Method and system for configuring an electronic device

• US 7,710,587 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: DeMaio, Pasquale, Beck, Taryn K., Adams, Aditha M., Chandley, Adrian M., Crosier, Dale C., Westerinen, William J., Manchester, Scott, Ledbetter, Carl J., Kaneko, Steven T., Nick, Benjamin, Phillips, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Douglas Q
• Application Number:
  US10/967,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11- 118
• 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 new device using a host computer having configuration data and a portable storage device, wherein the portable storage device is adapted to interface to the host and the new device and to transfer data therebetween, the method comprising:

interfacing the portable storage device to the host computer;

determining whether the portable storage device includes device specific data that identifies the new device;

selecting first configuration data to be included in a configuration file, wherein the first configuration data is usable by the new device, and wherein selecting the first configuration data comprises selecting device specific configuration data if the portable storage device includes the device specific data and selecting default configuration data if the portable storage device does not include the device specific data; and

storing a copy of the configuration file on the portable storage device,

wherein the portable storage device includes an RF tag and the host includes an interface adapted to read an write to the RF tag, and further comprising the step of reading, by the host, the device specific data from the RF tag.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of interfacing the portable storage device to the new device and storing a copy of the configuration file on the new device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration data includes a network identification and a shared secret, further comprising the step of using, by the new device, the shared secret to facilitate secure communication over the network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying second configuration data specific to the new device and modifying the configuration file to include the second configuration data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the configuration data further includes identification of a network location wherein third configuration data is stored, further comprising the step of, accessing, by the new device, the third configuration data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable storage device comprises a first connector and a second connector and wherein the first and second connectors are of different types.

7. A method for configuring a new device using a host computer having configuration data and a portable storage device, wherein the portable storage device is adapted to interface to the host and the new device and to transfer data therebetween, the method comprising:

interfacing the portable storage device to the host computer;

determining whether the portable storage device includes device specific data that identifies the new device;

selecting first configuration data to be included in a configuration file, wherein the first configuration data is usable by the new device, and wherein selecting the first configuration data comprises selecting device specific configuration data if the portable storage device includes the device specific data and selecting default configuration data if the portable storage device does not include the device specific data; and

storing a copy of the configuration file on the portable storage device,

wherein the portable storage device includes an RF tag and the host includes an interface adapted to read and write to the RF tag, and further comprising the step of writing the configuration file to the RF tag.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of interfacing the portable storage device to the new device and storing a copy of the configuration file on the new device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration data includes a network identification and a shared secret, further comprising the step of using, by the new device, the shared secret to facilitate secure communication over the network.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of identifying second configuration data specific to the new device and modifying the configuration file to include the second configuration data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the configuration data further includes identification of a network location wherein third configuration data is stored, further comprising the step of, accessing, by the new device, the third configuration data.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the portable storage device comprises a first connector and a second connector and wherein the first and second connectors are of different types.

13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for configuring a new device using a host computer having configuration data and a portable storage device, wherein the portable storage device is adapted to interface to the host and the new device and to transfer data therebetween, the instructions comprising:

interfacing the portable storage device to the host computer;

determining whether the portable storage device includes device specific data that identifies the new device;

selecting first configuration data to be included in a configuration file, wherein the first configuration data is usable by the new device, and wherein selecting the first configuration data comprises selecting device specific configuration data if the portable storage device includes the device specific data and selecting default configuration data if the portable storage device does not include the device specific data; and

storing a copy of the configuration file on the portable storage device,

wherein the portable storage device includes an RF tag and the host includes an interface adapted to read and write to the RF tag, and wherein the instructions further comprise writing the configuration file to the RF tag.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise the step of interfacing the portable storage device to the new device and storing a copy of the configuration file on the new device.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the configuration data includes a network identification and a shared secret, further comprising the step of using, by the new device, the shared secret to facilitate secure communication over the network.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further comprise identifying second configuration data specific to the new device and modifying the configuration file to include the second configuration data.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the configuration data further includes identification of a network location wherein third configuration data is stored, further comprising the step of, accessing, by the new device, the third configuration data.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the portable storage device comprises a first connector and a second connector and wherein the first and second connectors are of different types.