CN101057414A - System and method for managing wireless connections in computer - Google Patents

Abstract

A Wireless Connection Utility (WCU) provides a unified user experience for managing various types of wireless connections, including Wireless WANs, Wireless LANs, and Bluetooth networks. The WCU functions as a gateway for a user of a computer to monitor the computer's wireless network status, to switch wireless connections, to configure wireless connection settings, and to diagnose wireless connection problems through a Wireless Helper Utility (WHU). The WCU thus provides a unified U/I layer on the top of the existing operating system components for ease of use.

Description

The system and method that is used for the wireless connections of supervisory computer

I. invention field

The present invention relates generally to be used for managing user interface such as the wireless connections of computers such as laptop computer.

II. background of invention

The portable computers such as laptop computer of the VAIO  of many computers, particularly all like Sony can be with wireless mode and one or more network service.For example, laptop computer may be able to be communicated by letter with wide area network (WAN), wireless lan (wlan), blueteeth network, short message service (SMS) network etc. with wireless mode.

Recognize importantly that as this paper each above-mentioned network generally has its oneself user interface (U/I), the user must call this interface to enable special communication channel or otherwise by associated network communication.For example, the utility program that is called Windows zero configuration (WZC) is provided for the U/I by WLAN communication, and another utility program that is called Windows bluetooth manager can be used for Bluetooth communication.For simplicity, may use in this article such as various familiar terms that are added with trade mark such as " Windows ".

As what also recognize herein, the various U/I of available on computers wireless network are not integrated, this means and to visit the different utility programs that are associated with each network from the user that a network switches to another network, and operate each utility program and using which network etc. with system's setting, the change of for example configuration network.In view of this, provide the present invention.

Summary of the invention

A kind of wireless connections utility program (WCU) is provided for managing the unified user experience that comprises various types of wireless connections such as wireless WAN, WLAN and blueteeth network.WCU serves as gateway, for the wireless network state of computer user's supervisory computer, switch wireless connections, configuration wireless connections setting and diagnose the wireless connections problem by wireless assistant's utility program (WHU).WCU does not substitute such as existing operating system assemblies such as Windows zero configuration (WZC) and Windows bluetooth managers, but being provided at the foremost of existing operating system assembly and the U/I layer that has the unsupported interpolation function of operating system assembly in some implementations, these add, and functions such as button connect switch, wireless WAN connection manager, WLAN selection of configuration, " focus " that some are other promote and unified user interface easy to use.

Correspondingly, a kind of computer is carried out and is embodied the wireless connections utility program (WCU) that comprises following logic: visit following at least two: wireless lan (wlan) driver, wide area network (WAN) driver and bluetooth driver.Logic also comprises and shows that unified user interface (U/I), this interface oblatio in single screen display represent the image of at least two networks selecting from above-mentioned network.The user can use U/I to select one or more networks that will communicate with.

In certain embodiments, U/I can comprise the main U/I screen display that oblatio is following at least two: available so that WAN is arranged on that main screen shows is provided with the WAN button that occurs in the window, available so that WLAN and is arranged on and the WLAN button that occurs in the window is set and availablely so that bluetooth is arranged on the bluetooth button that occurs in the window is set.All three buttons oblatio on main U/I screen display preferably.In addition, can be on main U/I screen display the oblatio universal button.The user can select this universal button so that can be chosen in whether start WCU when operation system of computer starts.In addition, can select this universal button so that among WLAN or the WAN which user can select to have automatic detection priority.

Except that main U/I screen, U/I can comprise the one touch type screen display, and oblatio is available with the WAN button that communication switched to WAN, available with the WLAN button that communication switched to WLAN and available communication is switched to the bluetooth button of blueteeth network.In addition, can on the one touch type screen, be provided for selecting the button of WAN+ bluetooth and WLAN+ bluetooth.The combination of individual palpation such as single " heat " keys such as " F1 " or while individual palpation such as " function " and " heat " keys such as " F1 ".

On the other hand, a kind of computer program carrying can be by the instruction of the digital processing unit execution that is associated with at least two cordless communication networks selecting from WAN, WLAN and blueteeth network.Provide be used to make main U/I with screen that digital processing unit is associated on the instrument that occurs.Main U/I oblatio in single screen display is represented the computer display element of WLAN, WAN and Bluetooth communication system.Main U/I also oblatio is provided with window, and this is provided with window and shows the setting that is associated with at least one computer display element.

