Networking hardware element to couple computer network elements and method of displaying a network layout map thereon

• US 7,675,862 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lin, Steven, Pham, Anthony, Bettino, Jonathan, Hoard, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Chirag G
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH TRANG T
• Application Number:
  US11/506,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/245, 370/357, 370/360
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

In one embodiment, a networking hardware element (1100, 3100) capable of coupling computer network elements (1010) comprises a network diagnostic mechanism (2140) that is capable of mapping the computer network elements and that is also capable of determining a connection status for the computer network elements. The networking hardware element also comprises a display (2110, 3110, 5110) that is capable of communicating with the network diagnostic mechanism and that is also capable of displaying a network layout map (2111, 5111) of representations of the computer network elements and the connection status of the computer network elements.

Claims

1. A networking hardware element to couple computer network elements, comprising:

one or more transceivers configured to receive communication signals from one or more of the computer network elements and to forward the communication signals to one or more different ones of the computer network elements;

a network diagnostic mechanism that;

iteratively scans the transceivers to monitor the computer network elements;

maps the computer network elements; and

determines a connection status for the computer network elements coupled to the networking hardware element based on monitoring the transceivers; and

a display that;

is located at a surface of the networking hardware element;

communicates with the network diagnostic mechanism; and

displays a network layout map of the computer network elements based on the mapping by the network diagnostic mechanism, the network layout map being iconographic and comprising;

representations of the computer network elements;

representations of interconnections between the networking hardware element and the computer network elements; and

representations of the connection status of the computer network elements;

wherein the representations of the connection status are configured to be indicative of at least one of;

a communication problem with at least a first one of the computer network elements;

or

a non-presence of at least the first one of the computer network elements.

2. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of the representations of the computer network elements of the network layout map are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a modem,

the internet, and

the networking hardware element.

3. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

the networking hardware element is selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a router,

a hub,

a switch,

a wireless network access point, and

a wireless networking card.

4. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

the display further comprises an LCD.

5. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

a first one of the representations represents a plurality of one type of the computer network elements.

6. The networking hardware element of claim 5, wherein:

the first one of the representations indicates a quantity of the plurality of the one type of the computer network elements.

7. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

each of the representations represents an individual one of the computer network elements.

8. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

the display further displays a network information set selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network security indicator;

a service set identifier;

a network speed; and

a network security standard.

9. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

the display displays a network setup advice.

10. The networking hardware element of claim 9, wherein the networking hardware element:

interprets an input from a user responding to the network setup advice; and

then causes the display to display an additional network setup advice based on the input.

11. The networking hardware element of claim 9, wherein:

the display indicates which of the representations correspond to the network setup advice.

12. The networking hardware element of claim 1, wherein:

the display displays a network troubleshooting advice.

13. The networking hardware element of claim 12, wherein the networking hardware element:

interprets an input from a user responding to the network troubleshooting advice; and

then

causes the display to display an additional network troubleshooting advice based on the input.

14. The networking hardware element of claim 12, wherein:

the display indicates which of the representations correspond to the network troubleshooting advice.

15. A method of displaying a network layout map on a networking hardware element, the method comprising:

iteratively scanning transceivers of the networking hardware element to;

monitor for computer network elements; and

forward communication signals from one or more of the computer network elements to one or more different ones of the computer network elements;

determining a connection status for the computer network elements; and

then displaying an iconographic network layout map at a surface of the networking hardware element;

wherein displaying the iconographic network layout map comprises;

presenting representations of the computer network elements;

presenting representations of interconnections between the networking hardware elements and the computer network elements; and

presenting representations of the connection status of the computer network elements, the connection status configured to be indicative of at least one of;

a communication problem with at least a first one of the computer network elements;

or

a non-presence of at least the first one of the computer network elements.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

displaying the iconographic network layout map further comprises;

presenting a first one of the representations of the computer network elements to represent a plurality of one type of the computer network elements.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying a network advice comprising at least one of;

a setup advice, or a troubleshooting advice;

interpreting a user input responsive to the network advice; and

displaying an additional network advice based on the user input, the additional network advice comprising at least one of;

an additional setup advice, or an additional troubleshooting advice.

18. A networking hardware element to allow computer network elements to communicate with each other, the networking hardware element comprising:

a housing;

network communication ports to couple one or more of the computer network elements to one or more different ones of the computer network elements;

a network mapping routine that;

iteratively scans the network communication ports for communication signals to monitor the computer network elements; and

establishes a communication status for each of the network communication ports; and

a network arrangement representation displayed at a surface of the housing and based on information from the network mapping routine, the network arrangement representation comprising;

icons representative of the computer network elements;

representations of interconnections for the networking hardware element and the computer network elements; and

representations of the communication status of each of the network communication ports;

wherein the representations of the communication status are configured to be indicative of at least one of;

a communication problem with at least a first one of the computer network elements coupled to a first one of the network communications port;

or

a non-presence of at least the first one of the computer network elements.

19. The networking hardware element of claim 18, wherein:

a first one of the icons represents a plurality of a first type of the computer network elements.

20. The networking hardware element of claim 19, wherein:

the first one of the icons indicates a quantity of the computer network elements of the first type it represents.

21. The networking hardware element of claim 18, further comprising:

an LCD located at the surface of the housing of the networking hardware element;

wherein the LCD displays the network arrangement representation.

22. The networking hardware element of claim 18, further comprising:

an LCD;

a network troubleshooting advice; and

an additional network troubleshooting advice;

wherein;

the LCD displays the network troubleshooting advice; and

the LCD displays the additional network troubleshooting advice in response to a user input pertaining to the network troubleshooting advice.

23. The networking hardware element of claim 18, further comprising:

an LCD;

a network setup advice; and

an additional network setup advice;

wherein;

the LCD displays the network setup advice; and

the LCD displays the additional network setup advice in response to a user input pertaining to the network setup advice.

24. networking hardware element of claim 18, wherein:

the computer network elements are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a modem,

the internet,

one or more wired computers,

one or more wireless computers, and

a printer.

25. The networking hardware element of claim 18, further comprising:

a network information listing;

wherein the network information listing lists information selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network security indicator to indicate whether a network security standard is enabled;

a service set identifier;

a network speed; and

the network security standard.

26. The networking hardware element of claim 18, further comprising:

an LCD located at the surface of the housing of the networking hardware element; and

a network information listing;

wherein;

a first one of the icons represents one or more of a type of computer network element;

the LCD displays the network arrangement representation;

the computer network elements are selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a modem,

the internet,

one or more wired computers,

one or more wireless computers, and

a printer; and

the network information listing lists information selected from the group consisting essentially of;

a network security indicator to indicate whether a network security standard is enabled;

a service set identifier;

a network speed; and

the network security standard.

27. The networking hardware element of claim 26, further comprising:

a network setup advice; and

an additional network setup advice;

wherein;

the LCD displays the network setup advice;

the LCD indicates at least one of the icons corresponding to the network setup advice; and

the LCD displays the additional network setup advice in response to a user input pertaining to the network setup advice.

28. The networking hardware element of claim 26, further comprising:

a network troubleshooting advice; and

an additional network troubleshooting advice;

wherein;

the LCD displays the network troubleshooting advice;

the LCD indicates at least one of the icons corresponding to the network troubleshooting advice; and

the LCD displays the additional network troubleshooting advice in response to a user input pertaining to the network troubleshooting advice.