Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network computer configuring – Reconfiguring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-24
2002-12-10
Maung, Zarni (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network computer configuring
Reconfiguring
C701S219000, C707S793000, C370S254000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06493751
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for managing network configurations in a window-based operating system environment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a more intuitive configuration and selection process for facilitating the association of a computer employing a windows-based operating system with a network environment.
2. Present State of the Art
The effectiveness of general purpose stand-alone computers, such as personal computers, has been proven and is readily apparent in the successful nature of the personal computer marketplace. Those familiar with computers appreciate that their capabilities and ease of use has progressed substantially thereby enabling the masses to make use of such execution devices. While computers alone have reached successful levels, peripherals such as printers and other devices have also become prevalent due to the interactive environment made available by the personal computer. While computers and peripherals alone have been successful and widely accepted beyond any possible original expectations, computers have also made available methods of communication and data exchange that enable individual personal computers to communicate with other types of devices. To facilitate such intercomputer interaction, networks have proliferated which enable a plurality of computers or a mixture of computers and peripherals to interact one with another.
Those familiar with networking technology appreciate that various networking configurations have developed which provide individual advantages and limitations in their particular topology. For example, local area networks (LAN) lend value to co-located computers by enabling individual computers to communicate with other computers or peripherals without requiring specific dedicated peripherals for each computer. Similarly, wide area networks (WAN) find application in remotely located computer applications wherein a remotely located computer contacts one or more computers or peripherals typically via a telephone system or other communication channel.
While computers and peripherals may efficiently interact via a network, in order to facilitate accurate and reliable interaction, computers, and more precisely the operating system controlling the personal computer hardware interacting with the network, must be properly and precisely configured. While modern windows-based computer operating systems provide a somewhat streamlined visual interface, networking configuration details require a user to enter configuration parameters into a number of separate windows in order to operably and properly configure the personal computer for interacting in a compliant and precise manner on the network. For example, the Microsoft® Windows 95® operating system is one such windows-based operating system that enables networked operation of the personal computer upon which it resides.
Those familiar with the Windows 95 operating system appreciate that several parameters must be defined in order for a personal computer to operably interact on a network. For example, in a WAN network environment, a personal computer must be configured to include various information such as “dial-up network” information including telephone numbers, area codes and server type. Additionally, the personal computer must also store “location” information relating to information that is specific to the personal computer being configured. In order to configure the dial-up network information and location information, multiple windows must be visited and traversed in the exemplary Windows 95 environment. For example, to populate the dial-up networking information, a user must access the Windows 95 “programs” menu and select the “accessories” submenu and in turn select the “dial-up networking” subsubfolder. In that particular folder, a user must select specific information such as a particular modem and phone number.
Likewise, to select the “location” information which is also required for establishing a wide area network connection, a user must select and traverse a separate menu in order to populate the “location” information. For example, the network-configuring user selects the “settings” folder and within that particular settings folder selects the “control panel” window which enables a user to further select the modem setting and define the particular modem properties including specific dialing properties necessary for interfacing with a specific communication channel such as a telephone network.
It should be readily apparent that such an elementary configuration example for properly configuring a personal computer for interacting on a network has required a nonintuitive traversal of a plurality of menu windows. Additionally, specific “general access” properties must also be defined for completing the network configuration process. General access properties such as the definition of a particular proxy server are configured in the exemplary Windows 95 operating system by selecting the “settings” window. Within that particular window, the user must also select the “control panel” submenu and therein select the “Internet” option which further yet therein provides a plurality of tabulated windows, one of which is the “connection” tab which in turn permits the storage of one and only one defined proxy server.
Additionally, other general access properties include the specification of a default printer which requires a user to select the “settings” window and further select the “printers” subwindow. Yet additionally, another general access property that a user may wish to configure when defining a configuration of network parameters includes establishing the sharing of both file and print capabilities. Such a specification requires the user to select the “settings” window and therein further select the “control panel” subwindow and yet therein select the “network” option which presents the user with a plurality of tabular windows, one of which is the target “configuration” tabular window.
It should be apparent from the previous example that the proper configuration of a computer in a corresponding network, namely a LAN or WAN, is anything but intuitive and simplistic at least in the dominant windows-based operating system environment. Since network configurations have heretofore been largely static, in that computers traditionally joined a network and remained on that particular network for some duration, cumbersome approaches to establishing an operative configuration in an operating system were tolerated since they typically required only a single configuration ordeal. However, with the advent of integration and miniaturization, computers have become increasingly more portable and therefore mobile. Modernly, a typical computer user may be assigned a single computer that may serve as both their office computer and their mobile or portable computer. To facilitate the interaction of a computer with other computers or peripherals in an office environment, a traditional LAN must host the portable computer thereby enabling the portable computer to interact with other computers and peripherals. Such an association requires that the operating system of the portable computer be properly configured for interacting on the LAN. However, when a portable computer disassociates with a LAN and otherwise associates with either a different LAN such as in the case of either reassociating the portable computer in a different LAN environment or, in the case of a WAN, such as when a user may employ their portable computer for communicating via a telephone line to another network, the portable computer must reassociate or be reconfigured to operably interact over the new network. In such applications, a user is required to subject themselves to the aforementioned battery of menus and options and hope that their configurations are sufficiently precise to enable them to both communicate on the subsequent network and reverse the re-configuration process of the portable computer to operably reassociate with
Badami Vinay
Baker Jennifer
Raines William M.
Smith Randy C.
Tate Randy S.
3Com Corporation
Lin Wen-Tai
Maung Zarni
Workman & Nydegger & Seeley
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