Methods and systems for network configuration

Abstract

Network and device configuration systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a first user interface configured to receive from a user configuration information regarding a first network provided. Program code stored in computer accessible memory is configured to generate a barcode that includes information related to the first network configuration information, wherein the barcode can be scanned by a device having a barcode scanner and a network interface to configure the network interface to access the first network.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computing system, comprising:
 a computer device;   a network antenna;   a camera;   and non-transitory computer readable memory having program instructions stored thereon that when executed by the computing device cause the system to at least:   read a barcode or other computer readable visual indicia using the camera, the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia comprising an encoded IEEE 802.11 network password;   cause the read barcode or other computer readable visual indicia to be translated to obtain data comprising the IEEE 802.11 network password;   use the obtained IEEE 802.11 network password to enable an IEEE 802.11 network interface to access a local IEEE 802.11 wireless network without a user having to manually key in an IEEE 802.11 network password for the local IEEE 802.11 wireless network on the computing system.   
     
     
         3 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a touch screen, a personal digital assistant, a video capture device, and a light source, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computing device, are configured to enable the user to generate a list using voice, and to translate the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia to obtain a network identifier, and utilize the obtained IEEE 802.11 network identifier in enabling the IEEE 802.11 network interface access to the local IEEE 802.11 network. 
     
     
         4 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the computing device, are configured to translate the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia to obtain a network identifier, and utilize the obtained IEEE 802.11 network identifier in enabling the IEEE 802.11 network interface to access the local IEEE 802.11 network. 
     
     
         5 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system has a display less than ten inches diagonal and has fewer than ten physical keys. 
     
     
         6 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the IEEE 802.11 network interface is included in an oven, refrigerator, blender, television, a video game system, or a waste receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system camera is configured to read a barcode or other computer readable visual indicia displayed by an electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system camera is configured to read a barcode or other computer readable visual indicia printed by a printer. 
     
     
         9 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system is configured to access operational information, in addition to an IEEE 802.11 network password, using the read barcode or other computer readable visual indicia. 
     
     
         10 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the camera comprises a lens and is configured to translate optical impulses into electrical signals. 
     
     
         11 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system comprises at least one user configurable button and a touch screen. 
     
     
         12 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia comprises a quiet zone and a check character, wherein the check character is a calculated value based on other characters encoded in the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia. 
     
     
         13 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system comprises a light source. 
     
     
         14 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system comprises a personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         15 . The computing system as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the computing system is configured to enable the user to generate a list using voice. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:
 reading using a camera, by a computing system, a barcode or other computer readable visual indicia, the computing system comprising computer hardware including the camera, and a processor, the computing system configured with specific executable instructions;   utilizing, by the computing system, the read barcode or other computer readable visual indicia to obtain an IEEE 802.11 wireless network password of an IEEE 802.11 network; and   using, by the computing system, the IEEE 802.11 wireless network password to enable an IEEE 802.11 network interface to access a IEEE 802.11 wireless network without a user having to manually key in the IEEE 802.11 wireless network password on the computing system.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , the method further comprising:
 utilizing, by the computing system, the read barcode or other computer readable visual indicia to obtain a network identifier,   wherein using, by the computing system, the IEEE 802.11 wireless network password to enable the IEEE 802.11 network interface to access the IEEE 802.11 wireless network further comprises using the network identifier to enable the IEEE 802.11 network interface to access the IEEE 802.11 network.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein reading, using the camera, the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia further comprises reading the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia from a display of an electronic device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein reading, by the computing system, the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia further comprises reading, by the computing system, a barcode printed by a printer. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the barcode or other computer readable visual indicia comprises a barcode having a quiet zone and a check character, wherein the check character is a calculated value based on other characters encoded in the barcode. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the IEEE 802.11 network interface is included in a home appliance. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein reading a barcode or other computer readable visual indicia comprises reading a barcode. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the computing system comprises a touch screen, a light source, and an antenna. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , the method further comprising enabling the user to record a voice memo using the computing system. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 16 , the method further comprising enabling the user to generate a shopping list using a voice input via the computing system. 
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory storage medium, said non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon executable program instructions that when executed by a computer system are configured to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising:
 read a barcode or other computer readable visual indicia;   cause translation of the read barcode or other computer readable visual indicia to obtain a password of an IEEE 802.11 network;   utilize the IEEE 802.11 network password obtained by translation of the read barcode or other computer readable visual indicia to enable an IEEE 802.11 network interface to access the IEEE 802.11 wireless network without a user having to manually key in the IEEE 802.11 network password on the computer system.   
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory storage medium as defined in  claim 26 , wherein:
 the computer readable visual indicia is not a barcode, and   wherein reading the computer readable visual indicia further comprises reading computer readable visual indicia from an electronic device display.   
     
     
         28 . The non-transitory storage medium as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the IEEE 802.11 network interface is included in a home appliance. 
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory storage medium as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the executable program instructions direct the computer system to enable the user to record a voice memo using the computing system. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory storage medium as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the executable program instructions direct the computer system to enable the user to generate a list using a voice input.