Patent Publication Number: US-2007115822-A1

Title: Configuring network interface on home network

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to a method for configuring network equipment especially, but not exclusively, consumer electronics (CE) and home network apparatus. The invention further relates to a configurable network device, especially but not exclusively, to a broadband modem.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      A network relies on the interoperability of the apparatus making up the network. A new apparatus that is to be added to the network may need to be configured so as to be able to interact with the network. Network-enabled equipment is pervading the CE market at an increasingly higher pace. As the typical end-user of CE apparatus is not an expert in configuring and customizing network equipment, some assistance is required before newly acquired equipment is ready for operational use. Typically, assistance is provided by a help-desk of, e.g., service provider or manufacturer. This, however, is a relatively expensive and time-consuming service. In addition, consumers have come to expect a minimum of hassle when it comes to use of CE equipment. Hot plug-and-play is preferred, but cannot always be attained.  
      An alternative to help-desk assistance to consumers in facilitating the configuration and customization of CE equipment is discussed in U.S. Ser. No. 09/519,546 (attorney docket US 000014) filed Mar. 3, 2000 for Erik Ekkel et al., for PERSONALIZING CE EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION AT SERVER VIA WEB-ENABLED DEVICE, published as International Application WO0154406 and incorporated herein by reference. This document relates to facilitating the configuring of CE equipment by means of delegating the configuring to an application server on the Internet. The consumer enters his/her preferences in a specific interactive Web page through a suitable user-interface of an Internet-enabled device such as a PC or set-top box or digital cell phone. The application server generates the control data based on the preferences entered and downloads the control data to the CE equipment itself or to the Internet-enabled device.  
      Another approach is discussed in U.S. Ser. No. 10/034,664 (attorney docket US 018213) filed Dec.28, 2001 Paul Chambers for METHOD TO AUTOMATICALLY CONFIGURE NETWORK ROUTING DEVICE, published as International Application WO03056759 and incorporated herein by reference. This document relates to a home network with a data processing device and a network access device for access to an external network. When a new device is added the network is to be configured. Configuration is done as follows. The communication between the data processing device and the access device is monitored. Then, information is extracted from the communication about protocols and external network addresses. The home network can then be configured automatically based on the information extracted.  
      Yet another manner is described in U.S. patent application publication no. 20020004935, incorporated herein by reference. This document mentions, among other things, providing the configuration file of a DSL-modem on a disk or CD-ROM. The automated system retrieves the configuration file from the disk or CD-ROM, and then uses the configuration file to configure the subscriber&#39;s DSL modem.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The inventor proposes an alternative to known manners to facilitate the configuring of data network equipment, especially CE equipment such as set-top boxes, Internet TVs, digital video recorders (DVRs), and other apparatus on the home network. Now consider, e.g., ADSL, cable or other broadband modems that need to be configured according to settings specific to the data network, to which the modem forms a communication interface for the end-user&#39;s CE equipment, and specific to the individual end-user. According to the invention, broadband configuration information is provided stored in a token (e.g., an RFID tag) by the broadband operator. The token is supplied to the end-user. The CE equipment to cooperate with the modem in operational use is provided with a reader and data processor for reading the token&#39;s information, e.g., in a wireless fashion, and for configuring the modem apparatus accordingly. The invention provides the following advantages. There is no manual configuring needed of the modem and broadband connection. A PC is not required to configure the modem and broadband connection. This may open up business models for broadband CE devices. Further, the automatic configuration can be carried out instantly, as soon as the user has connected the equipment. Moreover, this system will decrease the need for after-sales service and thus decrease costs for the broadband provider. In addition, having the CE equipment accommodating the token reader will facilitate the user to associate the services and downloads directly with the relevant CE equipment.  
      More specifically, the invention relates to a CE data processing system configurable to communicate via a particular one of multiple data network environments. The system comprises a receiver for receiving configuration data from a physical token for configuring the system. For example, the system has a network interface such as a modem, a router or a dongle, and an appliance for data network communication via the network interface. The appliance accommodates the receiver for receiving the configuration data for configuration of the network interface. In an embodiment of the invention, the appliance accommodates the network interface, e.g., being built-in. Preferably, the token and the receiver are operative to communicate the configuration data in a wireless or contactless manner, using, e.g., radio-frequency (RF) or infra-red (IR) communication. Alternatively, the system and token communicate in a wired manner requiring physical, e.g., electric contact between the two.  
