Configurable multi-connector storage device

• US 7,774,437 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• 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): Zhen; Wei Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brophy; Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US11/000,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20060101459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,079 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-223, 717121-125
• US Class Current: 709/220
• 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 multi-connector storage device adapted to store configuration data for a new device and to provide an interface between a host computer and the new device, comprising:

electronic circuitry comprising

a processor for executing program instructions, and

memory, said memory having stored therein computing instructions, a device driver for permitting communication between the storage device and the new device, device specific data that uniquely identifies the new device, and configuration data for use in configuring the new device to communicate over a network,

said device specific data readable by the host computer and usable by the host computer to construct configuration data suitable for the new device,

said computing instructions executable by said processor to perform a method of configuring the new device,

said configuration data constructed by the host computer for the new device based upon said device specific data received from the storage device, downloaded to the storage device from the host computer, and comprising network configuration data comprising a network identifier, security information for communicating over the network using a security protocol, and a known services location identifying a location on the network where additional configuration data is obtainable by the new device,

said device driver automatically downloadable by said processor from the storage device to the new device upon interfacing,

said computing instructions automatically executable by said processor to configure the new device with the configuration data;

a first connector of a first type adapted to interface to the host computer;

a second connector of a second type adapted to interface to the new device, wherein the second type is distinct from the first type;

a first switch coupled to the first connector and the second connector, wherein the first switch prevents simultaneous connection of both the first connector and the second connector to the electronic circuitry; and

a second switch for providing at least first and second values useable by the storage device to select one configuration file from a plurality of configuration files,

wherein the second switch is adapted to receive input for selecting either the first value or the second value.

2. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, further comprising executable instructions for determining whether the new device is an active device capable of reading data from the portable storage device.

3. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein the switch is an electrical switch that detects which of the first and second connectors is first activated.

4. The multi-connector storage device of claim 3, wherein the electrical switch is a transistor.

5. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein the switch is a electromechanical switch.

6. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein the switch is a slide switch.

7. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein the multi-connector storage device further includes a housing having the memory and processor disposed therein and wherein the first and second connectors are coupled to the housing, further comprising:

a sleeve slideably mounted on the housing and moveable between a first position and second position, such that when the sleeve is in the first position only the first connector is accessible and when the sleeve is in the second position only the second connector is accessible.

8. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second connectors is adapted to provide a physical connection to an external device.

9. The multi-connector storage device of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is a type-A USB connector.

10. The multi-connector storage device of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is a type-B USB connector.

11. The multi-connector storage device of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is a mini-USB connector.

12. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is adapted to provide a wireless interface to an external device.

13. The multi-connector storage device of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is an RF Id tag.

14. The multi-connector storage device of claim 12, wherein the at least one of the first and second connectors is an infrared transmitter and receiver.

15. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein the second switch is pushbutton switch that provides the second value when pressed and otherwise provides the first value.

16. The multi-connector storage device of claim 1, wherein the second switch is biometric switch that provides the first value when the storage device is handled by a first user and the second value when handled by a second user.

17. The portable storage device of claim 16, wherein the biometric switch is a finger print reader.

18. A multi-connector storage device adapted to store configuration data for a new device and to provide an interface between a host computer and the new device, comprising:

a processor for executing program instructions;

memory, said memory having stored therein computing instructions, a device driver for permitting communication between the storage device and the new device, device specific data that uniquely identifies the new device, and configuration data for use in configuring an electronic device to communicate over a network,

said device specific data readable by the host computer and usable by the host computer to construct configuration data suitable for the new device, the device specific data comprising an RF ID tag,

said configuration data constructed by the host computer for the new device based upon said device specific data received from the storage device, downloaded to the storage device from the host computer, and comprising network configuration data comprising a network identifier, security information for communicating over the network using a security protocol, and a known services location identifying a location on the network where additional configuration data is obtainable by the new device,

said computing instructions executable by said processor to configure the new device with the configuration data,

said computing instructions executable by said processor to perform a method of configuring the electronic device,

said computing instructions automatically executable upon interfacing with the new device to transfer a copy of the configuration data to the new device,

said computing instructions comprising an autorun program configured to automatically load a device driver from the storage device onto the new device, wherein the device driver facilitates communication between the new device and the multi-connector storage device;

a first connector of a first type;

a second connector of a second type;

a first switch that automatically selects which of the first connector and the second connector is active; and

a second switch for providing at least first and second values useable by the storage device to select one configuration file from a plurality of configuration files,

wherein the second switch is adapted to receive input for selecting either the first value or the second value.

19. A multi-connector storage device adapted to store configuration data for a new device and to provide an interface between a host computer and the new device, comprising:

electronic circuitry comprising

a processor for executing program instructions, and

memory, said memory having stored therein computing instructions, a device driver for permitting communication between the storage device and the new device, and configuration data for use in configuring the new device to communicate over a network,

said computing instructions executable by said processor to perform a method of configuring the new device,

said configuration data comprising network configuration data including at least one of a network identifier, security information for communicating over the network using a security protocol, and a known services location identifying a location on the network where additional configuration data is obtainable by the new device,

said device driver automatically downloadable by said processor to the new device upon interfacing, and

said computing instructions automatically executable by said processor to configure the new device with the configuration data;

a first connector of a first type adapted to interface to the host computer;

a second connector of a second type adapted to interface to the new device, wherein the second type is distinct from the first type;

a first switch coupled to the first connector and the second connector, wherein the first switch prevents simultaneous connection of both the first connector and the second connector to the electronic circuitry; and

a second switch for providing at least first and second values useable by the storage device to select one configuration file from a plurality of configuration files,

wherein the second switch is pushbutton switch that provides the second value when pressed and otherwise provides the first value.

20. The multi-connector storage device of claim 19, wherein the second switch is biometric switch that provides the first value when the storage device is handled by a first user and the second value when handled by a second user.

21. The portable storage device of claim 20, wherein the biometric switch is a finger print reader.