Self-activating network connection system and method

• US 20050071511A1
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Chih-Wei
• Application Number:
  US10/776,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071511A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation

Abstract

A self-activating network connection system and method is suitable for a computer system capable of network connection. The computer system at least includes a network connection module for connecting to a network and a network driving module for driving the network connection module to perform network connection. When the computer system is turned on and counts to a predetermined value, the status of network connection is detected. If successful connection between the computer system and the network is detected, then counting and detection stop. If failure in connection between the computer system and the network is detected, then an activation signal is output to the network driving module and counting is restarted, such that the computer system sends information required for network initialization to the network driving module, which subsequently drives the network connection module with the information to perform the network connection process.

Claims

1. A self-activating network connection system suitable for a computer system capable of network connection, the computer system at least having a network connection module for connecting to a network and a network driving module for driving the network connection module to perform network connection, the network connection system comprising:

a detection module for performing a counting process to count to a predetermined value where the detection module detects whether the network connection module has successfully connected to the network; and

an activation module for sending required information to the network driving module, such that if the detection module determines that the computer system fails to connect to the network via the network connection module, the activation module sends an activation signal to the network driving module to trigger the network driving module to drive the network connection module to connect to the network until the detection module determines that the computer system has successfully connected to the network via the network connection module.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information comprises parameter settings required for performing network initialization.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection action performed by the detection module is to determine whether the network connection module has obtained an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the computer system.

4. A self-activating network connection method suitable for a computer system capable of network connection, the computer system at least having a network connection module for connecting to a network and a network driving module for driving the network connection module to perform network connection, the method comprising the following steps:

(1) performing a counting process after the computer system is turned on;

(2) having the computer system determine whether the counting process has counted to a predetermined value;

if no, returning to step (2) to continue the counting process;

if yes, proceeding to step (3);

(3) having the computer system detect whether the network connection module has connected to the network;

if yes, having the computer system connect to the network via the network connection module and terminating the self-activating network connection process;

if no, proceeding to step (4);

(4) having the computer system send an activation signal and information required for the network connection process to the network driving module; and

(5) having the network driving module drive the network connection module to perform the network connection process, and having the computer system perform the counting process again from the beginning and returning to step (2).

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the information comprises parameter settings required for performing network initialization.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the detection action performed by the computer system is to determine whether the network connection module has obtained an IP address of the computer system.