Patent Publication Number: US-2010115108-A1

Title: Wireless device and method for automatically establishing wireless connection

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a wireless device and, more particularly, to a wireless device and a method for automatically establishing wireless connection of a wireless network. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Wireless network, by definition, is a network which utilizes electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, in data interchanging. There is no obvious difference in usage and application between wireless network and wired network. The only major difference between them is the carrier used in data interchanging. Wireless network utilizes radio waves as the carrier, while the wired network utilizes concrete wiring. Because of adopting the radio waves, wireless network enjoys more mobility and convenience in assembling the hardware, compared to wired network. However, wireless network is relatively inconvenient in installing related drivers and configuring a wireless connection. 
     Following is an example. In a wireless network system, when a new wireless device joins a present wireless network, the new wireless device needs some configuration of the wireless communication information of the present wireless network. In other words, setting information of the wireless device needs to be configured before establishing the wireless connection to the wireless network. In general, the setting information of a wireless network includes Service Set Identifier (SSID), network authentication, data encryption, etc. Besides, an ordinary network further needs IP address, netmask, Domain Name System (DNS), gateway (GW) information, etc. 
     Said setting information is not obvious to common users. In order to connect the wireless device to the wireless network, users must know exactly all the setting information relative to the wireless network. If users are not able to acquire the relative setting information, the wireless device will fail to connect the wireless network. However, new users often can not acquire the setting information relative to the present wireless network; therefore, they can not easily connect the wireless device to the wireless network. 
     In addition, said setting information must be entered manually by users to complete the configuration. Especially when a wireless device is connected to an unfamiliar wireless network, the users must manually reconfigure the setting information of the wireless network. All these requirements are not user-friendly for average users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A scope of the invention is to provide a wireless device. The wireless device has not only a wireless interface, but also a wired interface, e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface or Ethernet interface. The only thing that users need to do is coupling the wired interface of the wireless device to the corresponding wired interface of the information providing device, and then the wireless device can actively or passively fetch the setting information relative to the wireless network, so as to complete the wireless connecting configuration. 
     According to an embodiment, a wireless device of the invention comprises a wireless interface and a first wired interface, which the first wired interface can selectively coupled to a second wired interface of an information providing device. The information providing device stores setting information relative to a wireless network. 
     In the embodiment, when the first wired interface of the wireless device is coupled to the second wired interface of the information providing device, the information providing device automatically provides the setting information through the first wired interface and the second wired interface to the wireless device, or alternatively, the wireless device actively gathers the setting information from the information providing device through the first wired interface and the second wired interface. After fetching the setting information, the wireless device adopts the setting information, and connects to the wireless network through the wireless interface. 
     Another scope of the invention is to provide a method of automatically establishing a wireless connection. The method is suitable for said wireless device and information providing device. The method includes the following steps of: (a) coupling a first wired interface of the wireless device to a second wired interface of the information providing device; (b) fetching the setting information through the first wired interface and the second wired interface; and (c) utilizing the setting information to connect the wireless device and the wireless network. 
     The benefit of the invention is that users no longer need to memorize complex and annoying passwords or relative configurations for safety reasons, but they can establish a safe wireless connection between a wireless appliance and a wireless router through some easy steps. The network configuration is performed at the same time to ensure a valid access to the network. Besides, the invention can be used to provide services other than network connection, e.g., storing space setup, audio equipment setup, printer setup, etc. 
     The advantage and spirit of the invention may be understood by the following recitations together with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless communication system  1  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a functional block diagram illustrating the wireless communication system  1  in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method to automatically establish a wireless connection according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method to automatically establish a wireless connection according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless communication system  3  according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4B  is a functional block diagram illustrating the wireless communication system  3  in  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method to automatically establish a wireless connection according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B .  FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless communication system  1  according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1B  is a functional block diagram illustrating the wireless communication system  1  in  FIG. 1A . The wireless communication system  1  includes an information providing device  10 , a wireless device  12  of the invention and network  14 . 
     The information providing device  10  stores setting information  100  relative to the network  14 . For example, in the embodiment, the information providing device  10  can provide data (setting information  100 ) in three categories including wireless connection, network condition and valid resource. The category of wireless connection is about information of Service Set Identifier, network authentication, data encryption, etc. The category of network condition is about information of IP address, netmask, Domain Name System, gateway, etc. The category of valid resource is about services supported by the network  14 , e.g., storing space, audio equipment, printer, etc. 
