Method for selecting and configuring wireless connections in an electronic device

• US 9,088,961 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Swearingen, Jeffrey R
• Application Number:
  US10/040,700
• Time in Patent Office: 4,953 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/227, 709/230, 709/220, 709/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method for selecting and configuring Bluetooth connections in an electronic device. A graphical user interface is displayed upon an electronic device. A current network profile is selected from multiple available Bluetooth network profiles displayed by the graphical user interface. When a current network profile is selected, the associated connection profile for the current network is automatically displayed. The electronic device is then connected to the current network by communicatively coupling with a Bluetooth wireless device coupled with the current network.

Claims

1. A method for selecting and configuring wireless connections for a portable electronic device associated with a network, the method being performed by a processor of the portable electronic device and comprising:

displaying a first screen on a display of the portable electronic device, the first screen showing a plurality of communication protocols, each of the plurality of communication protocols being associated with a different type of wireless enabled device;

receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of communication protocols;

based on the selected communication protocol, identifying one or more wireless enabled devices of the type associated with the selected communication protocol and within range of the portable electronic device using a wireless discovery process;

displaying a second screen on the display, the second screen showing the identified one or more wireless enabled devices;

receiving a user selection of one of the one or more wireless enabled devices;

displaying a third screen on the display, the third screen showing one or more network configuration options for a network associated with the selected wireless enabled device;

receiving a user selection of one or more of the network configuration options; and

wirelessly linking the portable electronic device with the wireless enabled device and the network using the selected network configuration options.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first screen includes a drop-down menu for displaying the plurality of communication protocols.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a user configuration of the wireless enabled device to cause the wireless enabled device to directly connect to the network via a sequence of screens on the display of the portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless discovery process includes a search for Bluetooth devices that are of the type associated with the selected communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection of one of the one or more wireless enabled devices initiates a sequence of configuration screens that prompt the user to configure the connection of the wireless enabled device to the network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the sequence of configuration screen includes a passkey screen that prompts the user to enter a passkey for the wireless enabled device to configure the connection of the wireless enabled device to the network.

7. A method for selecting and configuring wireless connections for a portable electronic device, the method being performed by a processor of the portable electronic device and comprising:

displaying a first screen on a display of the portable electronic device, the first screen showing a plurality of communication protocols, each of the plurality of communication protocols being associated with a different type of wireless enabled phone;

receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of communication protocols;

based on the selected communication protocol, identifying one or more wireless enabled phones within range of the portable electronic device using a wireless discovery process;

displaying a second screen on the display, the second screen showing the identified one or more wireless enabled phones;

based on a user selection of an identified wireless enabled phone, displaying a third screen on the display, the third screen showing one or more network configuration options for a network associated with the selected wireless enabled phone; and

based on a user selections of one or more of the network configuration options, wirelessly linking the portable electronic device with the wireless enabled phone and the network using the selected network configuration options.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first screen includes a drop-down menu for displaying the one or more communication protocols.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

enabling a user configuration of the wireless enabled phone to cause the wireless enabled phone to directly connect to the network via a sequence of screens on the display of the portable electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the network associated with the wireless enabled phone is the Internet.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the user selection of the specified wireless enabled phone initiates one or more configuration screens, the one or more configuration screens including a passkey screen that prompts the user to enter a passkey for the wireless enabled phone to configure the connection of the wireless enabled phone to the network.