System, method and user interface for network status reporting

Abstract

A method and user interface for informing a user of the status of a network connection are provided. Conventionally, the “connected” icon in the system tray only informs the user that the computer is linked to a network medium, such as an Ethernet or wireless access point. This icon does not indicate whether a routable IP address has been obtained. In this invention, an icon is used to inform the user that the network connection is disabled, connecting, connected (routable IP address obtained), or in a warning state. The warning state indicates that a non-routable IP address (e.g. auto net address) has been obtained, which will likely be unsatisfactory to the user. However, when connected to an 802.11 ad-hoc network, or when IP status checking is disabled, a non-routable IP address is deemed acceptable, and thus the “connected” icon is displayed.

1 . A method comprising:
 initiating a connection attempt to form a network connection between a computing device and a communications network;   ascertaining a device-specific state, an authentication-specific state, and an internet protocol (IP)-specific state for the connection attempt; and   reporting an overall state of the connection attempt that combines the device-specific state, the authentication-specific state, and the IP-specific state.   
     
     
         2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein ascertaining the device-specific state for the connection attempt comprises making a call to an application programming interface (API) configured to detect the device-specific state from a network adapter that is being used by the computing device to connect to the communications network. 
     
     
         3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein ascertaining the authentication-specific state for the connection attempt comprises making a call to an API that corresponds to an authentication client to obtain the authentication-specific state, the authentication client configured to authenticate the network connection. 
     
     
         4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein ascertaining the IP-specific state for the connection attempt comprises making a call to an API that corresponds to a TCP/IP client to obtain the IP-specific state, the TCP/IP client configured to assign an IP-address for the network connection. 
     
     
         5 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device-specific state for the connection attempt comprises one of:
 a disabled state, which indicates that a network adapter being used by the computing device to connect to the communications network is installed, but a driver corresponding to the network adaptor is stopped;   a network media disconnected state, which indicates that a network cable is unplugged if the network connection is a wired connection and that the network adaptor has not formed an association with a wireless device that corresponds to the communications network if the network connection is a wireless connection; and   an enabled state, which indicates that an association is formed between the network adaptor and the communications network.   
     
     
         6 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the authentication-specific state for the connection attempt comprises one of:
 a validating identity state, which indicates that an authenticator is gathering credentials to authenticate the computing device for connection to the communications network;   an authenticating state, which indicates that the authenticator is authenticating the gathered credentials;   an authentication failed state, which indicates that the authenticator determines the gathered credentials to be invalid or that said authenticating failed; and   an authentication successful state, which indicates that the authenticator determines the computing device to be authenticated.   
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the validating identity state, the authenticating state, the authentication failed state, and the authentication successful state are useable for the authentication-specific state when an authentication protocol is enabled for the connection attempt and when a network adapter being used by the computing device to connect to the communications network is connected to the communications network. 
     
     
         8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the IP-specific state for the connection attempt comprises one of:
 an acquiring an IP address state, which indicates that a network adapter being used by the computing device to connect to the communications network is attempting to acquire an IP address;   an invalid IP address assigned state, which indicates that an acquired IP address is invalid; and   a valid IP address state, which indicates that the acquired IP address is valid.   
     
     
         9 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein ascertaining the IP-specific state includes determining whether IP Status Checking is enabled for a network adapter being used by the computing device to connect to the communications network. 
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein reporting the overall state of the connection attempt comprises causing a user interface to display at least one of a notification area icon, a pop-up balloon, and a dialog box. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising detecting a change in at least one of the device-specific state, the authentication-specific state, and the IP-specific state that causes the overall state of the connection attempt to change, and reporting the change of the overall state. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises multiple network adapters configured to connect to the communications network, and the attempting, ascertaining, and reporting are performed for each of the multiple network adapters. 
     
     
         13 . One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processing devices to:
 attempt to form a network connection with a communications network;   ascertain device-specific, authentication-specific, and internet protocol (IP)-specific states that correspond to the attempt;   determine an overall state of the attempt based on a combination of the ascertained states; and   display a graphical user interface to indicate the overall state of the attempt.   
     
     
         14 . One or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the device-specific, authentication-specific, and IP-specific states are ascertained by making calls to one or more application programming interfaces (APIs). 
     
     
         15 . One or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to withhold an indication that a procedure associated with forming the network connection is initially unsuccessful. 
     
     
         16 . One or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more processing devices to delay indicating that acquiring a valid IP address, performed in association with forming the network connection, is unsuccessful until at least two attempts to acquire the valid IP address are performed. 
     
     
         17 . One or more computer-readable media as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the one or more computing devices to detect a change in at least one of the device-specific, the authentication-specific, and the IP-specific states that causes the overall state of the attempt to change, and update the graphical user interface to indicate the change to the overall state. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 one or more processors;   a networking user interface, operable via the one or more processors, that is configured to report overall states for attempts to form a network connection between a computing device and a communications network; and   a network connection state utility (NCSU), operable via the one or more processors, that is configured to detect a device-specific state, an authentication-specific state, and an IP-specific state for each of the attempts, and determine the overall states for the attempts by combining the device-specific state, the authentication-specific state, and the IP-specific state for each of the attempts.   
     
     
         19 . A system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the NCSU is configured to detect the device-specific state, the authentication-specific state, and the IP-specific state for each of multiple network adapters used by the computing device to connect to the communications network. 
     
     
         20 . A system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the NCSU is further configured to make one or more application programming interface (API) calls to detect the device-specific state, the authentication-specific state, and the IP-specific state.