      Another embodiment of the invention relates to a CE appliance for data communication with a data network via a network interface, e.g., a modem or a router or a dongle. The appliance comprises a receiver for receiving configuration data from a physical token for configuring the network interface. Preferably, the reader is designed to communicate with the token in wireless fashion using, e.g., RF or IR.  
      Yet another embodiment relates to a method of enabling to configure a network interface for enabling consumer electronics data processing system to operate with a specific one of multiple network environments via the interface. The method comprises providing a token with information representative of data for configuring the interface via the system. Preferably, the system and the token communicate in a wireless fashion. The network interface comprises at least one of, e.g., a modem, a router, a dongle.  
      Still another embodiment relates to a physical token comprising information representative of data for configuring a network interface for a consumer electronics system to operate with a specific one of multiple network environments via the network interface. The token comprises a communicator for communicating with the system, preferably in a wireless fashion such as using RF or IR, or otherwise in a wired manner. If the token communicates in a wireless fashion with the CE appliance, physical ports for this communication can be omitted from the appliance&#39;s casing, thus contributing to a smooth, uncluttered design. An example of such a wireless token is based on the contactless smart-card technology of Royal Philips Electronics. A token used for identification purposes within such technology is commonly referred to as an RFID (RF identifier) tag.  
      The invention thus provides a simple and user-friendly manner to configure network equipment, i.e., equipment for use on a data network. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      The invention is explained in further detail, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system in the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a method in the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram giving details of components in the system of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of another system in the invention. 
    
    
      Throughout the figures, same reference numerals indicate similar or corresponding features.  
     DETAILED EMBODIMENTS  
      In order to obtain a connection to the Internet, a connection to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) has to be established first. For this, the user must know a number of parameters beforehand that are typically provided by the ISP using email or a CD-ROM by ordinary mail. The parameters are then used to configure a network interface such as a modem. Usually, the parameters are manually programmed into the interface with the use of a computer. Alternatively, the parameters could be programmed into the computer, which is connected to the interface, if the modem does not have the capability to store these parameters. For example, the following parameters or configuration information need to be known for establishing a connection: a login/username; a password; a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) client activation. In some cases one also has to know: a primary DNS (Dynamic Name Server) IP address; a secondary DNS (Dynamic Name Server) IP address; a default gateway; and protocol parameters. The inventor proposes a system for automatically configuring the interface in a secure and user-friendly manner, and without the need of a personal computer.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  100  in the invention. System  100  comprises a broadband modem  102  (or a broadband modem functionality  102  as, e.g., in a software implementation) to be configured for communication via a broadband connection  104  to an ISP  106  in order to get access to, e.g., the Internet. Modem  102  is equipped with the necessary hardware and software for establishing and terminating connection  104  to ISP  106 . Connection  104  typically comprises a DSL or cable connection, but other media are possible such as Ethernet or satellite. Optionally, system  100  comprises a router  108 . and a wireless access point (WAP)  110 . Modem (DSL, cable, etc.) and router functionalities are known in the art and are not further discussed here. Modem  102 , router  108  and WAP  110  serve to enable apparatus  112  to receive, or receive and transmit, data via, here, the Internet. Apparatus  112  comprises, e.g., a PC, a set-top box or another CE apparatus with a UI for rendering data received via connection  104 .  
      Modem  102  is configured as follows. ISP  106  or another party supplies a token  114  to the end-user of system  100 . Token  114  stores data for configuring modem  102 . Apparatus  112  has a compatible reader  116 , or can be connected to one, so as to be able to offload the data from token  114  to apparatus  112 . Apparatus  112  typically has a data processor  118  that processes the data obtained from token  114  for configuring modem  102  so as to have it operating with the network environment provided by ISP  106 .  
