Patent Abstract:
A system and method for configuring devices for wireless communication are disclosed. A method may include detecting one or more available wireless access points. The method may also include accessing filtering information including at least one of (a) factory default information identifying one or more factory defaults for each available wireless access point and (b) a secured status of each available wireless access point. The method may also include filtering the available wireless access points based on at least the accessed filtering information. The method may further include selecting one of the filtered wireless access points as an associated wireless access point to be associated with an information handling system based on at least one of (a) a signal strength of each filtered available wireless access points and (b) a user input.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates in general to device configuration, and more particularly to a system and method for configuration of devices for wireless communication. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
     With recent advances in network technology and improved affordability of networking devices, information handling system users are increasingly implementing networks (e.g., local areas networks or LANs) that utilize wireless transmissions (e.g., wireless fidelity or “WI-FI”) and wire-line transmissions in their homes and/or businesses. For example, users may implement a home or business network including an information handling system, one or more wireless-capable network devices, and a wireless access point communicatively coupled to the information handling system and network devices. Such a network may allow an information handling system (or a user thereof) to communicate with the one or more network devices via the wireless access point or vice versa. 
     However, despite the increasing popularity of home and business networking systems, configuration complexity of such systems has prevented widespread acceptance. While network installation and setup for experienced users has been greatly simplified with setup wizards and advances in usability features included in operating systems, network configuration remains a difficult challenge for many users, particularly home consumers. These configuration challenges lead to negative customer experience and numerous technical support calls. For example, one company has reported that it receives in excess of 20,000 technical support calls per day related to digital home products, the majority attributable to wireless access point installation and setup. 
     One difficulty with conventional approaches to configuring a number of devices is that the user must often navigate a number screens and/or dialog boxes to successfully configure a network. In addition, a user may be required to run a plurality of setup programs, which may add to the user&#39;s confusion. For example, using traditional approaches, if a user desires to wirelessly couple an information handling system, a wireless access point, and a printer, the user must often run three different setup programs—one for each of the information handling system, the wireless access point, and the printer. Also, in some traditional approaches, a user must connect the information handling system to the wireless access point via a wired connection in order to configure the devices, which may be counterintuitive for a novice user. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, disadvantages and problems associated with configuring devices for wireless communication may be substantially reduced or eliminated. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for configuring an information handling system for wireless communication with an associated wireless access point is provided. The method may include storing a wireless data file on a computer-readable medium, the wireless data file including factory default information identifying factory defaults regarding one or more wireless access points. The method may also include storing a program of instructions on the computer-readable medium. The program of instructions may be operable to, when executed (a) access factory default information from the wireless data file, and (b) configure the information handling system and the associated wireless access point for secure wireless communication between the information handling system and the associated wireless access point based on at least the accessed factory default information. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for configuring devices for wireless communication is provided. The method may include detecting one or more available wireless access points. The method may also include accessing filtering information including at least one of (a) factory default information identifying one or more factory defaults for each available wireless access point and (b) a secured status of each available wireless access point. The method may also include filtering the available wireless access points based on at least the accessed filtering information. The method may further include selecting one of the filtered wireless access points as an associated wireless access point to be associated with an information handling system based on at least one of (a) a signal strength of each filtered available wireless access points and (b) a user input. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor. The computer-readable medium may have stored thereon a program of instructions operable to, when executed by the processor (i) detect one or more available wireless access points; (ii) access filtering information including at least one of (a) factory default information identifying one or more factory defaults for each available wireless access point and (b) a secured status of each available wireless access point; (iii) filter the available wireless access points based on at least the accessed filtering information; and (iv) select one of the filtered wireless access points as an associated wireless access point to be associated with an information handling system based on at least one of (a) a signal strength of each filtered available wireless access points and (b) a user input. 
     Other technical advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following specification, claims, and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless network system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an example method for configuring an information handling system for wireless communication prior to delivering the information handling system to an end user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of an example method for auto-configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate example user interface screens displayed during a method for auto-configuring devices for wireless communication, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1-4B , wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts. 
