Peripheral device with visual indicators to show utilization of radio component

• US 20070002846A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ruckus Wireless, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuntjoro, Smiley, Rada, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/358
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0602 using antenna switching H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/082 selecting best antenna path

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method involving a client device and a computer network peripheral device. An embodiment is disclosed including transmitting data within the computer network, receiving content from among the transmitted data, determining an aspect of streamed content, and controlling a visual user output on the peripheral device, based on the determined aspect of the content, and streaming the content to the client device. The client device may comprise at least one of the devices selected from the following: a personal computer, a media player, a game station, a television, a monitor, a high-definition television (HDTV), a wireless access point (AP) client, a wireless satellite receiver, or a personal video recorder. The computer network peripheral device may comprise a router, a modem, or a firewall. Other embodiments are directed to other methods as well as various devices.

Claims

1. A network peripheral device comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

network communications electronics operable with the antennas;

a plurality of electronically controllable visual indicators; and

circuitry that activates selected indicators from the plurality of indicators, the activation corresponding to selection of respective antennas from among the plurality of antennas.

2. The device of claim 1, including networking electronics.

3. The device of claim 1, including router functionality.

4. The device of claim 1, including a modem.

5. The device of claim 1, including a base band processor.

6. The device of claim 1, including a firewall.

7. The device of claim 1, including a media access control (MAC) processor.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual indicators comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs).

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each visual indicator corresponds to a particular antenna among the plurality of antennas.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual indicators are arranged in a pattern corresponding to an arrangement of antennas in the plurality of antennas.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual indicators are arranged in a substantially circular pattern.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the visual indicators may comprise marks on a display.

13. A wireless LAN device comprising:

a plurality of antennas;

base band electronics that receive and process information from the antennas;

media access control (MAC) logic that is coupled to and receives the processed information from the base band electronics;

an Ethernet interface coupled to the MAC logic;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and

circuitry that activates selected LEDs from the plurality of LEDs, the activation corresponding to selection of respective antennas from among the plurality of antennas.

14. The wireless LAN device of claim 13, wherein the base band electronics and MAC logic comprise a single processor.

17. The LAN device of claim 13, wherein the LEDs are switched on for a predetermined time period.

24. The LAN device of claim 13, including a dome covering the LEDs.

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27. A computer network peripheral device comprising:

a housing;

communications electronics located within the housing;

a plurality of antennas;

a plurality of electronically controllable visual indicators mounted to the housing;

circuitry that activates selected indicators from the plurality of indicators, the activation corresponding to selection of respective antennas from among the plurality of antennas; and

circuitry that de-activates the visual indicators in response to a user action.

28. The device of claim 27, including a switch for receiving the user action.

29. The device of claim 27, including circuitry to detect the user action through capacitive coupling.

30. The device of claim 27, including a cover covering the plurality of visual indicators, and wherein the user action comprises touching the cover.

31. The device of claim 27, including a software application, and wherein the user action comprises use of the software application to control the circuitry that de-activates the visual indicators.

38. The device of claim 27, including a substantially circular dome covering the indicators.

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