Also having on the other hand, a kind of user interface that is used to have the computer of wireless communication ability comprises at least one screen display that shows WAN computer display element, WLAN computer display element and bluetooth computer display element.Can select the computer display element so that one of following at least the generation: being provided with in the window of U/I that be arranged on that is associated with the network of being represented by the computer display element shows, and communication automatically switched to the network of being represented by the computer display element.

With reference to accompanying drawing, can understand details of the present invention in structure of the present invention and operating aspect best, similar label is represented similar parts in the accompanying drawing, and wherein:

The accompanying drawing summary

Fig. 1 is the perspective view that can use a non-limiting computer of radio communication utility program of the present invention (WCU);

Fig. 2 illustrates the block diagram that can operate the WCU that engages with other assembly of computer shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates main U/I display screen;

Fig. 4 illustrates one touch type and selects display screen;

Fig. 5 is the flow chart of energising logic;

Fig. 6 is the flow chart of focus logic; And

Fig. 7 is the flow chart that detects logic automatically.

Preferred embodiment describes in detail

Earlier with reference to Fig. 1, it illustrates a kind of system of 10 that is typically expressed as, this system comprises such as computers 12 such as Sony VAIO laptop computers, and this computer has digital processing unit 14, computer monitor or display screen 16 and such as various input units such as keypad or keyboard 18 and joystick 20 and/or such as other indication and pointing devices such as mouse or touch pads.Computer 12 also can have various internal storage devices, as hard disk drive, solid-state memory etc. and be used for the CD drive 22 of holding optical disk 24 therein.These various memories that comprise dish 24 are can preserve to embody the following further non-limitative example of the computer program of the instruction of the radio communication utility program of the present invention (WCU) of statement.

According to known principle in the affiliated technical field, computer 12 can be with a plurality of cordless communication networks and other computer and the telex network of wireless mode by comprising wide area network (WAN) 26, wireless lan (wlan) 28 and blueteeth network 30.For this reason, according to known principle in the affiliated technical field, computer 12 comprises suitable wireless communication system.

Fig. 2 illustrates total software architecture of the present invention.Set about from those conventional assemblies earlier, computer 12 is addressable to provide the WAN driver 32 of rudimentary WAN function, the WLAN driver 34 of rudimentary WLAN function is provided and the bluetooth driver 36 of rudimentary Bluetooth function is provided. Driver 32,34,36 disposes respectively and is used to be convenient to by network shown in Figure 1 26,28,30 communications.Operating system (as Windows) assembly can be as shown in Figure 2 above these drivers, and these assemblies can comprise the bluetooth manager 38 that is used to be convenient to dispose the bluetooth setting and be used for by for example providing configuration to set up ability to be convenient to Windows zero configuration (WZC) assembly 40 that WLAN communicates by letter for WLAN is provided with.When computer 12 is Sony VAIO computer, also can provide VAIO Event Service (VAIO Event Service) assembly 42.

Above above-mentioned conventional software assembly and that communicate with is WCU 44 of the present invention.As shown in Figure 2, WCU 44 can comprise connection switch 46, and this switch can be by allowing the user to implement by the applet that key operation (for example, using programmable button, function key, arrow key etc.) switch wireless connections fast.Be connected the U/I that switch 46 is associated and further describe with reference to Fig. 4 below.

In certain embodiments, can provide debugging control platform/technology mode assembly 48 to allow debugging (for example, being used for the on-the-spot test purpose) with the low-level command pattern.For not in requisition for its end user, can hide this pattern.

In addition, WCU 44 comprises the WCU primary input point module 50 that can generate main U/I shown in Figure 3 and be further described below except that other function.Primary module 50 can comprise or visit and is used for the plugin manager 52 that is connected with dissimilar wireless card assemblies, these dissimilar wireless card assemblies for example comprise, WAN plug-in unit 54, WLAN plug-in unit 56 and bluetooth plug-in unit 58, they are communicated by letter with 36/38 with the conventional assembly of corresponding network 32,34/40.Plug-in unit 54-58 collects the formative state information of available XML to show the state of its corresponding network the main U/I that is further described below subsequently from its driver.Can dynamically load the U/I assembly according to the availability of plug-in unit 54-58.Plugin manager 52 provides feature list, and these functions for example can comprise, load the connection plug-in unit, enumerate the connection plug-in unit, be provided for obtaining the interface of connection attribute and the interface that is provided for communicating by letter between plug-in unit.

