Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Derek Hee Jun Cha

Paul Chen

Stephen Allen Hellwege

A computer-implemented method of limiting access time to a computer network for client computing devices may comprise disposing an access controlling device such as a router between the computer network and the client computing devices such that the client computing devices can only access the network through the access controlling device, at least while within an area of coverage thereof. A unique identifier may be stored for client computing devices whose access to the network is to be limited and a selectable allowable cumulative network access time period may be stored for at least some of these client computing devices. Using at least the unique identifiers, the cumulative network usage time may be tracked for each of the client computing devices. The access controlling device may then prevent further network access to those client computing devices whose tracked cumulative network usage time exceeds the selectable allowable cumulative network access time period.

Devices and methods configured to control network access time

The disclosure relates to quality of service (QOS) features for a router. The router may determine whether a congestion level of a first interface of the set of network interfaces exceeds a threshold level. Responsive to the congestion level exceeding the threshold level, the router activates a traffic analyzer configured to identify a first session that is present in the data traffic and inserts a set of packets that are part of the first session into a first queue of the set of queues via an expedited communications path over a bus. The router also forwards the set of packets in accordance with the desired quality of service.

Real-time analysis of quality of service for multimedia traffic in a local area network

A computer-implemented method of limiting access time to a computer network for client computing devices may comprise disposing an access controlling device such as router between the computer network and the client computing devices such that the client computing devices can only access the network through the access controlling device, at least while within an area of coverage thereof. A unique identifier may be stored for client computing devices whose access to the network is to be limited and a selectable allowable cumulative network access time period may be stored for at least some of these client computing devices. Using at least the unique identifiers, the cumulative network usage time may be tracked for each of the client computing devices. The access controlling device may then prevent further network access to those client computing devices whose tracked cumulative network usage time exceeds the selectable allowable cumulative network access time period.

A method of replacing a first network-enabled device with a second network-enabled device within a network may comprise placing the second network-enabled device in client mode within the network such that the second network-enabled device is configured to search for the first network-enabled device. A protocol may then be invoked on the first and second network-enabled devices, the protocol being configured to enable an exchange of the network name and password information from the first network-enabled device to the second network-enabled device in client mode. The second network-enabled device, in client mode, may be configured according to the obtained network name and password information. The second network-enabled device may then be switched from client mode to a second mode that provides replacement functionality for the first network-enabled device. The first network-enabled device may then be replaced with the second network-enabled device.

Methods and devices for replacing and configuring a router in a network

A router may be configured to receive a request for a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from a uniquely-identified client device coupled to the router; send the received URL to a first remote site over a computer network; receive, from the first remote site, a value to which the first remote site has associated the URL; determine whether the received value is sufficient to allow the uniquely-identified client device to access the URL; and allow the uniquely-identified client device to access the URL if the received value is determined to be sufficient and disallow access to the URL by the uniquely-identified client device if the received value is determined not to be sufficient.

Cloud to local router security

A device comprising a router may be configured to couple to a gateway device and may be configured, upon being assigned a Wide Area Network (WAN) Internet Protocol (IP) address by the gateway device, to iteratively: (1) determine whether a LAN IP address of the device conflicts with the assigned WAN IP address; and (2) change the LAN IP address of the device if the LAN IP address of the device conflicts with the WAN IP address assigned by the network gateway.

Methods and devices configured for IP address conflict detection and resolution upon assignment of WAN IP address

A method of replacing a first router with a second router within a network may comprise placing the second router in client mode within the network such that the second router is not configured to route network traffic and is configured to search for a network access point provided by the first router. A protocol may then be invoked on the first and second routers, the protocol being configured to enable an exchange of the network name and password information from the first router to the second router in client mode. The second router, in client mode, may be configured according to the obtained network name and password information. The second router may then be switched from client mode back to router mode and enabled to route network traffic on the network. The first router may then be replaced with the second router.

A media aggregator device includes a plurality of interfaces, at least one of which may be configured to couple to a local network and at least one processor coupled to the plurality of interfaces. The processor may be operable to access a first device coupled to the local network and catalog media content stored on the first device; access a second device and catalog media content stored on the second device; populate a media aggregator database with references to the media content cataloged in the first and second devices, and present contents of the populated media aggregator database to a client device to enable the client device to access any of the media content referred to in the media aggregator database, subject to appropriate access rights.

Growing community of inventors

Irvine, CA, United States of America

Derek Hee Jun Cha