Network connectivity system and method

Abstract

A method of configuring an electronic device for communications with a communications network includes establishing a wireless communications link between a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The first electronic device has saved thereon a set of network parameters for enabling communications between the first electronic device and the communications network. The method also includes communicating the set of network parameters to the second electronic device, retaining the set of network parameters on the second electronic device, and establishing a communications link between the second electronic device and the communications network by applying settings to the second electronic device. The settings are based on the network parameters.

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         21 . An electronic device, comprising: 
 a transceiver; and    a processor configured to receive settings from a second electronic device via the transceiver, the settings for use by the second device to connect to a communications network, the processor configured to connect to the communications network using the settings.    
     
     
         22 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.  
     
     
         23 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate over a wireless local area network.  
     
     
         24 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the transceiver is an infrared transceiver.  
     
     
         25 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , further comprising a second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is configured to communicate with the communications network.  
     
     
         26 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the transceiver is selected from the group consisting of an infrared transceiver and a Bluetooth transceiver, and the second transceiver is configured to communicate over a wireless local area network.  
     
     
         27 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic device is a portable device.  
     
     
         28 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld device.  
     
     
         29 . The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the processor is configured to receive settings from the second electronic device via a wired link.  
     
     
         30 . An electronic device, comprising: 
 a transceiver; and    a processor configured to connect to a communications network using a plurality of settings and to transmit the settings to a second electronic device via the transceiver.    
     
     
         31 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.  
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate over a wireless local area network.  
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the transceiver is an infrared transceiver.  
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , further comprising a second transceiver, wherein the second transceiver is configured to communicate with the communications network.  
     
     
         35 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the transceiver is selected from the group consisting of an infrared transceiver and a Bluetooth transceiver, and the second transceiver is configured to communicate over a wireless local area network.  
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the electronic device is a portable device.  
     
     
         37 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld device.  
     
     
         38 . The electronic device of  claim 30 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit the settings to a second electronic device via a wired link.  
     
     
         39 . An electronic device, comprising a processor configured to receive manual settings for at least one of hardware and software settings for the electronic device to enable communications with a wireless access point and to send the at least one of hardware and software settings to a second electronic device via a communications link.  
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein the electronic device is a handheld device and the at least one of hardware and software settings are for use with an EEE 802.11 communications network.