Abstract:
A method for wirelessly connecting a workstation, such as a computer, to a local area network includes selecting a LAN with which the workstation is to communicate. A wireless LAN access device that communicates with a processor of the workstation receives signals broadcast by wireless LAN ports. The signals are evaluated to identify those signals which originated from wireless LAN ports of the selected LAN. A connection protocol is then selected, based on a signal from one of the wireless LAN ports of the selected LAN, to establish a connection and, thus, communication between the wireless LAN access device of the workstation and that wireless LAN port. If such communication is established, one or more security identifiers may be provided from the workstation to the selected LAN. A connection program, which is embodied as instructions on one or more storage media, may be used to effect the method.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to client manager programs for use with wireless local area network (LAN) access devices and, more specifically, to client manager programs that facilitate automatic connection by wireless LAN access devices to wireless ports of LANs which require different security identifiers or different connection protocols, or to wireless ports of different LANs. In particular, the present invention relates to client manager programs that automatically initiate communication of a wireless LAN access device with a plurality of different, predetermined wireless LAN ports. 
     2. Background of Related Art 
     In the state of the art, computers are becoming increasingly portable. As such, computers are often used in a variety of different locations. Conventionally, computers have communicated with various external accessories, other computers, computer networks, and the like by way of so-called “hard connections,” such as wires. The use of conventional hard connections is, however, somewhat undesirable, as the time required to connect two or more devices, as well as the physical connections between devices, diminish the portability of state of the art computers. 
     To further increase portability, wireless type communication ports have been developed. A wireless communication port of a first device, such as a computer, may communicate with a wireless communication port of one or more other devices, such as printers, scanners, other computers, and the ports of various types of networks. 
     An exemplary type of wireless communication device is a wireless LAN access device, which facilitates communication between a portable computer and a wireless port of a LAN. By way of example, a wireless LAN access device of a portable computer may be linked with a LAN by way of a single wireless communication port or by a number of different, complementary wireless ports at a variety of locations. Each such wireless LAN port is hard-linked (e.g., by wiring) to the LAN. The wireless LAN access device of a computer may, in turn, communicate with a specific type of wireless LAN port by way of electromagnetic (e.g., infrared (IR), radiofrequency (RF), etc.) signals. 
     Typically, a computer includes a client manager program stored in memory thereof for each type of external device with which the computer may wirelessly connect or otherwise communicate. Thus, a separate client manager program is typically required for each type of wireless communication port with which the computer is configured to connect. In order to establish wireless communication between a wireless LAN access device of a computer and a wireless LAN port of a particular LAN, a specific client manager program must be executed to initiate a connection protocol acceptable to the wireless LAN port. Thus, the user of a portable computer must be able to identify the wireless communication port through which a connection to the specified LAN will be made, then select the appropriate client manager program. 
     As a single LAN may include a number of different types of wireless LAN ports, a user may be required to choose, from a number of different client manager programs, the appropraite client manager program for establishing a wireless connection with a particular wireless LAN port of the LAN to which access is desired. If the wireless LAN ports with which the computer can communicate are not readily visible, the process of selecting the appropriate client manager may be one of trial-and-error, wasting the computer user&#39;s time. 
     Once a communication link has been established between a computer and a particular wireless LAN port, one or more security identifiers (e.g., user names, passwords, etc.) may be required to provide the computer with access to the LAN. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a wireless connection program that facilitates access to computer networks by way of wireless communication ports at a variety of different locations without requiring a computer user to select and employ a specific client manager for each individual location. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a connection program that selects an appropriate connection protocol for establishing communication between a workstation and a LAN. The connection protocol may be selected based upon a signal broadcast by a wireless LAN port, which is also referred to herein as a “wireless port”, of the LAN and received by a wireless LAN access device, which is also referred to herein as a “wireless network access device”, of a workstation, such as a portable computer or a desktop computer. Communication between the workstation and the LAN may be effected through the respective wireless LAN access device and signal-broadcasting wireless LAN port. 
     Upon identification and selection, by a workstation user, of a LAN with which communication is desired, which is referred to herein as a “selected LAN”, a connection program according to the present invention may first cause a processor of the workstation to instruct a wireless LAN access device associated with the same workstation to attempt to communicate with, or link to, a specific wireless LAN port of a particular LAN. If no such communication is established, the connection program may then cause the processor to instruct the wireless LAN access device to search for signals, typically in the form of radiofrequency (RF), infrared (IR), or other types of electromagnetic radiation, being broadcast by nearby wireless LAN ports to the selected LAN. 
     A wireless LAN port typically broadcasts an identifier signal, which includes information about the type of connection protocol required to establish communication therewith, as well as identifying information about the LAN of which the wireless LAN port is a part. Different wireless communication ports that are located within the same general area may provide an authorized user with access to the same LAN but operate under different connection protocols. Alternatively, different, proximately located wireless communication ports may provide authorized users with access to different LANs. 
