1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to transfer of configuration or setup information to a new consumer electronic (CE) device, and more particularly to configuration of a CE device on a local area network (LAN).
2. Description of the Related Art
Consumer electronic (CE) devices, such as stereo receivers, digital video recorders (DVRs), digital televisions (TVs) and audio-video (AV) servers, typically need to be configured with certain setup information before they can operate. The setup information may also include parameters personal to the user of the CE device, such as a favorite-channel list for a TV, so that new parameters may be required to be input each time a new user desires to use the device. CE devices typically include an infrared (IR) interface for input of setup parameters by use of the device's IR remote control, but no conventional personal-computer (PC) type of interface.
CE devices are also becoming common in home and office local area networks (LANs), which permit the transfer of audio and video between devices on the LAN. LANs include wireless local area networks (WLANs), perhaps the most common of which is based on the IEEE 802.11 or Wi-Fi standards, and wired LANs, such as a powerline carrier (PLC) network like that based on the HomePlug™ standard. In most LANs there is a also a need to input configuration or setup information into a new device before it can communicate on the LAN. For example, network configuration information may include a network name and an optional shared network security key that need to be set in the new device. In WLANs there is also a desire for secure communication because the wireless transmissions extend beyond the immediate vicinity of the network devices. In some wired LANs, such as PLC networks, secure communication is also desirable because multiple homes or buildings and multiple-residence buildings such as apartment buildings are usually served from a common transformer so that the physical PLC network extends beyond the boundaries of a single residence. Secure communication is especially important in these types of LANs that have CE devices because copyrighted digital audio and video recordings are transmitted over the LAN.
The network configuration information, including the security key, is typically entered manually into the new device by the user, such as by use of the keypad on the remote control. This can be difficult and annoying for the user. The devices are often from various hardware vendors, each having different configuration steps and remote controls. Additionally, most users do not configure their devices with the network security key because this typically requires the user to manually enter long strings of meaningless characters into multiple devices.
Most homes and offices now have one or more PCs, which may or may not be on a LAN, and which have industry-standard interfaces, such as the universal serial bus (USB) and Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interfaces, that permit easy transfer of data files to and from the PC. Many newer PCs also have one or more additional industry-standard interfaces for data transfer, such as Compact Flash (CF) and SecureDigital (SD) interfaces.
What is needed is a system and method for transfer of configuration information from a PC to a CE device to enable easy setup of the CE device, including easy setup for secure communication on a LAN.
The invention is a system and method for configuring a CE device that has an IR receiver. The CE device may be part of a LAN and the configuration information may include network setup parameters, including a network security key. The configuration information may also include user personalization data representing user preferences, for example a favorite-channel list if the CE device is a TV. The configuration information is in a data file initially stored in a network hub or configuration controller, such as a PC, or may be downloaded into the hub or PC from a remote internet site. A portable configuration-file transfer device has an interface compatible with an interface on the hub or PC to permit transfer of the configuration file, memory for storing the configuration file, and an IR transmitter for transmitting the configuration file to the IR receiver of the CE device. The transfer device may be a compact USB “flash drive” modified to include an IR transmitter and a battery for powering the IR transmitter. Multiple transfer devices, each with its own personalization data, may be associated with the CE device to enable multiple users to configure the CE device with the user's own preferences.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying figures.
Configuration controller 103 allows a user to configure network hub 102 in a well-known manner to set up or re-configure the LAN, such as by accessing a webpage-type interface that allows encryption key information and other LAN configuration information to be entered. Once the network hub 102 is configured, a configuration file that contains network encryption key information and other network setup parameters is stored in network hub 102 and optionally in configuration controller 103. The configuration file may also be downloaded automatically or upon request by the user via the external network from a remote internet site and stored in hub 102 or configuration controller 103. The network setup parameters are required to enable a new CE device 105 or 106 to become associated with and communicate on the LAN. Typically these setup parameters are entered manually into the new CE device by the user, such as by use of a keypad on the CE device's remote control.