According to following further disclosure about Fig. 3, except that collecting the WAN state information, WAN plug-in unit 54 allows the user to dispose the WAN setting when time among the main U/I at Fig. 3.Similarly, WLAN plug-in unit 56 allows the user to be provided with from main U/I configuration WLAN, and bluetooth plug-in unit 58 allows the user to dispose the bluetooth setting.When needing, can provide wireless assistant's utility program (WHU) 60 so that study course, dynamic help and diagnostic function to be provided, thereby help that the user uses, configuration wireless connections and get rid of the wireless connections fault.In addition, according to following disclosure, XML resolver 62 can be implemented with the analyzing XML file in WCU 44, and particularly, is used to resolve the XML file that is associated with each plug-in unit 54-58 to be based upon the U/I layout shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.More specifically, XML resolver 62 explains that each connects the XML file of plug-in unit 54-58, below the XML file description on the main U/I shown in Fig. 3 type and self-defined layout thereof is set.Therefore, each connects plug-in unit 54-58 provides its own XML file, and the button.onrelease of correspondence is provided.Under arbitrary situation, can understand WCU 44 now provides unified U/I layer.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it illustrate can be on the monitor 16 of computer 12 the main U/I screen display 64 of oblatio.As shown in the figure, main U/I 64 comprises a plurality of all-purpose computer display elements, as selecting to set up communications setting and the execution button as other communication task of the further statement of this paper for the user.These buttons can comprise universal button 66, and this button makes the general demonstration in the window 68 that is provided with that is arranged on main U/I 64 when selected.In not depending on general setting of special connection type, have following setting:

When starting, Windows starts WCU, this is arranged on and adds WCU 44 executable files when selecting to operating system registration table, thereby no matter when the Windows login it all will move: if the wireless switching (if providing) of computer 12 is closed, then this will can not show the task tray icon that further describes below;

When opening wireless switching, start WCU;

Open the WCU main window when opening wireless switching, this is arranged on when selecting, and starts WCU 44 when the user opens wireless switching;

Always On Top, this is arranged on when selecting and makes WCU 44 remain on the foremost of desktop catalogue; And

Automatically detect priority, this is arranged on when selecting determines that according to following logic which connection has the highest connection priority.

Connection status window 70 also can be included among the main U/I 64 to show the connection status that is associated with the selected button that shows the left side.In addition, can provide various task icons, the help of for example, withdraw from icon 72, calling WHU 60 is called icon 74, is minimized icon 76 or the like.WCU 44 also can show the various icons that indicate whether to enable wireless communication system and enable which type of wireless communication system in the system for computer task tray, when the user clicks these icons, menu is occurred so that enable and forbid various systems.

Get back to the various buttons among the main U/I 64, can select WAN button 78 to show the WAN setting and show the WAN state in window 68 is set in status window 70, these are provided with and state is to derive from the XML information of basis from the signal resolution of WAN plug-in unit 54.In some implementations, status window can be used as the part appearance of the selected button of expansion.

The WAN status items (for example can comprise telecommunications company's title of WAN telecommunications company title, current network and roaming state, " unavailable ", " unregistered ", " searching for ", " telecommunications company 1 (ownership) ", " telecommunications company 2 (roaming) " etc.) and network type (" pattern ", for example, " disconnect ", " GSM ", " SPRS/EDGE " etc.).In addition, the status window when selecting WAN button 78 can comprise with the bytes per second being the connection speed of unit, sends with the byte number that receives, be connected the wireless signal strength of duration and connection.