      Other service providers  120  and  122  may provide tokens  124  and  126 , respectively, for configuring modem  102  according to their network and protocol specifications.  
      Token  114  may interact with reader  116  in a wired manner or in a wireless fashion using, e.g., RF. In the latter case, token  114  is, e.g., passive and gets powered through an RF signal from reader  116  to transmit the required data.  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of a method  200  of the invention. In a step  202  the user of system  100  submits a request to service provider  106  for subscribing to the service provided. In a step  204 , service provider  106  prepares token  114  and sends that to the user. In a step  206 , the user having received token  114  lets it communicate with reader  116 . In a step  208 , reader  116  retrieves the configuration data from token  114  and forwards the data to processor  118  for configuring modem  102 .  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of token  114  and apparatus  112  to illustrate a part of the configuration process using RF communication. Examples of RF technologies for wireless communication between apparatus  112  and token  114  are NFC (Near-Field Communication, a technology jointly developed by Royal Philips Electronics and Sony), Bluetooth, and HomeRF. NFC is a low-cost peer-to-peer (P2P) connectivity technology based on RF ID that enables automatic set up of secure PAN/LAN connections. It uses short-wave radio technology, and has a transfer speed of up to 212 kb/s, making it a viable alternative to Bluetooth.  
      For example, the RF communication between token  114  and apparatus  112  is based on short-range contactless smart-card technology as used by Royal Philips Electronics. See, e.g., the Data Sheet of “Mifare® Standard Card IC MF1 IC S50 Functional Specification May 2001”. For other aspects of contactless smart-card technology see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,231 (attorney docket PHO 90,508), incorporated herein by reference. Token  114  comprises a memory  302 , e.g., a non-volatile solid-state memory, with configuration data. Token  114  further comprises a transmitter  304  for RF data transmission. Apparatus  102  accommodates reader  116  with a transceiver  306 , processor  118 , and a memory  308 . Operation is as follows. Preferably, the user activates reader  116 , e.g., by sliding or otherwise activating a switch (not shown). This temporary activation under user control avoids that reader  116  is active all the time. An antenna  302  in token  114  picks up the electromagnetic field emitted by reader  116  and thus powers the onboard circuitry of token  114  inductively. Token  114  then initiates a dialog using a predetermined protocol in order to start the exchange of data stored in a memory  304 , under control of a processor  306 . Memory  304  and processor  306  are powered by the electromagnetic field picked up by antenna  302 . The data exchange may use an authentication step to ensure secure data transmission. Reader  116  interprets the data received from token  114 . The data may comprise executable code. For example, the data comprises a java applet that is downloaded from token  114  to apparatus  112  to effect the configuration. Under control of processor  118 , either programmed in advance to carry out the configuration of modem  102  or processing the java applet, the configuration data is written to a memory  308 . From there, configuration of modem  102  can use any conventional process. Processor  118  communicates the configuration data or settings to modem  102 , and the latter takes over these settings.  
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a system  400  in the invention. In this case, apparatus  112  is an Internet-enabled apparatus that itself needs specific settings to work with the network environment. Examples of an Internet-enabled apparatus are the Streamium MCi-200 and Streamium MX-i6000, both manufactured and marketed by Philips. Now, in order to configure apparatus  112 , reader  116  can be used with a token  402  carrying configuration data for apparatus  112 . Alternatively, token  114  carries configuration data for modem  102  and apparatus  112  (and possibly for further components on system  400 ) Now, if reader  116  is to be used with both token  114  and token  402 , or with token  114  carrying configuration data for multiple components on system  400 , system  400  has to determine which configuration data are to be used for what component. For this purpose, the configuration data includes one or more identifiers so as enable system  400  to determine the relevant component and to use the proper configuration data. For example, apparatus  112  queries modem  102  and other components for a number of anticipated responses to find the relevant specifics of modem  102  and the other components so as to be able to determine which configuration data goes with what component. As another example, system  400  is based on, e.g., UPnP, Jini, or another software architecture that enables querying an inventory of devices that have registered their capabilities with a Registry. For example, modem  102  has registered with the Registry and can accordingly be targeted with the appropriate configuration data.