EP0793170A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for automatic configuration of home network computers
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-02-21
Abstract
Abstract In a distributed computer system, an automated configuration system and method for configuring home network client computers, including determining local service provider information, the configuration performed without any user assistance. The distributed computer network comprising of unconfigured network home dient computers, and at least one autoconfiguration server. The network may also include sales servers and local service provider servers. The home network client computer determines on power on time if it possesses the requisite configuration information. If the requisite configuration information is lacking, the home network client computer sends a configuration request along with client computer identifying information to the autoconfiguration server. On receiving the configuration request from a home network client computer, the autoconfiguration server uses the client identifying information to determine the local service provider information and client computer specific data. The autoconfiguration server determines the local service provider information by looking up a directory of local service providers, the directory being stored on the autoconfiguration server or on some local service provider server. The autoconfiguration server determines the client computer specific data by accessing a database containing client computer information for each home network client computer, the database being stored either on the autoconfiguration server itself or on some sales server. The client computer specific data is stored in the database at time of sale/purchase/shipment of the home network computer to the user. The local service provider information and the client computer specific data is then downloaded to the requesting home network client computer. The home network client computer uses the configuration information downloaded by the autoconfiguration server to configure itself and establish connection to the local service provider.
Inventors
- 👤 Graham Hamilton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/177; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/4401; G06F9/4416; G06F9/445; G06F9/44505; H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L12/2856; H04L12/2869; H04L12/2878; H04L12/2879; H04L12/2885; H04L9/00; H04L9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for automatic configuration of home network client computers comprising the steps of: a) receiving requests from said home network client computers for autoconfiguration, said requests each providing client computer identifying information; b) using said client computer identifying information in said request to determine i) local service provider information, selected from information in a predefined directory of local service providers; ii) client computer specific data corresponding to said client computer identifying information, selected from a database of client computer information; c) providing instructions for downloading said local service provider information, and said client computer specific data to a respective home network client computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with said home network client computer, and said database of client computer information includes data for said home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of said home network client computers and/or shipment of said home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein said stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales information identifying said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to said designated recipient .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with said home network client computer, wherein said telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which said home network client computer is located; said directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping said first portion of said telephone number associated with said home network client computer to a local service provider.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for automatic configuration of a home network client computer, comprising the steps of: determining on power on of said home network client computer if said home network client computer lacks required configuration information, said required configuration information including information concerning a local service provider, and client computer specific data; if said home network client computer is determined to lack any of said required configuration information, then performing the steps of: connecting to an autoconfiguration server; sending a configuration request to said autoconfiguration server, said request including client computer identifying information associated with said home network client computer; receiving from said autoconfiguration server said required configuration information; said home network client computer using said received configuration information to configure itself; when said home network client computer has the required configuration information and has been configured therewith, automatically establishing a connection to said local service provider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with said home network client computer, and said database of client computer information includes data for said home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of said home network client computers and/or shipment of said home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein said stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales information identifying said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with said home network client computer, wherein said telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which said home network client computer is located; said directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping said first portion of said telephone number associated with said home network client computer to a local service provider.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
161 words
An autoconfiguration server for configuring home network client computers, comprising: a communication interface for receiving requests from said home network client computers for autoconfiguration, said requests each providing client computer identifying information; a data processor, coupled to said communication interface; said data processor further coupled to a predefined directory of local service providers and a database of client computer information; a memory coupled to said data processor, said memory storing procedures for execution by said data processor; said stored procedures including a configuration procedure for using said client computer identifying information in each said request to determine local service provider information, selected from information in said predefined directory of local service providers, and to further determine client computer specific data corresponding to said client computer identifying information, selected from said database of client computer information; said configuration procedure further including instructions for downloading said local service provider information, and said client computer specific data to a respective home network client computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with said home network client computer, and said database of client computer information includes data for said home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of said home network client computers and/or shipment of said home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein said stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales information identifying said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 7, wherein: said client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with said home network client computer, wherein said telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which said home network client computer is located; said directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping said first portion of said telephone number associated with said home network client computer to a local service provider.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
190 words
A client configuration system for automatic configuration of a home network client computer, comprising: a communication interface for sending requests from said home network client computer for autoconfiguration, said requests each providing client computer identifying information; a data processor coupled to said communication interface; a memory coupled to said data processor, said memory storing procedures for execution by said data processor; said stored memory procedures including a client configuration procedure for determining on power on of said home network client computer if said home network client computer lacks required configuration information, said required configuration information including information concerning a local service provider, and client computer specific data; if said home network client computer is determined to lack any of said required configuration information, then said client configuration procedure further; using said communication interface to send said request to an autoconfiguration server; receiving said required configuration information from said autoconfiguration server; using said configuration information received from said autoconfiguration server to configure said home network client computer; when said home network client computer has the required configuration information and been configured therewith, automatically establishing a connection to said local service provider.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
116 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said client computer identifying information includes a serial number uniquely associated with said home network client computer, and said database of client computer information includes data for said home network client computers that is collected and stored in conjunction with acquisition or sale of said home network client computers and/or shipment of said home network client computers to designated recipients, wherein said stored data for each respective home network client computer indicates a respective serial number, a client computer model or configuration, sales Information identifying said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer, and configuration information specific to said designated recipient of said respective home network client computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said client computer identifying information includes a telephone number associated with said home network client computer, wherein said telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which said home network client computer is located; said directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping said first portion of said telephone number associated with said home network client computer to a local service provider.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0479660A2
Cited
EP0592079A2
Cited
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