On the other hand, when selecting WAN button 78, following setting in window 68 is set, can occur and check for the user and revise: " connection status ", it is the switch that is used for opening/closing (enabling/forbid) WAN module power supply; " network ", it illustrates all specific available network operators of telecommunications company; " profile ", it illustrates carrier network APN (also being that telecommunications company is specific); " roaming ", it can be used for selecting whether to allow roaming (for example, " always ", " never ", " prompting earlier "); " VPN ", it is used in and starts the VPN(Virtual Private Network) client when connecting the VPN(Virtual Private Network) client; " use summary ", it illustrates every month data counts to be used for charging; " configuration of IP/DNS ", it permits a user to senior purposes static IP/DNS is set; And " senior ", it can be preserved for such as setting up senior settings such as IP address, renewal Fireware.

What will mention herein is, network connects can be connected to such as WAN such as GSM networks computer 12, and data are connected and take place after computer 12 is connected to WAN.Data connect sets up the TCP/IP session to be connected to the internet with explicit way.Use network to connect only such as short message service non-TCP/IP functions such as (SMS).If 10 of systems support data to use, then need not to separate the network connection and be connected with data.Energising is directly enabled network and is connected with data.

Fig. 3 also illustrates can provide WLAN button 80.When selecting this button, the state of demonstration for example can comprise, " pattern " (type of WLAN or frequency band are as 802.11), reaches " signal strength signal intensity " as " network " information, " data transfer rate ", " duration " of SSID.And setting that can when selecting WLAN button 80 show relevant with WLAN for example can comprise " state " (the WLAN module is opened or closed); " pattern " (indication WLAN frequency mode, for example, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11b/g); " profile that has disposed ", it is to indicate ssid list pre-configured or the WLAN profile that the user had disposed in the past; And " configuration profile ", it starts WZC 40 shown in Figure 2 to add or editor profile/SSID when selected.

Also can provide bluetooth button 82, when selected, it can make following status items show: device name and MAC Address.The setting that is associated with bluetooth button 82 can comprise state, jockey (being connected to the blue-tooth device title of computer 12 with wireless mode) and " configuration blue-tooth device ", and " configuration blue-tooth device " starts bluetooth manager 38 shown in Figure 2 so that the configurable blue-tooth device that is associated with computer 12 of user.

In addition, can provide SMS button 84 as shown in Figure 3.When selecting this button, use by in window 68 is set, selecting " enabling " to start SMS.But also video data connection, network and the APN of telecommunications company.Like this, if computer 12 has SMS, then it can be integrated to send and to receive short message and when needed they to be saved in SIM card or other data storage device with WCU44.

Referring now to Fig. 4, as mentioned above, can provide one touch type screen display 86 with by allowing the user only just can (for example, WAN) switching to another wireless connections (for example, WLAN) is user-friendly to from wireless connections by keyboard operation.For example, programmable button, function key, arrow key, system tray icon or enter key can be used for activating connection switch 46 shown in Figure 2, and demonstration shown in Figure 4 86 is shown on monitor 16, click button be enough to make communication from for example only WAN for example switch to that WLAN adds bluetooth." one touch type " not only refers to select single button once to switch connection, and refers to handle simultaneously a plurality of " heat " key, as " function " and " F1 ".

For example, shown in specific non-limiting example in, demonstration shown in Figure 4 only comprises that WAN selects element 88, this element is shown in dotted line to be selected so that communication is switched to WAN by the user.Perhaps can select WLAN to select element 90 to connect, and can use automatic detection selector element 92 enabling the automatic detection of available connection, thereby set up predetermined connection as mentioned above with limit priority only to enable WLAN.Perhaps, bluetooth adds WLAN selector element 94 and can be used for enabling bluetooth and communicate by letter both with WLAN, and perhaps bluetooth adds WAN selector element 96 and can be used for enabling bluetooth and WAN communication.Only bluetooth can be enabled by selecting bluetooth button 98.Cursor or dotted line to be moved on to another selector element top, then press predetermined key once more, and/or can realize navigation by the arrow on 12 the keyboard of using a computer around demonstration 86.The selection of computer enter key can make to be associated and select to make immediately.Can select computer to select key to realize that not having the change of selection selects element with the hiding switch that is connected.

