Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Sequel Technology Corporation

Dalen Matthew Abraham

Scott Manchester

Benjamin E Nick

Trevor William Freeman

Anton W Krantz

Todd A Barnes

Mark G Grieve

Timothy Mark Moore

Shai Guday

Pradeep Bahl

Mohammad Shabbir Alam

Bernard D Aboba

Jean-Pierre Duplessis

Vivekanand Vellanki

Thomas P Bougetz

Paul F Bouche

Michael S Nikkel

Robert C Allison

Brent A Langdon

Malayala R Srinivasan

Tracy A Gosselin

Bill Hanlon

A method and apparatus for supporting data connectivity with a roaming partner when a communication device is outside a service provider's range of coverage is provided. In one aspect, a user can select and store a roaming partner that is capable of data communication. While roaming, the communication device will display the data-roaming partners that are currently available within the communication range of the device and the user can choose one of these data-roaming partners and store the data-roaming partner information in memory. Upon re-entering the region within communication range of that roaming partner, the device can communicate with the roaming partner of choice rather than the roaming partner ordinarily selected by the device as a default.

Stored user selectable preferences for supporting data roaming in GPRS networks

A portable computer-readable media device and method of use enable automatic configuration of a computing device, such as a conventional network device or a thin client device, for operation in a network. Configuration information, including network settings and security information, is incorporated in an XML file written to the portable media device while it is installed in a first device. This configuration is then automatically transferred to a second device by installing the portable media device in the second device. The second device then writes device information, incorporated in an XML file, to the portable media device, to be uploaded to the first device.

Configuring network settings using portable storage media

A memory device may comprise a nonvolatile computer readable medium, a near field communication wireless transmitter, a nonvolatile near field communication tag memory, a data input device and a controller. The nonvolatile computer readable medium is adapted to store data in a data block format. The near field communication wireless transmitter is adapted to wireless transmit data to an external near field communication receiver. The nonvolatile near field communication tag memory is adapted to store data in a tag memory format.

Mass storage device with near field communications

An Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) schema is used to generate configuration settings files. A wireless configuration XML schema defines an XML file for configuring wireless network settings on a wireless device. A wide area network (WAN) configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a WAN device. A local area network (LAN) configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a LAN device. A broadband modem configuration schema defines an XML file for configuring a broadband modem device. A device configuration schema defines an XML file for reporting the configuration of a device.

XML schema for network device configuration

A computer system attempts to authenticate with a server to gain authorization to access a first network. It is determined by the server that the computer system is not authorized to access the first network. The computer system is given authorization to access a second network for at least the purpose of downloading files (e.g., signup and configuration files) needed to access the first network. A user-interface for receiving user-entered signup information is automatically presented at the computer system. A first schema-based document including user-entered information is transferred to the server. If the server determines that the user-entered information is appropriate, a second-schema document, which includes an indication of authorization to access the first network (e.g., a user-identifier and password), is received. A third schema-based document is executed at the computer system to compatibly configure the computer system for accessing the first network.

Increasing the level of automation when provisioning a computer system to access a network

In accordance with the present invention, a network management program (80) is provided that manages the communication of data packets between an intranetwork (44) and an internetwork (40). An operator of a computer connected to the intranetwork (44) inputs vital information regarding users of computers connected to the intranetwork (44), mapping information regarding computers connected to the intranetwork (44), and policies to be applied against those users and computers, using a graphical user interface (GUI 70). The GUI (70) communicates the vital user information, mapping information and policies to a database (72) which stores and organizes the vital user information, mapping information and policies. A filter executive (76) optimizes the policies stored in the database (72) into a set of rules for each user and passes the rules to a filter engine (78). The filter engine (78) filters all outbound data packets transmitted from the intranetwork (44) to the internetwork (40) and verifies all inbound data packets from the internetwork (40) according to the rules provided by the filter executive (76). The filter executive (76) also communicates the mapping information stored in the database (72) to a naming service manager (74) which further updates the mapping information and returns the updated mapping information to the filter executive (76). Consequently, the filter executive (78) filters the data packets according to the most recent mapping information.

Method and apparatus for managing internetwork and intranetwork activity

A naming service manager (46) is provided for resolving mapping information regarding a plurality of computers connected to a local area network (LAN 24) and their users. The naming service manager 46 collects mapping information, i.e., user login names, domain names, computer names and IP addresses, from a plurality of naming service agents 50 located on the LAN (24) and correlates the mapping information into a current computer-to-user assignment or 'mapping' for each user of the LAN 24 and/or a current IP address-to-computer assignment or 'mapping' for each computer connected to the LAN 24. The naming service manager (46) serves the correlated mapping information to a plurality of naming service applications (48) which process the correlated mapping information in accordance with their own needs and requirements.

Method and apparatus for resolving network users to network computers

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Duvall, WA, United States of America

Dalen Matthew Abraham