     The information providing device  10  can form a communication with the network  14  via either wired or wireless transmission. The information providing device can be a wireless router, a computer, or a device capable of providing its own information. The information providing device  10  includes a wired interface  102 . The information providing device  10  executes application programs which correspond to the wired interface  102 . We have to make clear that there are other necessary hardware and software components disposed in the information providing device  10 , e.g., processing unit, memory, application programs, etc. The usage and theory of those components are well known by people who are skilled in the art. 
     The wireless device  12  in the embodiment includes a wireless interface  120  and wired interface  122 . The wireless device  12  can be a wireless camera, wireless printer, wireless speaker, etc. There are also necessary hardware and software components disposed in the information providing device  12 , e.g., processing unit, memory, application programs, etc. In the embodiment, the wired interface  102  of the information providing device  10  and the wired interface  122  of the wireless device  12  are both USB interfaces. When the wired interface  122  of the wireless device  12  is coupled to the wired interface  102  of the information providing device  10 , the information providing device  10  identifies the wireless device  12  as a storing medium using a universal driver. 
     Afterward, the information providing device  10  executes a program for judging whether the wireless device  12  needs a wireless configuration or not. When a judgment made by the program is positive, the information providing device  10  automatically provides the setting information  100  to the wireless device  12  through the wired interface  102  and the wired interface  122 . After fetching the setting information  100 , the wireless device  12  adopts the setting information  100 , and connects to the network  14  through the wireless interface  120 . When the judgment made by the program is negative, it means that the relative setting of the wireless device  12  has been configured and needs no reconfiguration. Therefore, the wireless device  12  may directly form a wireless connection to the network  14  with the previous setting. Said program in the information providing device  10  can be executed before the coupling of the wireless device  12  to the information providing device  10 , or alternatively, the program can be executed automatically after the coupling. 
     In addition, the wireless device  12  can acquire service information supported by the network  14 . For instance, the service information can be valid resource of the setting information  100 . When the wireless connection is established, the wireless device  12  can access to the network  14 , and further to utilize useful resources supported by the network  14 . After the establishment of the wireless connection, users can separate the wired interface  122  of the wireless device  12  from the wired interface  102  of the information providing device  10 . In the future connecting configuration, the coupling procedure of the two interfaces can be skipped. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method to automatically establish a wireless connection according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to the wireless communication system  1  in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  at the same time. First of all, step S 100  is performed to couple the wired interface  122  of the wireless device  12  to the wired interface  102  of the information providing device  10 . Afterward, step S 102  is performed to identify the wireless device  12  as a storing medium using a universal driver. Afterward, step S 104  is performed to judge whether the wireless device  12  needs a wireless configuration or not. 
     If the result of the judgment is positive, step S 106  is performed to provide the setting information  100  to the wireless device  12  automatically through the wired interface  102  and the wired interface  122 . After obtaining the setting information  100 , step S 108  is preformed to adopt the setting information  100  and connected to the network  14  through wireless interface  120 . On the other hand, if the result of the judgment of step S 104  is negative, it means that the relative setting of the wireless device  12  has been configured and needs no reconfiguration. Therefore, step S 110  is performed to form a wireless connection to the network  14  directly with the previous setting. 
     In another embodiment, the wired interface  102  of the information providing device  10  and the wired interface  122  of the wireless device  12  are both Ethernet interfaces. When users couple the wired interface  122  of the wireless device  12  to the wired interface  102  of the information providing device  10 , the wireless device  12  executes a program for judging whether the wireless device  12  needs a wireless configuration or not. When the result of the judgment is positive, the wireless device  12  actively gathers the setting information  100  about the network  14  from the information providing device  10 . The wireless device  12  may acquire the relative setting information in several ways. For example, it may utilize a program to sniff the packet over the network, or it may actively send a request for the information. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically establishing a wireless connection according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the wired interface  102  and the wired interface  122  are both Ethernet interfaces. First of all, step S 200  is performed to couple the wired interface  122  of the wireless device  12  to the wired interface  102  of the information providing device  10 . Afterward, step S 202  is performed to judge whether the wireless device  12  needs a wireless configuration or not. If the result of the judgment is positive, step S 204  is performed to gather the setting information  100  actively from the information providing device  10 . After fetching the setting information  100 , step S 206  is preformed to adopt the setting information  100  and connected to the network  14  through the wireless interface  120 . On the other hand, if the result of the judgment of step S 202  is negative, it means that the relative setting of the wireless device  12  has been configured and needs no reconfiguration. Therefore, step S 208  is performed to form a wireless connection to the network  14  directly with the previous setting. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B .  FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a wireless communication system  3  according to another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4B  is a functional block diagram illustrating the wireless communication system  3  in  FIG. 4A . 