     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a network storage resource, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
     One type of information handling system is a portable computer, also known as a “laptop” and/or “notebook” computer. Portable computers often contain components that are similar to their desktop counterparts and perform the same functions, but are miniaturized and optimized for mobile use and efficient power consumption. For example, portable computers may have liquid crystal displays (LCDs), built-in keyboards, and may utilize a touchpad (also known as a trackpad) or a pointing stick for input, although an external keyboard or mouse may be attached. In addition, portable computers may run on a single main battery or from an external analog current/direct current (AC/DC) adapter that can charge the battery while also supplying power to the computer itself. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retain data and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable media may include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct access storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a sequential access storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM, DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory; as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers, microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or optical carriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “wire-line transmissions” may be used to refer to all types of electromagnetic communications over wires, cables, or other types of conduits. Examples of such conduits include, but are not limited to, metal wires and cables made of copper or aluminum, fiber-optic lines, and cables constructed of other metals or composite materials satisfactory for carrying electromagnetic signals. Wire-line transmissions may be conducted in accordance with teachings of the present disclosure over electrical power lines, electrical power distribution systems, building electrical wiring, conventional telephone lines, Ethernet cabling (10baseT, 100baseT, etc.), coaxial cables, T-1 lines, T-3 lines, ISDN lines, ADSL, and/or any other suitable medium. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “wireless transmissions” may be used to refer to all types of electromagnetic communications which do not require a wire, cable, or other types of conduits. Examples of wireless transmissions which may be used include, but are not limited to, personal area networks (PAN) (e.g., BLUETOOTH), local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), narrowband personal communications services (PCS), broadband PCS, circuit switched cellular, cellular digital packet data (CDPD), radio frequencies, such as the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands, infra-red and laser. 
     Examples of wireless transmissions for use in local area networks (LAN) include, but are not limited to, radio frequencies, especially the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands, for example IEEE 802.11 and BLUETOOTH, as well as infrared, and laser. Examples of wireless transmissions for use in wide area networks (WAN) include, but are not limited to, narrowband personal communications services (nPCS), personal communication services (PCS such as CDMA, TMDA, GSM) circuit switched cellular, and cellular digital packet data (CDPD), etc. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless network system  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As depicted, system  100  may include an information handling system  102 , a wireless access point  116 , and a printer  118 . 
     Information handling system  102  may generally be operable to receive data from, and/or transmit data to printer  118  and/or another device via wireless access point  116 . In certain embodiments, information handling system  102  may be a portable computer. As shown in  FIG. 1 , information handling system  102  may include a processor  103 , a memory  104  communicatively coupled to processor  103 , a user interface  106 , a storage resource  108 , and a network interface  114 . 
     Processor  103  may comprise any system, device, or apparatus operable to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data, and may include, without limitation, a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any other digital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data. In some embodiments, processor  103  may interpret and/or execute program instructions and/or process data stored in memory  104 , storage resource  108 , and/or another component of information handling system  102 . 
     Memory  104  may be communicatively coupled to processor  103  and may comprise any system, device, or apparatus operable to retain program instructions or data for a period of time (e.g., computer-readable media). Memory  104  may comprise random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a PCMCIA card, flash memory, magnetic storage, opto-magnetic storage, or any suitable selection and/or array of volatile or non-volatile memory that retains data after power to information handling system  102  is turned off. 
     User interface  106  may be communicatively coupled to processor  103  and may include any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities by which a user may interact with information handling system  102 . For example, user interface  106  may permit a user to input data and/or instructions into information handling system  102  (e.g., via a keyboard, pointing device, and/or other suitable means), and/or otherwise manipulate information handling system  102  and its associated components. User interface  106  may also permit information handling system  102  to communicate data to a user, e.g., by means of a display device. 
     Storage resource  108  may be communicatively coupled to processor  103  and/or memory  104  and may include any system, device, or apparatus operable to retain program instructions or data for a period of time (e.g., computer-readable media) and that retains data after power to information handling system  102  is turned off. Storage resource  108  may include one or more hard disk drives, magnetic tape libraries, optical disk drives, magneto-optical disk drives, compact disk drives, compact disk arrays, disk array controllers, and/or any computer-readable medium operable to store data. As shown in  FIG. 1 , storage resource  108  may include a setup utility  110  and a wireless data file  112 . Setup utility  110  may include any suitable program of instructions executable on processor  103  and operable to configure information handling system  102 , wireless access point  116 , and/or printer  118  for wireless communication, as described in greater detail below. Wireless data file  112  may include any database, table, and/or other data structure operable to store data regarding network configuration parameters associated with wireless access point  116 , printer  118  and/or other network-capable devices (e.g., service set identifiers (SSIDs), wireless encryption protocol (WEP) keys, and/or other parameters related to network communication and network security, encryption keys, MAC addresses, serial numbers, manufacturers, model numbers, and/or other identifying information). 
     Network interface  114  may include any suitable system, apparatus, or device operable to serve as an interface between information handling system  102  and wireless access point  116  (e.g., a wireless network interface card). Network interface  114  may enable information handling system  102  to communicate to wireless access point  116  via wireless transmissions and/or wire-line transmissions using any suitable transmission protocol and/or standard, including without limitation all transmission protocols and/or standards enumerated below with respect to the discussion of wireless access point  116 . In some embodiments, network interface  114  may provide physical access to a networking medium and/or provide a low-level addressing system (e.g., through the use of Media Access Control addresses). In certain embodiments, network interface  114  may include a buffer for storing packets received from wireless access point  116  and/or a controller configured to process packets received by wireless access point  116 . 
