Wireless communications validation system and method

• US 8,488,792 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Lagnado, Isaac, Neill, Timothy, Jeansonne, Jeffrey Kevin, Merkel, Harold S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Jenise E
• Application Number:
  US11/259,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20070092080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,820 Days
• Field of Search: 380/270, 726/4, 343/700.R, 343/703
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment

Abstract

A wireless communications validation system comprises a validation module configured to determine an identity of an antenna disposed in a computer system and an identity of a wireless module disposed in the computer system, the validation module configured to validate permissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module.

Claims

1. A wireless communications validation system, comprising:

a validation module disposed in a basic input/output system (BIOS) that is configured to determine an identity of an antenna disposed in a computer system and an identity of a wireless module disposed in the computer system, the validation module configured to validate permissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module; and

an inter-integrated circuit (I²C) module configured to interface with the validation module for determining the identity of the antenna, wherein the input identifies a type, model or manufacturer of the antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the validation module is configured to disable wireless communications of the computer system in response to determining an impermissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a portable computer system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the input from the antenna identifies the manufacturer of the antenna.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the input from the antenna identifies the model of the antenna.

4. A wireless communications validation method, comprising:

determining an identity of an antenna of a computer system;

determining an identity of a wireless module of the computer system;

validating, by a validation module, permissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module;

disposing the validation module in a basic input/output system (BIOS) of the computer system;

determining the identity of the antenna using an inter-integrated circuit I²C module configured to interface with the validation module.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising disabling wireless communications of the computer system in response to determining an impermissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising disposing the validation module in a portable computer.

17. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the identity of antenna comprises determining the manufacturer of the antenna.

21. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the identity of antenna comprises determining the model of the antenna.

7. A wireless communications validation system, comprising:

means for determining an identity of an antenna of a computer system;

means for determining an identity of a wireless module of the computer system;

means for automatically validating permissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module;

wherein the validation module is disposed in a basic input/output system (BIOS); and

means for determining the identity of the antenna based upon signals from the antenna in response to the applied direct current, the means for determining the identity of the antenna comprising an inter-integrated circuit I²C module configured to interface with the BIOS.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for disabling wireless communications of the computer system in response to determining an impermissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module.

18. The system of claim 7, wherein the identity of the antenna identifies the manufacturer of the antenna.

22. The system of claim 7, wherein the identity of the antenna identifies the model of the antenna.

9. A wireless communications validation system, comprising:

a basic input/output system (BIOS) configured to determine whether a particular antenna of a computer system used with a particular wireless module of the computer system is a permissible combination for wireless communications; and

an inter-integrated circuit (I²C) module configured to interface with the BIOS module for determining an identity of the antenna, wherein the input identifies a type, model or manufacturer of the antenna.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the BIOS is configured to disable wireless communications of the computer system in response to determining that the use of the particular antenna with the particular wireless module is an impermissible combination.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the BIOS is disposed in a portable computer system.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the input from the antenna identifies the manufacturer of the antenna.

23. The system of claim 9, wherein the input from the antenna identifies the model of the antenna.

12. A wireless communications validation system, comprising:

a validation module configured to determine an identity of an antenna disposed in a computer system and an identity of a wireless module disposed in the computer system, the validation module configured to validate permissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module; and

an inter-integrated circuit (I²C) module configured to interface with the validation module for determining the identity of the antenna.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the validation module is disposed in a basic input/output system (BIOS).

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the validation module is configured to disable wireless communications of the computer system in response to determining an impermissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer system comprises a portable computer system.

24. The system of claim 12, wherein the identity of the antenna identifies a type, model or manufacturer of the antenna.

25. The system of claim 12, wherein the identity of the antenna identifies a model or manufacturer of the antenna.

26. A wireless communications validation system, comprising:

a validation module disposed in a basic input/output system (BIOS) that is configured to determine an identity of an antenna disposed in a computer system and an identity of a wireless module disposed in the computer system, the validation module configured to validate permissible combination of the antenna with the wireless module; and

an inter-integrated circuit I²C module configured to interface with the BIOS module for determining the identity of the antenna, wherein the input identifies a model of the antenna.