Fig. 5-7 illustrates the various logic that can be implemented by computer 12 in certain embodiments.At the square frame 100 of Fig. 5, computer 12 energisings are with the load operation system, and at square frame 102, operating system is in case just notify WCU 44 energisings after loading.At square frame 104, WCU 44 enables one or more above-mentioned networks, the state of each network of poll again.At square frame 106, the corresponding driving program turns back to WCU 44 with network state.Like this, for example, but detecting the time spent automatically, WCU 44 can enable the preferred network of user's appointment immediately when powering up, perhaps enable the alternate network of user's appointment when it is unavailable.

Fig. 6 illustrates can be to " focus " logic of implementing such as localized networks such as bluetooth, Wi-Fi and WLAN.From square frame 108, when the user enabled WLAN (or bluetooth) for the first time, WCU44 added the focus profile of prestrain to the hotspot location tabulation of being safeguarded by WZC 40.At square frame 110, when WLAN detects it in focus the time subsequently, WZC 40 is connected to focus, and at square frame 112, notice WCU 44 these operations.In response, at square frame 114, WCU 44 shows the indication of focus availability on monitor 16.

As mentioned above, WCU 44 can set up and the communicating by letter of user's preferred network automatically, and a non-limiting logic is in this respect implemented shown in Fig. 7.From state 116, at square frame 118, the user can select to enable automatic measuring ability, in this case, at square frame 120, the preference of WCU 44 calling parties definition.Judgement diamond 122 just indicates WCU 44 to conclude that the user has selected WAN or WLAN has priority, will be understood that, can correspondingly tell other user definition and select from judging diamond 122.

Whether selected WLAN when preferred the user, logic moves on to square frame 124 enabling above-mentioned wlan component, and successfully set up judging that diamond 126 is determined to connect.If successfully set up, then logic finishes at state 128.Successfully set up if connect, then logic flows to square frame 130 to forbid wlan component and to enable the WAN assembly from judging diamond 126.Subsequently, judging diamond 132, logic determines that whether successfully WAN connects foundation.If successfully set up, then logic finishes at state 128.Successfully set up if WAN connects, then logic flows to square frame 134 with startup WHU 60 from judging diamond 132, and starts such as help function such as study course and diagnosis at square frame 136.

Whether judging that diamond 122 indication users have selected WAN when preferred, logic moves on to square frame 138 enabling above-mentioned WAN assembly, and successfully set up judging that diamond 140 is determined to connect.If successfully set up, then logic finishes at state 128.Successfully set up if connect, then logic flows to square frame 142 to forbid the WAN assembly and to enable wlan component from judging diamond 140.Subsequently, judging diamond 144, logic determines that whether successfully WLAN connects foundation.If successfully set up, then logic finishes at state 128.Successfully do not set up if WLAN connects, then logic is from judging that diamond 144 flows to square frame 134 to carry out aforesaid operation.

Though as shown here and special " system and method that is used for the wireless connections of supervisory computer " that describe in detail can realize above-mentioned purpose of the present invention fully, but be appreciated that, it is the theme that therefore on behalf of the present invention, the present preferred embodiment of the present invention also broadly consider, scope of the present invention contains other embodiment that those skilled in the art can understand fully, and the scope of the present invention claims of correspondingly only being enclosed limit, in claims, unless offer some clarification on, otherwise quoting of singulative key element is not intended to expression " and have only ", but " one or more ".A kind of device or method needn't be devoted to seek each problem of being solved by the present invention, because it will be contained by these claims.In addition, no matter whether clearly mention key element, assembly or method step in the present disclosure in claims, the key element in the present disclosure, assembly or method step are not intended to dedicate to the public.Though do not have clearly definition herein, the claim term is interpreted as and this specification and reconcilable all the common and general implications of file history.

Claims

(according to the modification of the 19th of treaty)

1. computer of carrying out wireless connections utility programs (WCU), described WCU embodies and comprises following logic:

Visit following at least two: wireless lan (wlan) driver (34), wide area network (WAN) driver (32) and bluetooth driver (36);

Show that at least one unifies user interface (U/I), described interface oblatio in single screen display is represented the image (78,80,82) from least two networks of following selection: WLAN, WAN and Bluetooth communication system; And

Make the user select one or more networks (26,28,30) that will communicate with by described U/I, wherein, described U/I comprises the main U/I screen display (64) that oblatio is following at least two: available so that WAN is arranged on that described main screen shows is provided with the WAN button (78) that occurs in the window (68), available so that WLAN and is arranged on the described WLAN button (80) that occurs in the window (68) or available so that bluetooth is arranged on the described bluetooth button (82) that occurs in the window (68) that is provided with that is provided with.

2. computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described computer is a laptop computer.

4. computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein, all three buttons (78,80,82) are gone up oblatio at described main U/I screen display (64).

5. computer as claimed in claim 4 wherein, is gone up oblatio universal button (66) at described main U/I screen display (64), and described universal button (66) is available so that the user can be chosen in whether start described WCU when described operation system of computer starts.

6. computer as claimed in claim 4 wherein, is gone up oblatio universal button (66) at described main U/I screen display (64), and among WLAN or the WAN which the available so that user of described universal button (66) can select to have automatic detection priority.

7. computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described U/I comprises the one touch type screen display that oblatio is following at least two: available with the WAN button (78) that communication switched to WAN, available with the WLAN button (80) that communication switched to WLAN or available communication is switched to the bluetooth button (82) of blueteeth network.

8. user interface that is used to have the computer of wireless communication ability comprises:

At least one screen display (64) that shows WAN computer display element (78), WLAN computer display element (80) and bluetooth computer display element (82), the computer display element is available so that the demonstration in the window (68) that is provided with that is arranged on described U/I that is associated with the network of being represented by described computer display element.

Statement when revising according to the 19th of treaty

This search report is claimed the shortage novelty according to Fig. 2,10-16 section and 34-38 section among people's such as Ollis the USPP 2003/0134629.The applicant thinks that in brief, the instruction content in these parts of people such as Ollis is to select to use one of a plurality of possible networks automatically for the user.The 15th segment table is bright, in a certain NM mode, audio frequency or the visual indication that can use about what network can be provided, but this with fall far short as the perhaps available so that instruction content that is arranged on the diverse network display element that shows in the window as being provided with of the desired UI of claim 8 that is associated with the corresponding network of representing by display element in the instruction that the diverse network specific button that occurs in the window is set that main screen shows of now described available so that network settings that are associated in the claim 1.

Claims (8)

1. computer of carrying out wireless connections utility programs (WCU), described WCU embodies and comprises following logic:

Visit following at least two: wireless lan (wlan) driver (34), wide area network (WAN) driver (32) and bluetooth driver (36);

Show that at least one unifies user interface (U/I), described interface oblatio in single screen display is represented the image (78,80,82) from least two networks of following selection: WLAN, WAN and Bluetooth communication system; And

Make the user select one or more networks (26,28,30) that will communicate with by described U/I.

2. computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described computer is a laptop computer.

3. computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described U/I comprises the main U/I screen display (64) that oblatio is following at least two: available so that WAN is arranged on that described main screen shows is provided with the WAN button (78) that occurs in the window (68), available so that WLAN and is arranged on the described WLAN button (80) that occurs in the window (68) and available so that bluetooth is arranged on the described bluetooth button (82) that occurs in the window (68) that is provided with that is provided with.

4. computer as claimed in claim 3, wherein, all three buttons (78,80,82) are gone up oblatio at described main U/I screen display (64).

5. computer as claimed in claim 4 wherein, is gone up oblatio universal button (66) at described main U/I screen display (64), and described universal button (66) is available so that the user can be chosen in whether start described WCU when described operation system of computer starts.

6. computer as claimed in claim 4 wherein, is gone up oblatio universal button (66) at described main U/I screen display (64), and among WLAN or the WAN which the available so that user of described universal button (66) can select to have automatic detection priority.

7. computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described U/I comprises the one touch type screen display that oblatio is following at least two: available with the WAN button (78) that communication switched to WAN, available with the WLAN button (80) that communication switched to WLAN and available communication is switched to the bluetooth button (82) of blueteeth network.

8. user interface that is used to have the computer of wireless communication ability comprises:

At least one screen display (64) that shows WAN computer display element (78), WLAN computer display element (80) and bluetooth computer display element (82), the computer display element is available so that one of following at least the generation: being provided with in the window (68) of described U/I that be arranged on that is associated with the network of being represented by described computer display element shows, and communication automatically switched to the network of being represented by described computer display element.

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