Network appliance wireless configuration interface

• US 20020142765A1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Monte J.
• Application Number:
  US09/823,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20020142765A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network appliance with a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from a wireless device, where the signals contain the network appliance'"'"'s configuration information, is disclosed. A wireless device with signal generating, coding and transmitting capabilities allows a user to send coded signals containing configuration information to a network appliance. A network appliance with a wireless signal interface receives the signals, decodes them, converts them to machine-accessible information to configure the network appliance, and stores the information in memory. The configuration information can be displayed, either on the network appliance or the wireless device, to confirm that configuration is correct.

Claims

1. A network appliance comprising:

a wireless interface to receive wireless signals containing the network appliance'"'"'s configuration information; and

a network interface to receive network information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network appliance further comprises a rack-mounted appliance.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration information further comprises an Internet Protocol address.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless signals are generated by a personal digital assistant (PDA).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless signals further comprise infrared signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface further comprises an infrared interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network appliance further comprises a wireless interface cover.

8. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein the network appliance further comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless signals further comprise radio frequency signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface further comprises a radio frequency interface.

11. The apparatus in claim 1, wherein the network appliance further comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the network appliance further comprises a device capable of receiving and decoding an infrared signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the network appliance further comprises a device capable of receiving and decoding a radio frequency signal.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless device further comprises a device capable of generating, coding and transmitting an infrared signal.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless device further comprises a device capable of generating, coding and transmitting a radio frequency signal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signals further comprise infrared signals.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signals further comprise radio frequency signals.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the configuration information further comprises an Internet Protocol address.

12. A method for converting wireless signals to machine-accessible information for configuring a network appliance, comprising:

receiving wireless signals containing configuration information from a wireless device;

decoding the wireless signals;

sending the decoded signals to the network appliance'"'"'s microprocessor;

converting the decoded signals to machine-accessible configuration information; and

storing the configuration information in the network appliance'"'"'s memory.

20. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause a wireless device to:

code a network appliance'"'"'s configuration information input to the wireless device;

generate a wireless signal;

encode the wireless signal with the configuration information; and

transmit the encoded signal to the network appliance.

21. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein the wireless transmitter further comprises a device that can generate, encode and transmit an infrared signal.

22. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein the wireless transmitter further comprises a device that can generate, encode and transmit a radio frequency signal.

23. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein the wireless signal further comprises an infrared signal.

24. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein the wireless signal further comprises a radio frequency signal.

25. The machine-accessible medium of claim 20, wherein the configuration information further comprises an Internet Protocol address.