Connecting to different network types through a common user interface

Abstract

Described is a technology by which network connections are unified into a single user interface for user interaction with those networks. Upon receiving information identifying available networks that correspond to different types of media, a user interface component aggregates the available network connections and displays representations of the available network connections on the user interface. The result is a single user interface page on which the available networks are represented as available network connections that may correspond to destinations, for example by displaying a network name and/or a user-friendly name maintained in a network profile. Also displayable is connectivity status, security-related information, signal strength information for wireless network connections, and other information. The user may choose to show all available network connections, or only subset of the available network connections (e.g., only wireless, or only dial-up and VPN).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more computer-readable hardware storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions being executable by the one or more processors to cause the computer system to:
 on a user interface, display a plurality of networks, wherein each displayed network has associated therewith one or more selectable elements for connecting to said displayed network; 
 receive user input selecting at least a first selectable element that corresponds to a first network, wherein the first network is included among the plurality of networks, and wherein the first network includes one or more network connections that are each usable to connect to the first network; 
 in response to selecting the at least the first selectable element, cause the user interface to display the one or more network connections of the first network; 
 using a selected network connection, establish a connection between the computer system and the first network, the selected network connection being selected by a user and being included among the one or more network connections of the first network; and 
 after establishing the connection between the computer system and the first network via the selected network connection, display a connection duration and a speed, the connection duration and the speed being associated with the established connection between the computer system and the first network via the selected network connection. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks is a virtual private network. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks has associated therewith a friendly name. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface displays profile information for the first network. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks has associated therewith a customized network profile icon. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks is displayed on the user interface according to one or more ordering rules. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of networks is displayed as a scrollable list on the user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of networks is displayed at least partially in response to a received report, the received report at least partially indicating which networks are to be included within the plurality of networks, each network included among the plurality of networks being identified as being currently connectable using the user interface. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein identifying which networks are currently connectable using the user interface is at least partially determined by an identified location of the user of the computer system. 
     
     
         10 . A method for connecting to a network, the method being performed by one or more processors of a computer system, the method comprising:
 on a user interface, displaying a plurality of networks, wherein each displayed network has associated therewith one or more selectable elements for connecting to said displayed network;   receiving user input selecting at least a first selectable element that corresponds to a first network, wherein the first network is included among the plurality of networks, and wherein the first network includes one or more network connections that are each usable to connect to the first network;   in response to selecting the at least the first selectable element, causing the user interface to display the one or more network connections of the first network;   using a selected network connection, establishing a connection between the computer system and the first network, the selected network connection being selected by a user and being included among the one or more network connections of the first network; and   after establishing the connection between the computer system and the first network via the selected network connection, displaying a connection duration and a speed, the connection duration and the speed being associated with the established connection between the computer system and the first network via the selected network connection.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks is a virtual private network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks is displayed using a friendly name that is based on a destination associated with each corresponding network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further includes determining a number of total networks that are available for connection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface displays profile information for each network included among the plurality of networks. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks has associated therewith a customized network profile icon. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of networks is displayed on the user interface according to one or more ordering rules. 
     
     
         17 . One or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions being executable by one or more processors of a computer system to cause the computer system to:
 on a user interface, display a plurality of networks, wherein each displayed network has associated therewith one or more selectable elements for connecting to said displayed network;   receive user input selecting at least a first selectable element that corresponds to a first network, wherein the first network is included among the plurality of networks, and wherein the first network includes one or more network connections that are each usable to connect to the first network;   in response to selecting the at least the first selectable element, cause the user interface to display the one or more network connections of the first network;   using a selected network connection, establish a connection between the computer system and the first network, the selected network connection being selected by a user and being included among the one or more network connections of the first network; and   after establishing the connection between the computer system and the first network via the selected network connection, display a connection duration and a speed, the connection duration and the speed being associated with the established connection between the computer system and the first network via the selected network connection.   
     
     
         18 . The one or more hardware storage devices of  claim 17 , wherein displaying the plurality of networks is performed in response to a received report, the received reporting indicating which networks are currently connectable using the user interface, and wherein determining which networks are currently connectable using the user interface is at least partially determined by an identified location of the user of the computer system. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more hardware storage devices of  claim 17 , wherein each network included among the plurality of networks (i) is a virtual private network and (ii) has associated therewith a customized network profile icon. 
     
     
         20 . The one or more hardware storage devices of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of networks are displayed as a scrollable list on the user interface, and wherein the plurality of networks are also displayed according to one or more ordering rules within the scrollable list.