System And Method For Interactive Instant Networking

• US 20090222537A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Colligo Networks, Inc. (Olbia Software Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Colligo Networks, Inc. (Olbia Software Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartram, Linda R., Jinks, Barry, Blackstock, Michael A,, Watkins, Andrew D.
• Application Number:
  US12/344,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222537A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04

Abstract

Interactive instant networking may be achieved by receiving an indication to change from a current network mode to another network mode, disabling a collaboration authority DHCP server if the current network mode comprises a collaboration authority instant network mode, enabling the collaboration authority DHCP server if the current network mode does not comprise the collaboration authority instant network mode, issuing a DHCP IP address request to receive an IP address, and repeating the issuing until a unique IP address is received. The indication may be responsive to a user toggling an application-level user interface button.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A computing device comprising:

a user interface displayable on a computer screen and comprising at least one user control that allows a user to launch access to an ad-hoc network; and

at least one computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the computing device to, responsive to the user control;

change a mode of a wireless card associated with the computing device from an infrastructure mode to an ad-hoc mode; and

switch the computing device to the ad-hoc network.

22. The computing device of claim 21 wherein the at least one user control comprises a button.

23. The computing device of claim 21 wherein the ad-hoc network comprises a default ad-hoc network that is specified in a user preferences file for the user.

24. The computing device of claim 23 wherein the default ad-hoc network comprises a last ad-hoc network.

25. The computing device of claim 23 wherein the default ad-hoc network comprises a user-specified ad-hoc network from a ad-hoc network profile.

26. The computing device of claim 23 wherein the default ad-hoc network comprises a system-specified ad-hoc network.

27. The computing device of claim 21 wherein the network name comprises a service set identifier (SSID) with a tag that identifies it as a specific type of ad-hoc network.

28. The computing device of claim 27 wherein the tag indicates one or more applications running on the ad-hoc network, the one or more applications comprising one or more of a data sharing application and a collaboration application.

29. The computing device of claim 21 wherein the tag is pre-pended to each of the available ad-hoc networks.

30. A computing device comprising:

a user interface displayable on a computer screen, the user interface comprising at least one user control that allows a user to leave an ad-hoc network; and

at least one computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed, cause the computing device, upon leaving the ad-hoc network, to restore network connectivity settings on the computing device to a state prior to the access to the ad-hoc network.

31. The computing device of claim 30 wherein the at least one user control comprises a button.

32. A computer implemented method comprising:

displaying a user interface on a computer screen of a computing device, the user interface comprising at least one user control that allows a user to launch access to an ad-hoc network; and

responsive to the user control;

changing a mode of a wireless card associated with the computing device from an infrastructure mode to an ad-hoc mode; and

switching the computing device to the ad-hoc network.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the at least one user control comprises a button.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the ad-hoc network comprises a default ad-hoc network that is specified in a user preferences file for the user.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the default ad-hoc network comprises a last ad-hoc network.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the default ad-hoc network comprises a system-specified ad-hoc network.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the network name comprises a service set identifier (SSID) with a tag that identifies it as a specific type of ad-hoc network.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the tag indicates one or more applications running on the ad-hoc network, the one or more applications comprising one or more of a data sharing application and a collaboration application.

40. The method of claim 32 wherein the tag is pre-pended to each of the available ad-hoc networks.

35-1. The method of claim 34 wherein the default ad-hoc network comprises a user-specified ad-hoc network from a ad-hoc network profile.

41. A computer implemented method comprising:

displaying a user interface on a computer screen of a computing device, the user interface comprising at least one user control that allows a user to leave an ad-hoc network; and

upon the user leaving the ad-hoc network, restoring network connectivity settings on the computing device to a state prior to the access to the ad-hoc network.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the at least one user control comprises a button.