     Any identifier signals that are detected by a wireless LAN access device and received therethrough by a workstation may be compared, by the processor of the workstation, with a list of wireless LAN ports and/or a list of LANs, which are typically stored in memory associated with the workstation (e.g., a hard drive, random access memory (RAM), a compact disk-read-only memory (CD-ROM), a floppy disk, etc.), with which the workstation has been configured to communicate. When the identifier of a signal-broadcasting wireless LAN port and the identifier of the LAN to which the wireless LAN port is connected match the identifier for the selected LAN and an identifier for a type of wireless LAN port with which the workstation is configured to communicate, the connection program of the present invention may operate a connection protocol that is appropriate for use with that signal-broadcasting wireless LAN port. 
     In the event that the wireless LAN access device of a workstation detects a number of signals broadcast by different wireless LAN ports, the connection program of the present invention may cause a processor of the workstation to evaluate one or more characteristics of each of the signals. Based on this evaluation, the processor may then, under control of the connection program, select a wireless LAN port with which communication is to be established. By way of example, a wireless LAN port may be selected when the processor, under control of the connection program, determines that the workstation is configured to communicate with the selected LAN through a particular wireless LAN port based on the identifier signal broadcast by that wireless LAN port. If it is determined that the workstation is configured to establish communication with more than one of the signal-broadcasting wireless LAN ports, the signals may then be evaluated on the basis of one or more of their strength, clarity (i.e., lack of noise), etc., with the wireless LAN port that broadcasts the “best” (e.g., strongest, clearest, etc.) signal being selected. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connection program comprises a client manager that is itself configured to establish communication with one or more wireless LAN ports or with one or more LANs. Once a particular wireless LAN port has been identified and selected by the connection program, the client manager initiates a connection protocol appropriate for the selected wireless LAN port and provides any security identifiers that are required for gaining access to the LAN of which the selected wireless LAN port is a part. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of connection program according to the present invention is stored and executed separately from each of the client managers stored in memory of the workstation. Once a processor of the workstation, under control of such a connection program, has identified and selected a wireless LAN port through which communication with a LAN will be established, the connection program causes the processor to select and execute a client manager appropriate for communicating with the selected wireless LAN port and for gaining access to the LAN of which the selected wireless LAN port is a part. 
     If communication cannot be established between the wireless LAN access device of a workstation and the selected wireless LAN port, the remaining detected signals may be evaluated and another wireless port of the selected LAN may be chosen on the basis of the signal broadcast thereby. An attempt may then be made to establish communication between the wireless LAN access device of the workstation and the newly selected wireless LAN port, as described above. This process may be repeated until all of the detected signals have been evaluated. In the event that no connection is established between the workstation and a nearby wireless LAN port, all of the signals may again be evaluated, or the workstation may be moved to a location in proximity to different wireless LAN ports. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the figures, which illustrate various aspects of exemplary embodiments of the present invention: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of an exemplary workstation with which the wireless connection method and program of the present invention may be used; 
         FIG. 2  schematically depicts the wireless connection of a workstation to a selected LAN; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart depicting the method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating the selection of an appropriate connection protocol by a first embodiment of connection program according to the present invention, in which the connection program comprises a single client manager program; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart that illustrates the selection of an appropriate client manager by a second embodiment of connection program of the present invention, in which the connection program is distinct from client manager programs that facilitate the connection of a workstation to a selected LAN. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a workstation  10  is depicted. In addition to a processor  12  and memory  14 , such as the random access memory (RAM)  14   a , the one or more hard disks  14   b , and the one or more disk drives  14   c , that are typically associated with computers, workstation  10  also includes a wireless LAN access device  16  which is in communication with processor  12 . One or more connection programs may be stored, as information in the form of digital data, by one or more storage media, such as memory  14  (e.g., on a hard drive  14   b ), until needed. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the connection program is a client manager program that may cause workstation  10 , through wireless LAN access device  16 , to communicate with at least one LAN  20 , shown in  FIG. 2 , by way of a number of different connection protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, NetBEUI, etc.) and by providing security identifiers (e.g., a user name, a password, a workstation identifier, etc.) that are specific to the selected LAN  20  and, possibly, to a particular wireless LAN port  26  through which such communication is desired. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the connection program is configured to select an appropriate, separate client manager program from memory  14 . The separate client manager program, in turn, facilitates connection of workstation  10  to LAN  20  through wireless LAN access device  16  by providing a connection protocol appropriate for connection to a particular wireless LAN port  26 , as well as the necessary security identifiers for obtaining access to LAN  20  once a connection therewith has been established. 