     The major difference between the wireless communication system  3  and the wireless communication system  1  is that the information providing device  30  further includes an information storing device  300  and an intermediate device  302 . The information storing device  300  stores setting information  3000  relative to the network  34 . The intermediate device  302  is coupled to the information storing device  300  in a wired or wireless way. The intermediate device  302  is used for assisting the wireless device  32  in fetching the setting information  3000  stored in the information storing device  300 . The intermediate device  302  includes a wired interface  3020 . The intermediate device  302  can be a computer or other devices alike. In this embodiment, the wired interface  3020  of the intermediate device  302  and the wired interface  322  of the wireless device  32  are both USB interfaces. Therefore, when the wired interface  322  of the wireless device  32  is coupled to the wired interface  3020  of the intermediate device  302 , the intermediate device  302  identifies the wireless device  32  as a storing medium using a universal driver. 
     Afterward, the intermediate device  302  executes a program for judging whether the wireless device  32  needs a wireless configuration or not. When the result of a judgment made by the program is positive, the intermediate device  302  automatically provides the setting information  3000 , which is stored in the information storing device  300 , to the wireless device  32 . After fetching the setting information  3000 , the wireless device  32  adopts the setting information  3000 , and connects to the network  34  through the wireless interface  320 . When the result of the judgment made by the program is negative, it means that the relative setting of the wireless device  32  has been configured and needs no reconfiguration. Therefore, the wireless device  32  may directly forms a wireless connection to the network  34  with the previous setting. 
     With helps of the intermediate device  302  and the information storing device  300 , the wireless device  32  may access to useful resource on the network  34 . The basic theory of the wireless communication system  3  is similar to one of said wireless communication system  1 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically establishing a wireless connection according to another embodiment of the invention. Additionally, please refer to the wireless communication system  3  in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  at the same time. First of all, step S 300  is performed to couple the wired interface  322  of the wireless device  32  to the wired interface  3020  of the intermediate device  302 . Afterward, step S 302  is performed to identify the wireless device  32  as a storing medium using a universal driver. Afterward, step S 104  is performed to judge whether the wireless device  32  needs a wireless configuration or not. If the result of the judgment is positive, step S 306  is performed to provide the setting information  3000  to the wireless device  32  automatically through the wired interface  3020  and the wired interface  322 . After obtaining the setting information  3000 , step S 308  is preformed to adopt the setting information  3000  and connect to the network  34  through the wireless interface  320 . On the other hand, if the result of the judgment of step S 304  is negative, it means that the relative setting of the wireless device  32  has been configured and needs no reconfiguration. Therefore, step S 310  is performed to form a wireless connection directly between the wireless device  32  and the network  34  with the previous setting. 
     Compared to prior art, the wireless device according to a preferable embodiment of the invention includes not only a wireless interface, but also an additional wired interface (e.g. USB or Ethernet) which can be coupled to an information providing device (e.g. computer or wireless router) or an intermediate device (e.g. computer). In this way, the wireless may obtain information about wireless connection, network resource, network service, etc. Besides, the information providing device or the intermediate device includes a wired interface corresponding to the wireless device, and it executes a program which supports the wired interface. When a connection with the wireless device without setting information is formed, the information providing device or the intermediate device with the program can actively provide or passively respond the information, which is about wireless connection, network resource and network service, to the wireless device. In this way, the detailed configuration of the wireless network is not a must-know by a common user anymore. 
     According to the invention, the only thing that users must do is coupling the wired interface of the wireless device to the corresponding wired interface of the information providing device or the intermediate device. There are corresponding programs on each device for completing the following configuration automatically. 
     With the example and explanations above, the features and spirits of the invention will be hopefully well described. Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.