In the system of this invention a portable configuration-file transfer device 110 includes an interface 111 that mates with interface 112 of configuration controller 103, and an infrared (IR) transmitter 115. For example, interface 111 and interface 112 may be mating USB connectors, or any other type of industry-standard interface commonly used with PCs, such as PCMCIA, Compact Flash (CF), and SecureDigital™ (SD) interfaces. In another example, network hub 102 has an interface 113 that mates with interface 111 of transfer device 110. When interface 111 of transfer device 110 is mated with interface 112 of configuration controller, 103 (or interface 113 of network hub 102), the configuration file can be transferred in a well-known manner into memory contained in transfer device 110. For example, transfer of the configuration file, whether from configuration controller 103 or network hub 102, can occur in response to clicking on a graphical button interface (not shown) that is displayed by configuration controller 103. As another example, transfer of the configuration file can occur automatically when interface 111 is mated (as depicted by line 114) with interface 112 (or interface 113). In yet another example, the transfer occurs in response to actuation of a button (not shown) on either configuration controller 103 or network hub 102.
After the configuration file has been stored in the memory of transfer device 110 it is transferred to a CE device through the IR transmitter 115. CE devices typically include a processor and memory, and an IR receiver or transceiver to receive and/or transmit to a remote control. As depicted in
Referring now to
As shown in
To obtain the configuration file from the PC, the USB connector 111 is inserted into the USB interface 112 of the PC, as shown by line 114. The configuration file may also be obtained from the AP if the interface 113 is a USB interface. The PC recognizes the plugged-in USB device as a a removable “drive” and the user then transfers the configuration file from the PC by one of the known techniques for moving files, such as by dragging and dropping an icon or clicking on a graphical button interface displayed by the PC. Alternatively, it is possible to define a new type of USB device other than a “drive”, e.g., a “Home Network configuration key” or “Personalization Key”, which the PC recognizes. This has the advantage that the PC can then trigger specific applications associated with the new type which may then cause more automatic startup of a setup utility or a key-programming utility on the PC.
The configuration file is then stored in flash memory 202. When the controller 201 detects that the configuration file has been received, it activates LED 204. The transfer device 110 is then removed from the PC and moved near the IR receiver 117 of the TV. Setup button 118 on transfer device 110 is then pressed and the stored configuration file is transmitted through IR interface 115. As part of this transmission, the controller 201 formats the data in the configuration file according to a defined IR-based communication protocol. The TV's IR receiver 117 detects and decodes this IR command sequence from the IR-based protocol. An example of a command sequence is as follows:
The controller 210 in transfer device 110 may again activate LED 204 to indicate to the user that the configuration file has been transferred. The IR receiver 117 in the TV collects this data and a program run by the processor in the TV parses it to extract the element values. These element values are the network setup parameters that are stored in the TV's memory and used to configure the TV for communication on the WLAN. At this point the TV can now connect to other devices on the WLAN and should be able to verify that it can communicate successfully. This may then be followed by some affirmation that the setup has succeeded, such as a “setup successful” or similar message on the TV's display.
The system shown in
The system has been described with the CE device as a LAN device with the configuration file containing setup parameters to enable the CE device to be configured for communication on the LAN. However, the invention is also applicable to a system in which the CE device could be a stand-alone or non-network device or a network-connected device wherein the configuration file contains other data, such as user personalization data, instead of or in addition to network configuration data.
For example, in the case of a digital TV this configuration file may include non-network setup parameters such as screen view mode (Normal, Wide, Zoom), closed-caption option (On, Off) and V-chip secret number, all of which would otherwise be entered using the TV's remote control and a complex command menu displayed on the TV. The configuration file may also include personalization data such as a list of favorite TV channels or other user preferences, in which case an additional data element or elements would be included in the IR data sequence transmitted by the transfer device, for example:
Element ID=favorite-channel list, values=4, 7, 22, 56.
The modified USB flash-drive configuration-file transfer device, because of its compactness and use as a keyfob, increases the practicality of having multiple transfer devices. For example, each family member may use the PC to create his or her own personalization data, such as a favorite-channel list, and then transfer that personal configuration file into his or her own personal keyfob transfer device.
As another example of usage, the CE device may be sold by the manufacturer together with the transfer device and at the time of purchase the retailer may load a configuration file into the transfer device from a PC located in the retail store. The purchaser would then transfer the configuration file into the CE device after the CE device is powered on at the user's home.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the disclosed invention is to be considered merely as illustrative and limited in scope only as specified in the appended claims.