the portable media device, to be uploaded to the first device.

Claims

1. A method of provisioning a network device with network settings, comprising:

detecting an installation of a portable computer-readable media device;

prompting a user for a network name;

determining a network settings configuration for allowing the network device to join a network corresponding to the network name, wherein the network settings configuration includes at least the network name and a network encryption key;

generating an Extensible Markup Language (XML) settings file including the network settings configuration;

writing the XML settings file, an autorun file, and a network setup application to the portable computer-readable media device,

reading, from the portable computer-readable media device after a re-installation of the portable computer-readable media device, an XML device configuration file including an applied configuration of the network device, and

wherein the portable computer-readable media device is a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network encryption key is automatically generated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network settings further include wireless network settings.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the network settings configuration includes collecting data from a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the network settings configuration includes using an application program interface (API) of an operating system to determine the network settings.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the network settings configuration is further for allowing the network device to join a peer-to-peer network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the network settings configuration is further for allowing the network device to join a domain-based network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network settings have a time to live, and are invalid after the time to live has expired.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the XML device configuration file to determine if a fault occurred during a provisioning of the network device with the applied configuration.

10. A method of configuring an electronic device for operation in a network, comprising:

detecting an installation of a portable computer-readable media device;

detecting an autorun file on the portable computer-readable media device;

based on the step of detecting the autorun file, automatically uploading a configuration from the portable computer-readable media device, wherein the configuration includes network settings and wherein the configuration is embodied in an XML settings file,

applying the configuration automatically to the electronic device;

joining the electronic device to the network;

generating a XML device configuration file, the XML device configuration file indicating the applied configuration of the electronic device and any faults occurring during the step of applying the configuration automatically to the electronic device;

writing the report XML file to the portable computer-readable media device; and

wherein the portable computer readable media device is a USB flash drive.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein automatically uploading the configuration from the portable computer-readable device comprises automatically uploading one from a plurality of configurations corresponding to a plurality of networks from the portable computer-readable device.