Method for Physically Updating Configuration Information for Devices in a Wireless Network

Abstract

A method for providing configuration information for use in installing a new wireless station to a wireless network that minimizes errors is presented. The configuration information is distributed by storing the configuration information onto a device with a memory and then distributing the device to the users interested in installing new wireless stations. The device is attached to a computer to which the wireless station is coupled, initiating a transfer of the configuration information. The computer uses the configuration information to configure the wireless station. The method also provides a way to limit access to the configuration information through the use of encryption and limiting the number of times the configuration information is retrieved. The method is also an effective way to distribute security keys for encryption systems whose purpose is to secure communications in a wireless network.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A method of configuring a wireless communications network, the method comprising: 
 coupling a universal serial bus (USB) connector of a flash device to a first USB port of a first computer coupled to a first wireless station, wherein the flash device comprises a memory and a processor;    downloading wireless network configuration information from the first computer into the memory in the flash device, wherein the information comprises a network name and a security key for the wireless communications network;    uncoupling the flash device from the first USB port of the first computer;    coupling the USB connector of the flash device to a second USB port of a second computer coupled to a second wireless station;    transferring the wireless network configuration information from the memory of the flash device to the second computer;    configuring the second wireless station using the wireless network configuration information; and    connecting the second wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the wireless network configuration information.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising verifying, before the transferring, that the second wireless station is a desired recipient of the wireless network configuration information.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising automatically detecting, by the second computer, the coupling of the flash device to the second USB port.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the security key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising uncoupling the USB connector of the flash device from the second USB port of the second computer.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein second wireless station is integrated into the second computer.  
   
   
       35 . A method of updating a configuration of a wireless communications network, wherein a second wireless station in the network is configured with initial wireless network configuration information, the method comprising: 
 joining a universal serial bus (USB) connector of a flash device to a first USB port of a first computer coupled to a first wireless station, wherein the flash device comprises a memory and a processor;    downloading updated wireless network configuration information from the first computer into the memory in the flash device, wherein the updated wireless network configuration information comprises a network name and a security key for the wireless communications network;    uncoupling the flash device from the first USB port of the first computer;    coupling the USB connector of the flash device to a second USB port of a second computer coupled to the second wireless station;    transferring the updated wireless network configuration information from the memory of the flash device to the second computer;    reconfiguring the second wireless station from the initial wireless network configuration information to the updated wireless network configuration information; and    connecting the second wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the updated wireless network configuration information.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising selectively repeating the coupling, transferring, reconfiguring, and connecting steps for each one of a plurality of computers coupled to respective wireless stations in the wireless communications network.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising verifying, before the transferring, that the second wireless station is a desired recipient of the updated wireless network configuration information.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the initial wireless network configuration information and the updated wireless network configuration information are different.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein specific information that is different is selected from the group consisting of the network name, the security key, and both the network name and security key.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the second wireless station is external to the second computer.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.  
   
   
       42 . A method of configuring a wireless station in a wireless communications network, the method comprising: 
 automatically detecting, by a computer coupled to the wireless station, a coupling of a universal serial bus (USB) connector of a flash device to a USB port of the computer, wherein the flash device comprises a memory and a processor;    automatically initiating, by the computer, wireless configuration installation software in response to the detecting;    transferring, by the installation software, wireless network configuration information from the memory of the flash device to the computer, wherein the information comprises a network name and a security key for the wireless communications network;    configuring, by the installation software, the wireless station using the wireless network configuration information; and    connecting the wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the wireless network configuration information.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising verifying, before the transferring, that the wireless station is a desired recipient of the wireless network configuration information.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the wireless station is integrated into the computer.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the security key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.  
   
   
       47 . A method of configuring a wireless communications network, the method comprising: 
 coupling a universal serial bus (USB) connector of a flash device to a first USB port of a first digital device coupled to a first wireless station, wherein the flash device comprises a memory and a processor;    downloading wireless network configuration information from the first digital device into the memory in the flash device, wherein the information comprises a network name and a security key for the wireless communications network;    uncoupling the flash device from the first USB port of the first digital device;    coupling the USB connector of the flash device to a second USB port of a second digital device coupled to a second wireless station;    transferring the wireless network configuration information from the memory of the flash device to the second digital device;    configuring the second wireless station using the wireless network configuration information; and    connecting the second wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the wireless network configuration information.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising verifying, before the transferring, that the second wireless station is a desired recipient of the wireless network configuration information.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising automatically detecting, by the second digital device, the coupling of the flash device to the second USB port.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the security key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising uncoupling the USB connector of the flash device from the second USB port of the second digital device.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein second wireless station is integrated into the second digital device.  
   
   
       54 . A method of updating a configuration of a wireless communications network, wherein a second wireless station in the network is configured with initial wireless network configuration information, the method comprising: 
 joining a universal serial bus (USB) connector of a flash device to a first USB port of a first digital device coupled to a first wireless station, wherein the flash device comprises a memory and a processor;    downloading updated wireless network configuration information from the first digital device into the memory in the flash device, wherein the updated wireless network configuration information comprises a network name and a security key for the wireless communications network;    uncoupling the flash device from the first USB port of the first digital device;    coupling the USB connector of the flash device to a second USB port of a second digital device coupled to the second wireless station;    transferring the updated wireless network configuration information from the memory of the flash device to the second digital device;    reconfiguring the second wireless station from the initial wireless network configuration information to the updated wireless network configuration information; and    connecting the second wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the updated wireless network configuration information.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising selectively repeating the coupling, transferring, reconfiguring, and connecting steps for each one of a plurality of digital devices coupled to respective wireless stations in the wireless communications network.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising verifying, before the transferring, that the second wireless station is a desired recipient of the updated wireless network configuration information.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the initial wireless network configuration information and the updated wireless network configuration information are different.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein specific information that is different is selected from the group consisting of the network name, the security key, and both the network name and security key.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the second wireless station is integrated into the second digital device.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.  
   
   
       61 . A method of configuring a wireless station in a wireless communications network, the method comprising: 
 automatically detecting, by a digital device coupled to the wireless station, a coupling of a universal serial bus (USB) connector of a flash device to a USB port of the digital device, wherein the flash device comprises a memory and a processor;    automatically initiating, by the digital device, wireless configuration installation software in response to the detecting;    transferring, by the installation software, wireless network configuration information from the memory of the flash device to the digital device, wherein the information comprises a network name and a security key for the wireless communications network;    configuring, by the installation software, the wireless station using the wireless network configuration information; and    connecting the wireless station to the wireless communications network based on the wireless network configuration information.    
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising verifying, before the transferring, that the wireless station is a desired recipient of the wireless network configuration information.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the wireless station is integrated into the digital device.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the wireless communications network is an 802.11 wireless network.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the security key is a wired equivalent privacy (WEP) key.