     With continued reference to the schematic representations of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , as well as to the flow chart of  FIG. 3 , when a user of workstation  10  desires to access a particular LAN  20 , the user may, at reference character  32  of  FIG. 3 , select a LAN with which communication is desired. By selecting a LAN in this manner, processor  12  of workstation  10  accesses an appropriate connection program according to the present invention from memory  14  and executes the connection program. 
     Optionally, the connection program may attempt to use the most recently employed connection protocol to connect to the selected LAN  20 . In the event that such an attempt to connect with the selected LAN  20  is not successful, or if this option is not empolyed, process flows to reference character  34  of  FIG. 3 . 
     Upon being executed, the connection program instructs processor  12 , at reference character  34  of  FIG. 3 , to cause wireless LAN access device  16  to detect and receive any signals that are being broadcast by nearby wireless LAN ports  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c  (collectively referred to as “wireless LAN ports  26 ”). These signals, which include data about the identity of the type of wireless LAN port  26  by which the signals are broadcast and data about the identity of the particular LAN to which wireless LAN port  26  provides access, may be digitized and communicated to processor  12 , as known in the art. 
     In the event that wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  does not receive any signals from a wireless LAN port  26 , as shown at reference character  36  of  FIG. 3 , workstation  10  may be moved to another location, as indicated at reference character  38  of  FIG. 3 , or the user may select another LAN for workstation  10  to communicate with, as shown at reference character  40  of  FIG. 3 . 
     Process similarly flows to reference character  38  or reference character  40  of  FIG. 3  if processor  12 , under control of the connection program, determines from digitized signals communicated thereto by wireless LAN access device  16  that the signals received by wireless LAN access device  16  were not broadcast by a wireless LAN port  26  to the selected LAN  20 . 
     When, on the other hand, the digital signals that are communicated to processor  12  by wireless LAN access device  16  indicate that the signals received by wireless LAN access device  16  did originate from a wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 , process flows to reference character  42  of  FIG. 3 . 
     At reference character  42  of  FIG. 3 , processor  12  evaluates the digitized signals communicated thereto by wireless LAN access device  16  to determine whether or not more than one of the evaluated, digitized signals corresponds to a signal that has been broadcast by a wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 . 
     A Single Signal is Detected that Corresponds to the Selected LAN 
     If, at reference character  42  of  FIG. 3 , it is determined that only one evaluated, digitized signal corresponds to a signal broadcast by a wireless LAN port of the selected LAN  20 , process flows to reference character  44  of  FIG. 3 , where an attempt is made to connect to selected LAN  20  through wireless LAN port  26 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  are flow charts that illustrate different embodiments of the manner in which the connection program may attempt to connect with the selected LAN  20  through wireless LAN port  26 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the connection program may itself, at reference character  46 , cause processor  12  ( FIG. 1 ) to identify a connection protocol appropriate for establishing a connection with wireless LAN port  26  ( FIG. 2 ). At reference character  48 , the connection program causes processor  12  to initiate the identified connection protocol. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the connection program may, at reference character  46 ′, cause processor  12  ( FIG. 1 ) of workstation  10  to identify a connection protocol appropriate for the type of wireless LAN port  26  ( FIG. 2 ) that has been detected. Next, at reference character  48 ′, processor  12 , under instructions from the connection program, selects and executes a client manager that corresponds to the selected LAN  20  and which is capable of operating the appropriate connection protocol for establishing a connection between wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  and wireless LAN port  26  of LAN  20 . 
     Process then flows from either reference character  48  of  FIG. 4  or reference character  48 ′ of  FIG. 5  to reference character  50  of  FIG. 3 . With returned reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , processor  12  of workstation  10  inquires, at reference character  50  of  FIG. 3 , as to whether or not a connection has been established between wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  and wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 . 
     If no connection is made, process flows to reference character  38  of  FIG. 3 , where workstation  10  is moved to a new location, or to reference character  40  of  FIG. 3 , at which the user of workstation  10  may select another LAN with which workstation  10  may attempt to establish communication. 
     If, in the alternative, a connection is successfully established between wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  and wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 , process flows to reference character  60  of  FIG. 3 , where the connection program or a selected client manager program causes processor  12  to supply the selected LAN  20 , through wireless LAN access device  16  and wireless LAN port  26 , with one or more appropriate security identifiers, such as a user name and/or a password. Such security identifiers may be automatically supplied by processor  12  to the selected LAN  20 , or processor  12  may require a user of workstation  10  to supply any required security identifiers prior to requesting access to the selected LAN  20 . Of course, if the security identifiers are recognized by the selected LAN  20 , workstation  10  (and a user thereof) may be granted access to selected LAN  20 . 
     Multiple Signals are Detected that Correspond to the Selected LAN 
     When it is determined, at reference character  42  of  FIG. 3 , that signals from more than one wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20  have been detected by wireless LAN access device  16 , process flows to reference character  52  of  FIG. 3 . 
