System and method for achieving zero-configuration wireless computing and computing device incorporating same

• US 20060239209A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Moore, Timothy M., Ayyagari, Arun, Bahl, Pradeep, Sheth, Sachin C., Teodorescu, Florin, Ganugapati, Krishna, Peicu, Mihai S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a zero configuration nomadic wireless and wired computing environment presenting a just works experience is presented. The system examines predefined user preference or profile settings to determine to which of a competing number of wireless networks available it should connect, and what type of authentication should be used for such connection. Nomadic wireless computing between infrastructure wireless networks and ad hoc wireless networks may be accomplished without further user intervention required in an auto mode. Also, both infrastructure only and ad hoc only modes are available through the system of the invention. Further, the user may set a preference for infrastructure or ad hoc modes in the auto mode. With an infrastructure mode preference set, the system will automatically detect and transfer connectivity to a newly available infrastructure wireless network if the user was previously operating off-line or in ad hoc mode.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a computing device of a computer user to at least one network of a type selected from a group comprising a wireless telephone network, a wired infrastructure computer network, a wireless infrastructure computer network, and a wireless ad hoc computer network, the method, comprising the steps of checking user preferences for network connectivity, scanning for network presence of the at least one network, connecting the computing device to a the at least one network based on the user preferences, and bridging use of the computing device in an off-line mode when network connectivity is not available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of checking user preferences comprises the steps of checking for a default mode setting, checking for a preferred list of network providers, and checking an authentication mode setting.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of constructing a basic service set identification (BSSID) list of the at least one networks discovered from the step of scanning, deriving preferred and compatible service set identifiers (SSIDs) from the BSSID list, and connecting to a the at least one network by connecting the computing device to the preferred and compatible SSIDs.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of connecting the computing device to the preferred and compatible SSIDs comprises the steps of selecting one of the preferred and compatible SSIDs, attempting to associate with the selected one of the preferred and compatible SSIDs based on the authentication mode setting, and when unable to associate with the selected one of the preferred and compatible SSIDs selecting another of the preferred and compatible SSIDs to which to attempt association until an association is formed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of checking user preferences comprises the step of checking for an authentication mode setting, and wherein the step of connecting to the at least one network comprises the steps of performing IEEE 802.11 association with a wireless infrastructure computer network, and connecting as a valid user with credentials when the authentication mode setting is set to IEEE 802.1X authentication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of connecting to the at least one network further comprises the step of connecting as an unauthorized user without credentials when the step of connecting as a valid user with credentials fails.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of checking user preferences comprises the step of checking for an authentication mode setting, and wherein the step of connecting to the at least one network comprises the step of performing IEEE 802.11 association with an IEEE 802.1X capable network when the authentication mode setting is not set to IEEE 802.1X authentication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of checking user preferences comprises the step of checking for a default mode setting, wherein the step of connecting to a the at least one network fails, and when the default mode setting is set to auto mode further comprising the step of selecting an ad hoc mode of operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of selecting the ad hoc mode of operation comprises the steps of selecting an ad hoc SSID, and attempting an IEEE 802.11 association with the selected SSID.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of selecting an ad hoc SSID comprises the step of selecting a default ad hoc SSID.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of monitoring for the appearance of the wireless infrastructure computer network when the default mode setting is set to auto, infrastructure preferred mode, and connecting to the wireless infrastructure computer network upon its appearance.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of monitoring for the appearance of the wireless ad hoc computer network when the default mode setting is set to auto, ad hoc preferred mode, and connecting to the wireless ad hoc computer network upon its appearance.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of checking user preferences for networking connectivity comprises the step of checking a connection policy file.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of checking user preferences for networking connectivity comprises the step of checking for a default mode setting, and wherein the default mode setting includes an infrastructure mode allowing connectivity only with wireless infrastructure computer networks, an ad hoc mode allowing connectivity only with wireless ad hoc computer networks, an auto infrastructure preferred mode allowing connectivity with wireless infrastructure computer networks and wireless ad hoc computer networks with a preference for the wireless infrastructure computer networks, and an auto ad hoc preferred mode allowing connectivity with wireless infrastructure computer networks and wireless ad hoc computer networks with a preference for wireless ad ho computer networks.

25. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claims 1-14.

15. A method for connecting a computing device of a computer user to at least one wireless endpoint, comprising the steps of scanning to determine a presence of at least one wireless networks and at least one wireless stations (STA), selectively attempting to connect with the at least one wireless networks in an infrastructure mode, and when unable to connect to any wireless network in an infrastructure mode, selectively attempting to associate with the at least one wireless stations in an ad hoc mode.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of operating the computing device in an off-line mode when unable to connect to any of the at least one wireless network in an infrastructure mode and when unable to associate with any of the at least one wireless station in an ad hoc mode.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of detecting a presence of a subsequent one of the at least one wireless network not previously detected, and attempting to connect with the subsequent one of the at least one wireless network not previously detected when operating in one of the infrastructure, ad hoc and an off-line mode.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of creating a listing of all of the at least one wireless network detected by the step of scanning, identifying compatible and preferred ones of the at least one wireless network based on user preferences, and first attempting to connect with the preferred ones of the at least one wireless network.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of attempting to connect to the at least one wireless network comprises the steps of determining a user preference for an authentication method, performing an IEEE 802.11 association with the at least one wireless network, and connecting as a valid user with credentials when the authentication mode setting is set to IEEE 802.1X authentication.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of attempting to connect to the at least one wireless network further comprises the step of connecting as an unauthorized user without credentials when the step of connecting as a valid user with credentials fails.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of attempting to connect to the at least one wireless network comprises the steps of determining a user preference for an authentication method, and performing an IEEE 802.11 association with the at least one wireless network when the authentication mode setting is not set to IEEE 802.1X authentication.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of checking for a user defined mode setting, and wherein the step of selectively attempting to connect with one of the at least one wireless networks in an infrastructure mode is disabled when the user defined mode is set to ad hoc, and wherein the step of selectively attempting to associate with the other wireless stations in an ad hoc mode is disabled when the user defined mode is set to infrastructure mode.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of checking for a user preference for an operating mode, and wherein the step of selectively attempting to connect with one of the at least one wireless network in an infrastructure mode is performed before the step of selectively attempting to associate with the other wireless stations in an ad hoc mode when the user preference indicates a preference for the infrastructure mode.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of checking for a user preference for an operating mode, and wherein the step of selectively attempting to connect with one of the at least one wireless network in an infrastructure mode is performed after the step of selectively attempting to associate with one of the at least one wireless station in an ad hoc mode when the user preference indicates a preference for the ad hoc mode.

26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of claims 15-24.

27. A method of providing a just works user experience to network connectivity in a nomadic computing environment, comprising the steps of:

determining, at an interface specific zero configuration layer, available network connectivity interfaces;

selecting, at the interface specific zero configuration layer, a preferred network connectivity interface;

communicating network connectivity availability from the interface specific zero configuration layer to a generic zero configuration layer;

selecting, at the generic zero configuration layer, a preferred network connectivity from the communicated available network connections; and

establishing network connectivity with the preferred network connection.