Software Settings Based on Geophysical Location

Abstract

A network-connected device may receive specific software configuration settings based on geophysical location information known about the device. The geophysical location information may come from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or any other mechanism for determining a location for the device. The software settings may be stored in a volatile memory so that when the device is disconnected from a power source, it does not contain the specific settings required for the device to operate. In another embodiment, localization settings to meet regulatory requirements or other local configuration may be downloaded to the device based on the geophysical location information.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a network with dispersed network devices and having a geographic boundary encircling a subset of the devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a network-connected device having internal geophysical location information storage.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing periodic changes to software settings using geographic information about network connected devices.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing initialization software settings using geographic information about network connected devices.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing components of the software settings that may be modified for devices within a specific geographic area.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustration of an embodiment showing a method for loading software based on geophysical location information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustration of an embodiment showing a method for making software changes to devices in a geographic region.

Claims

1. A method comprising: connecting a first device to a network, said first device having geophysical location information;reading said geophysical location information about said first device with a host device;determining a set of software settings for said first device based on said geophysical location; andtransmitting said set of software settings to said host device from said first device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first device comprises a radio transceiver.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said geophysical location information is obtained by a method comprising triangulation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first device comprises a Global Positioning System receiver.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first device further comprises a network address.

6. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions adapted to perform the method of claim 1.

7. A host device comprising: a network connection adapted to communicate with a first device connected to said network; anda controller adapted to perform a method comprising: connecting to said first device to said network, said first device having geophysical location information;reading said geophysical location information about said first device with a host device;determining a set of software settings for said first device based on said geophysical location; andtransmitting said set of software settings to said host device from said first device.

8. The host device of claim 7 wherein said method further comprises: storing said set of software settings in non-volatile memory.

9. The host device of claim 7 wherein said method further comprises: storing said set of software settings in volatile memory.

10. The host device of claim 7 wherein said geophysical location comprises a jurisdictional boundary.

11. The host device of claim 7 wherein said geophysical location comprises a boundary of a network franchise.

12. The host device of claim 7 wherein said geophysical location comprises a campus boundary.

13. The host device of claim 7 wherein said method is performed in response to a localized emergency.

14. The host device of claim 7 wherein said method is performed in response to testing on said network.

15. The host device of claim 7 wherein said method is performed in order to update devices on said network.

16. A method comprising: connecting a first device to a network, said first device having geophysical location information;determining a set of software settings for said first device based on said geophysical location by performing a query against a database comprised in a host device; andtransmitting said set of software settings to said host device from said first device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first device is a fixed mounted device.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said first device comprises at least one wired connection.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said wired connection comprises a power connection.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said wired connection comprises a network connection.