     At reference character  52 , processor  12  of workstation  10 , under instructions from the connection program, evaluates each of the signals that have been received by wireless LAN access device  16  which correspond to wireless LAN ports  26  of the selected LAN  20 . Of these signals, the “best” signal and its source are identified by processor  12 . Processor  12 , again under control of the connection program, determines the “best” signal by evaluating one or more characteristics of each of the signals that have been broadcast by wireless LAN ports  26  of the selected LAN  20  and which have been received by wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10 . By way of example only, processor  12  may evaluate one or both of the strength and clarity of the signals that have been received by wireless LAN access device  16 . Once processor  12  has identified the “best” signal, the connection program causes processor  12  to identify the wireless LAN port  26  from which the “best” signal originated. 
     Next, at reference character  54  of  FIG. 3 , processor  12 , pursuant to instructions from the connection program, selects the wireless LAN port  26  that broadcast the “best” signal and causes wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  to attempt to establish a connection and, thus, communication with that wireless LAN port  26 . The flow charts of  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate different embodiments of the manner in which the connection program may attempt to connect with the selected LAN  20  through a selected wireless LAN port  26 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the connection program may itself, at reference character  46 , cause processor  12  ( FIG. 1 ) to identify a connection protocol appropriate for establishing a connection with the selected wireless LAN port  26  ( FIG. 2 ). At reference character  48 , the connection program causes processor  12  to initiate the identified connection protocol. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the connection program may, at reference character  46 ′, cause processor  12  ( FIG. 1 ) of workstation  10  to identify a connection protocol appropriate for the type of wireless LAN port  26  ( FIG. 2 ) that has been detected and selected. Next, at reference character  48 ′, processor  12 , under instructions from the connection program, selects and executes a client manager that corresponds to the selected LAN  20  and which is capable of operating the appropriate connection protocol for establishing a connection between wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  and wireless LAN port  26  of LAN  20 . 
     Once the process of reference character  54  of  FIG. 3  is complete, process flows from reference character  48  of  FIG. 4  or from reference character  48 ′ of  FIG. 5  to reference character  56  of  FIG. 3 . Returning reference again to  FIGS. 1-3 , processor  12  of workstation  10  inquires, at reference character  56  of  FIG. 3 , as to whether or not a connection has been established between wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  and wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 . If no connection is made, process flows to reference character  57  of  FIG. 3 . At reference character  57 , a determination is made by processor  12 , under control of the connection program, if any other signals that have been broadcast by one or more other wireless LAN ports  26  of the selected LAN  20  are still being received by wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10 . 
     If no other signals from wireless LAN ports  26  of the selected LAN are being detected by wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10 , process flows to reference character  38  of  FIG. 3 , where workstation  10  is moved to a new location, or to reference character  40  of  FIG. 3 , at which the user of workstation  10  may select another LAN with which workstation  10  may attempt to establish communication. If, however, wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  is detecting one or more other signals that are being broadcast by a wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 , process flows to reference character  58  of  FIG. 3 . 
     At reference character  58 , the connection program causes processor  12  to again evaluate each remaining, received signal being broadcast by a wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 . The next-“best” signal is determined, as described previously herein, and the wireless LAN port  26  from which that signal originated is identified. 
     Process then flows back to reference character  54  of  FIG. 3 , where processor  12  selects the wireless LAN port  26  that broadcast the next-“best” signal and causes wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  to attempt to communicate with that wireless LAN port  26 . 
     The processes depicted at reference characters  54 ,  56 ,  57 , and  58  are repeated until it is determined, at reference character  56 , that a connection and, thus, communication are successfully established between wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  and wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 , or until every signal that has been broadcast by the wireless LAN ports  26  of the selected LAN  20  have been evaluated and attempts have been made by processor  12  of workstation  10  to connect wireless LAN access device  16  thereof with those wireless LAN ports  26 . 
     Once a successful connection is established between wireless LAN access device  16  of workstation  10  and wireless LAN port  26  of the selected LAN  20 , process flows from reference character  56  of  FIG. 3  to reference character  60  of  FIG. 3 . 
     At reference character  60  of  FIG. 3 , the connection program or a selected client manager program instructs processor  12  to supply the selected LAN  20 , through wireless LAN access device  16  and wireless LAN port  26 , with one or more appropriate security identifiers, such as a user name, a password, a computer identifier, another identifier, or some combination thereof. Such security identifiers may be automatically supplied by processor  12  to the selected LAN  20 , or processor  12  may require a user of workstation  10  to supply any required security identifiers prior to requesting access to the selected LAN  20 . Of course, if the security identifiers are recognized by the selected LAN  20 , workstation  10  may be granted access to selected LAN  20 . 
     Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some exemplary embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions, and modifications to the invention, as disclosed herein, which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.