US6134590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for automatically connecting devices to a local network
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1997-12-08
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Granted: 2000-10-17
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Expires: 2017-12-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for linking multiple remote players of real-time games is disclosed. The system of the present invention includes a first computer for directly linking the first computer with a second computer, the first computer comprises: 1) a network interface coupled to a network; 2) client application software executing in the first computer, the client application software includes: a) processing logic for connecting the first computer to a server on a network via the network interface; b) processing logic for requesting the server to match the first computer with a second computer using matching criteria; c) processing logic for receiving a network address of the second computer from the server; and d) processing logic for establishing a direct communication link with the second computer using the network address.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen G. Perlman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/12; H04L67/125; H04L67/131
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for automatically connecting a first device to a first local network, said system comprising: a server receiving a connection request from the first device to connect the first device to the first local network; the server accessing Automatic Number Identification (ANI) information when the server receives the connection request, the ANI information including first corresponding configuration information; and means for transferring the first corresponding configuration information from the server to the first device, wherein the configuration informatation is utilized to automatically connect the first device to the first local network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for automatically connecting a first device to a first local network, said system comprising: a server receiving a connection request from the first device to connect the first device to the first local network; the server accessing Automatic Number Identification (ANI) information when the server receives the connection request, the ANI information including first corresponding configuration information; and means for transferring the first corresponding configuration information from the server to the first device, wherein the configuration informatation is utilized to automatically connect the first device to the first local network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the first configuration information includes a first local telephone number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 2 wherein the first configuration information also includes a first telephone number corresponding to the first device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The system according to claim 3 further comprising: the server receiving a second connection request from a second device to connect the second device to a second local network; the server accessing the ANI information when the server receives the second connection request, the ANI information including corresponding second configuration information; the server transferring the second corresponding configuration information to the second device; and the second device utilizing the configuration information to automatically access the second local network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein the second configuration information includes a second local telephone number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 5 wherein the second configuration information includes a second telephone number corresponding to the second device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 6 wherein the server utilizes the first configuration information and the second configuration information to determine whether the first device and the second device have matching criteria.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 7 further including: the server providing the second telephone number corresponding to the second device to the first device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 8 further including: the first device utilizing the second telephone number corresponding to the second device to directly connect from the first device to the second device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for automatically connecting a first device to a first local network, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a connection request on a server from the first device to connect the first device to the first local network; accessing Automatic Number Identification (ANI) information from the server when the server receives the connection request, the ANI information including first corresponding configuration information; transferring the first corresponding configuration information from the server to the first device; and utilizing the configuration information to automatically connect the first device to the first local network.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for automatically connecting a first device to a first local network, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a connection request on a server from the first device to connect the first device to the first local network; accessing Automatic Number Identification (ANI) information from the server when the server receives the connection request, the ANI information including first corresponding configuration information; transferring the first corresponding configuration information from the server to the first device; and utilizing the configuration information to automatically connect the first device to the first local network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the first configuration information includes a first local telephone number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein the first configuration information also includes a first telephone number corresponding to the first device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of: receiving a second connection request on the server from a second device to connect the second device to a second local network; accessing the ANI information when the server receives the second connection request, the ANI information including corresponding second configuration information; transferring the second corresponding configuration information from the server to the second device; and utilizing the configuration information to automatically connect the second device to the second local network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the second configuration information includes a second local telephone number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the second configuration information includes a second telephone number corresponding to the second device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 15 wherein the server utilizes the first configuration information and the second configuration information to determine whether the first device and the second device have matching criteria.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 7 further including the step of: providing the second telephone number corresponding to the second device from the server to the first device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 17 further including: the step of utilizing the second telephone number corresponding to the second device to directly connect the first device to the second device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |