Wireless interface for access connections

• US 9,389,750 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2008
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ganey, Harriss C., Hill, David W., Stewart, Aaron M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHARGAVA, ANIL K
• Application Number:
  US12/325,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,781 Days
• Field of Search: 715/733, 715/734, 715/736, 715/853, 715/735, 715/737, 715/738, 715/739, 715/709, 709/224, 709/200
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A process of pairing a wireless PAN (personal area network) device with a system can be facilitated first by assuming default PIN codes that are traditionally used with wireless PAN devices and then by attempting such presumed default codes before querying the user for input. Accordingly, a cumbersome task conventionally required of the user is most often removed. Also, the devices that are paired and connected are preferably graphically conveyed on a display or graphical user interface (GUI) in a manner that solidly implies that each PAN device is connected only to its system, and not (directly) to other PAN devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

a display device operatively connected to said one or more processors, said display device having a visual user interface;

said visual user interface comprising a first region and a second region displayed together on said display device;

said first region acting to graphically convey a personal area network device within wireless range of a personal area network of said apparatus and connectable to said apparatus;

said second region acting to graphically convey a ring graphic of a personal area network comprising said apparatus depicted towards a center of said ring graphic and personal area network devices connected directly with said apparatus via the personal area network depicted about the periphery of said ring graphic;

said one or more processors initiating a connection between the personal area network device within said first region and said apparatus in response to user input moving an icon of the personal area network device from said first region to the periphery of said ring graphic of said second region;

wherein said initiating comprises automatically using a default code for establishing a connection between the personal area network device and said apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said devices in said second region are wireless personal area network devices.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first region acts to graphically convey devices previously employed within said personal area network.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an arrangement for graphically transferring to said second region, from said first region, an icon corresponding to a device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said arrangement for graphically transferring acts to initiate a connection between a device and said apparatus responsive to graphically transferring said icon from said first region to said second region.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said arrangement for graphically transferring acts to automatically connect the device to said apparatus if the default code is correct.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement for graphically transferring acts to query for a code entry if the default code is correct.

8. A method comprising:

providing a visual user interface on a display device, said visual user interface having a first region and a second region displayed together on said display device;

graphically conveying, at the first region, a personal area network device within wireless range of a personal area network of a hub system and connectable to said hub system;

graphically conveying, at the second region, a ring graphic of the personal area network comprising said hub system depicted towards a center of said ring graphic and personal area network devices connected directly with said hub system via the personal area network depicted about the periphery of said ring graphic; and

initiating a connection between the personal area network device within said first region and said hub system in response to user input moving an icon of the personal area network device from said first region to the periphery of said ring graphic of said second region;

wherein said initiating comprises automatically using a default code for establishing a connection between the personal area network device and said hub system.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said graphical conveying at the first region comprises graphically conveying devices previously employed within said personal area network.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising graphically transferring to the second region, from the first region, an icon corresponding to a device.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said initiating comprises automatically connecting the device to the hub system if the default code is correct.

12. A hardware device readable by machine, embodying a program of instructions, the instructions being executable by the machine and comprising:

instructions that provide a visual user interface on a display device, said visual user interface having a first region and a second region displayed together on said display device;

instructions that graphically convey, at the first region, a personal area network device within wireless range of a personal area network of a hub system and connectable to said hub system;

instructions that graphically convey, at the second region, a ring graphic of the personal area network comprising said hub system depicted towards a center of said ring graphic and personal area network devices connected directly with said hub system via the personal area network depicted about the periphery of said ring graphic; and

instructions that initiate a connection between the personal area network device within said first region and said hub system in response to user input moving an icon of the personal area network device from said first region to the periphery of said ring graphic of said second region;

wherein said instructions that initiate comprises instructions that automatically use a default code for establishing a connection between the personal area network device and said hub system.