     Wireless access point  116  may include any system, device or apparatus operable to communicatively couple one or more devices together to form a network. Wireless access point  116  may be a part of a storage area network (SAN), personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a virtual private network (VPN), an intranet, the Internet or any other appropriate architecture or system that facilitates the communication of signals, data and/or messages (generally referred to as data) via wireless transmissions. For example, wireless access point  116  may be configured to communicate with other devices via wireless transmissions, and thus may communicatively couple a plurality of wireless communication devices together to form a wireless network. In certain embodiments, wireless access point  116  may also be configured to communicate to one or more devices via wire-line transmissions, and thus may relay data among wireless devices and wired devices. Wireless access point  116  may be configured to communicate with other devices via any suitable communication protocol (e.g., TCP/IP) and/or standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11, WI-FI). 
     Printer  118  may include any device, system or apparatus, used alone and/or in combination with one or more information handling systems to print images (e.g., text and/or pictures) on a recording medium (e.g., paper, transparencies, and/or any other suitable medium) using an imaging medium (e.g., toner, ink, and/or other suitable medium). Printer  118  may include, without limitation, a toner-based imaging device or an inkjet imaging device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  200  for configuring information handling system  102  for wireless communication prior to delivering the information handling system  102  to an end user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, method  200  preferably begins at step  202 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of system  100 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  200  and the order of the steps  202 - 210  comprising method  200  may depend on the implementation chosen. 
     At step  202 , an order may be received for information handling system  102 . The order may also include a selection of bundled components (e.g., wireless access point  116 , printer  118 , and/or other components) to be included with the ordered information handling system  102 . The order may be received by a manufacturer and/or vendor of information handling system  102  via telephone, online, mail, or any other suitable manner. 
     At step  204 , information handling system  102  may be manufactured according to specifications set forth in the received order. At step  206 , the vendor and/or manufacturer may store setup utility  110  on storage resource  108  of information handling system  102 . 
     At step  208 , the vendor and/or manufacturer may configure wireless data file  112  and store wireless data file  112  in storage resource  108  of information handling system  102 . If a bundled wireless access point was ordered with information handling system  102 , wireless data file  112  may be configured with factory default identifying information regarding the bundled wireless access point (e.g., factory default SSID, factory default administrator user identification, factory default administrator password, wireless setup URL). 
     For example, the Linksys 150N wireless access point manufactured by Cisco Systems, Inc. may have a wireless setup URL of “http://192.168.1.1/Wireless_basic.asp”, a factory default SSID of “linksys,” and a factory default administrator password of “admin.” Accordingly, if a Linksys 150N wireless access point is the bundled wireless access point ordered with information handling system  102 , wireless data file  112  may be configured with such parameters. On the other hand, if a bundled wireless access point was not ordered, wireless data file  112  may be configured with factory default identifying information for different types (e.g., brand, manufacturer, models) of wireless access points that may be supported by information handling system  102 . 
     At step  210 , the information handling system  102  may be shipped. After completion of step  210 , method  200  may end. 
     Although  FIG. 2  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , it is understood that method  200  may be executed with greater or lesser steps than those depicted in  FIG. 2 . In addition, although  FIG. 2  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  200 , the steps comprising method  200  may be completed in any suitable order. Method  200  may be implemented using system  100  or any other system operable to implement method  200 . In certain embodiments, method  200  may be implemented partially or fully in software and/or firmware embodied in tangible computer-readable media. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of an example method  300  for auto-configuring devices (e.g., information handling system  102 , wireless access point  116 , and/or printer  118 ) for wireless communication, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 4A-4B  illustrate example user interface screens displayed (e.g., via a display device at user interface  106 ) during method  300 , in accordance with the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, method  300  preferably begins at step  302 . As noted above, teachings of the present disclosure may be implemented in a variety of configurations of system  100 . As such, the preferred initialization point for method  300  and the order of the steps  302 - 316  comprising method  300  may depend on the implementation chosen. 
     At step  302 , after receiving information handling system  102 , an end user may power on information handling system  102  for the first time (e.g., the initial end user boot of information handling system  102 ). 
     At step  304 , processor  103  may begin execution of setup utility  110 . 
     At step  306 , setup utility  110  may scan for available wireless access points that may be detected by information handling system  102 . 
