Methods and apparatuses for updating mobile computer location configuration settings

• US 6,922,723 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharp, Glen, Woron, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US09/547,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,932 Days
• Field of Search: 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method for a user'"'"'s mobile client computer to update its configuration specification involves receiving an e-mail from an administrator containing location settings encoded in an attachment, openings the attachment to the e-mail, and writing location values corresponding to the location settings encoded in the attachment into the configuration specification of the computer. In the preferred embodiment, the e-mail includes a designation of a location name corresponding to the configuration specification. In the e-mail attachment, the location settings are generically defined so as to apply to a variety of operating systems. The user'"'"'s mobile client application determines an operating system type for the computer, and generates the location values by interpreting the location settings for the operating system type for the computer. The interpretation of the generic location settings to produce the location values involves referring to program logic which translates the location settings into location values as a function of the operating system type for the computer. The location settings which may be specified according to the present invention includes internet settings, such as internet protocol address, a domain name server configuration, a gateway, and a WINS configuration, and further include dialing settings or local area network settings. According to another aspect, an administrator application provides a user'"'"'s client computer with configuration settings. The administrator application specifies a location name for the user'"'"'s client computer. The administrator application further creates an e-mail addressed to the user having the location settings encoded in an attachment, and the administrator application sends the e-mail to the user.

Claims

1. A method for updating a configuration specification of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an e-mail from an administrator containing one or more sets of location settings encoded in an attachment;

opening the attachment to the e-mail; and

writing location values corresponding to the one or more sets of location settings encoded in the attachment into the configuration specification of the computer, wherein the one or more sets of location settings are selectable during computer startup by the user.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the e-ail includes a designation of a location name corresponding to the configuration specification;

and

wherein the configuration specification of the computer corresponds to the location name.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more sets of location settings are generically defined so as to apply to a variety of operating systems.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

determining an operating system type for the computer; and

generating the location values by interpreting the one or more sets of location settings for the operating system type for the computer.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the interpreting step is performed by referring to program logic which translates the one or more sets of location settings into location values as a function of the operating system type for the computer.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the one or more sets of location settings specify internet settings.

7. A method as in claim 5, wherein the one or more sets of location settings specify an internet protocol address, a domain name server configuration, a gateway, and a WINS configuration.

8. A method as in claim 5, wherein the one or more sets of location settings specify dialing settings or local area network settings.