INITIATING ROUTER FUNCTIONS

• US 20080310407A1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Johnson, David Alan, Sewall, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/381
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/083 for increasing network speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method of initiating router functions includes providing a router device having an integrated user interface having a user control and an indicator. From the router device, a first data link to a wide area network is established. From the router device, a second data link to enable a local area network is established. Via the indicator, state information regarding the first and second data links is communicated. It is determined if the user control has been activated. Upon detecting that the user control has been activated one or both of the first and second data links are modified. Information indicating the modification is communicated via the indicator.

Claims

1. A method of initiating router functions, comprising:

providing a router device having an integrated user interface having a user control and an indicator;

establishing, from the router device, a first data link to a wide area network;

establishing, from the router device, a second data link to enable a local area network;

communicating, via the indicator, state information regarding the first and second data links;

determining if the user control has been activated;

modifying one or both of the first and second data links upon a determination that the user control has been activated;

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

modifying comprises modifying the first data link by connecting to or disconnecting from the first data link; and

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification includes communicating information indicating the disconnection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

modifying comprises disconnecting from the first data link and establishing, from the router device, a third data link to the wide area network; and

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating modification includes communicating information indicating the disconnection of the fist data link and the establishment of the third data link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

modifying comprises enabling or disabling wireless communication for the local area network; and

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification includes communicating information indicating the enabling or disabling of wireless communication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

modifying comprises enabling or disabling anonymous usage of wireless communication in the local area network; and

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification includes communicating information indicating the enabling or disabling of anonymous usage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

modifying comprises blocking a particular user from accessing the local area network; and

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification includes communicating information indicating the blocking of the particular user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

modifying comprises setting a maximum data transfer rate representing a bandwidth ceiling for the router device; and

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification includes communicating information indicating the set maximum data transfer rate.

8. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions, the instructions being executable by a router device having an integrated user interface having a user control and an indicator, wherein the medium includes instructions for:

establishing, from the router device, a first data link to a wide area network;

establishing, from the router device, a second data link to enable a local area network;

communicating, via the indicator, state information regarding the first and second data links;

determining if the user control has been activated;

modifying one or both of the first and second data links upon a determination that the user control has been activated;

communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein:

the instructions for modifying include instructions for modifying the first data link by connecting to or disconnecting from the first data link; and

the instructions for communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification include instructions for communicating information indicating the disconnection.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein:

the instructions for modifying include instructions for disconnecting from the first data link and establishing, from the router device, a third data link to the wide area network; and

the instructions for communicating, via the indicator, information indicating modification include instructions for communicating information indicating the disconnection of the fist data link and the establishment of the third data link.

11. The medium of claim 8, wherein:

the instructions for modifying include instructions for enabling or disabling wireless communication for the local area network; and

the instructions for communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification include instructions for communicating information indicating the enabling or disabling of wireless communication.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein:

the instructions for modifying include instructions for enabling or disabling anonymous usage of wireless communication in the local area network; and

the instructions for communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification include instructions for communicating information indicating the enabling or disabling of anonymous usage.

13. The medium of claim 8, wherein:

the instructions for modifying include instructions for blocking a particular user from accessing the local area network; and

the instructions for communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification include instructions for communicating information indicating the blocking of the particular user.

14. The medium of claim 8, wherein:

the instructions for modifying include instructions for setting a maximum data transfer rate representing a bandwidth ceiling for the router device; and

the instructions for communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification include instructions for communicating information indicating the set maximum data transfer rate.

15. A device for routing communications between clients and the internet comprising, comprising:

an integrated user interface having a user control and an indicator;

a connector configured to communicate with a first data exchanger to establish, from the router device, a first data link to a wide area network;

a local network interface configured to establish, from the router device, a second data link to enable a local area network;

a communication engine configured to communicate, via the indicator, state information regarding the first and second data links;

a control engine configured to determine if the user control has been activated;

a state engine operable to modify one or both of the first and second data links upon a determination that the user control has been activated;

the communication engine being configured to communicate, via the indicator, information indicating the modification.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the state engine is configured to modify by causing the router device to connect to or disconnecting from the first data link; and

the communication engine is configured to communicate, via the indicator, information indicating the disconnection.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the state engine is configured to modify by causing the router device to disconnecting from the first data link and establishing, from the router device, a third data link to the wide area network; and

the communication engine is configured to communicate, via the indicator, information indicating the disconnection of the fist data link and the establishment of the third data link.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the state engine is configured to modify by enabling or disabling wireless communication for the local area network; and

the communication engine is configured to communicate, via the indicator, information indicating the enabling or disabling of wireless communication.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the state engine is configured to modify by enabling or disabling anonymous usage of wireless communication in the local area network; and

the communication engine is configured to communicate, via the indicator, information indicating the enabling or disabling of anonymous usage.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the state engine is configured to modify by blocking a particular user from accessing the local area network; and

the communication engine is configured to communicate, via the indicator, information indicating the blocking of the particular user.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the state engine is configured to modify by setting a maximum data transfer rate representing a bandwidth ceiling for the router device; and

the communication engine is configured to communicate, via the indicator, information indicating the set maximum data transfer rate.

22. A device for routing communications between clients and the internet comprising:

an integrated user interface having a user control and an indicator;

means for establishing, from the router device, a first data link to a wide area network;

means for establishing, from the router device, a second data link to enable a local area network;

means for communicating, via the indicator, state information regarding the first and second data links;

means for determining if the user control has been activated;

means for modifying one or both of the first and second data links upon a determination that the user control has been activated;

means for communicating, via the indicator, information indicating the modification.