     At step  308 , setup utility  110  may filter the available wireless access points based on one or more parameters. In certain embodiments, filtering may be based on parameters stored in wireless data file  112  (e.g., data regarding a bundled wireless access point and/or data regarding supported wireless access points) in order to identify available wireless access points that may be unconfigured. Any such unconfigured wireless access point may be the wireless access point that is to be configured for communication with information handling system  102 . 
     For example, because many wireless access points have factory default settings and a wireless access point to be configured with a new information handling system may have its default settings, setup utility  110  may filter based on such factory default settings (e.g., SSID) in order to find the wireless access point  116  to be configured for communication with information handling system  102 . As a specific example, if a LINKSYS 150N wireless access point is bundled with information handling system  102 , setup utility  110  may filter on the factory default SSID value of “linksys,” such that available wireless access points with an SSID other than “linksys” are filtered from the available access points. In a situation where a wireless access point is not bundled with information handling system  102 , setup utility may filter on factory default SSID values for all supported wireless access points. 
     In the same or alternative embodiments, setup utility  110  may filter the available wireless access points based on whether such access points are unsecured or secured. Because many wireless access points are factory configured, such filtering may filter secured wireless access points (which are likely not to be newly-shipped wireless access points) from the available access points. 
     At step  310 , setup utility  110  may identify, from the filtered available access points, the wireless access point with the highest signal strength at information handling system  102 , and select that wireless access point as the wireless access point  116  to be configured for wireless communication with information handling system  102 . In certain embodiments, setup utility  110  may prompt the end user (e.g., via user interface  106 ) to select the wireless access point  116  from a plurality of wireless access points with the highest signal strengths, such as shown in  FIG. 4A  for example. In other embodiments, setup utility  110  may prompt the end user to select the wireless access point  116  only if there exists an ambiguity as to which wireless access point has the highest signal strength (e.g., two or more filtered available access points have approximately equal signal strengths). 
     At step  312 , setup utility  110  may log into the wireless access point  116  based on information (e.g., wireless access point factory default parameters) stored in wireless data file  112 . As a specific example, if wireless access point  116  is a LINKSYS 150N wireless access point, setup utility  110  may login to wireless access point using the factory default user identification (NULL) and factory default password (“admin”) stored in wireless data file  112 . 
     At step  314 , setup utility  110  may configure wireless access point  116  and information handling system  102  for secure wireless communication. For example, setup utility may set one or more parameters associated with information handling system  102  and/or wireless access point  116  to permit secure wireless communication between information handling system  102  and wireless access point  116 . Such parameters may be assigned default values by setup utility  110  and/or may be set by the end user via user interface  106  (see  FIG. 4A ). In some embodiments, setup utility  110  may enable a wireless security standard on wireless access point  116  (e.g., Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or WI-FI Protected Access (WPA)) and set a passphrase, encryption key, password, and/or similar security phrase consistent with such wireless security standard. In such embodiments, setup utility  110  may also configure information handling system  102  in accordance with the wireless security standard and/or security phrase. In such embodiments, the setup utility  110  may set the security phrase based on a service tag, serial number, and/or other unique identifier associated with information handling system  102 . 
     In the same or alternative embodiments, setup utility  110  may change the administrator user identification and/or administrator password from their factory default values (e.g., to prevent others from using such default values to access wireless access point). In these and other embodiments, setup utility  110  may change the SSID of wireless access point (e.g., to reduce the possibility of similarly-named access points in the same geographic area and/or to indicate to setup utility  110  that the wireless access point has been setup). 
     At step  316 , setup utility  110  may display to the end user instructions for configuring printer  118  for secure wireless communication with wireless access point  118 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . For example, if printer  118  is WI-FI Protected Setup (WPS)-compliant, setup utility  110  may provide instructions to the end user regarding the steps the end user may take to configure printer  118  for secure wireless communication. After completion of step  316 , method  300  may end. In the same or alternative embodiments, setup utility  110  may display to the end user instructions for configuring another wireless device, for example a WPS-compliant camera, scanner, and/or wireless headset. 
     Although  FIG. 3  discloses a particular number of steps to be taken with respect to method  300 , it is understood that method  300  may be executed with greater or lesser steps than those depicted in  FIG. 3 . In addition, although  FIG. 3  discloses a certain order of steps to be taken with respect to method  300 , the steps comprising method  300  may be completed in any suitable order. Method  300  may be implemented using system  100  or any other system operable to implement method  300 . In certain embodiments, method  300  may be implemented partially or fully in software embodied in tangible computer-readable media. 
     Using the methods and systems disclosed herein, disadvantaged associated with traditional approaches to configuring devices (e.g., information handling systems, wireless access points, and printers) for wireless communication may be reduced or eliminated. For example, the methods and systems disclosed herein may allow configuration of multiple wireless devices by using only one application in a manner that may be intuitive to even the most novice user. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7