Automated configuration of computing system using zip code data
US6343360B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 29, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F9/44505
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computing system uses a zip code entered by the user during a first boot sequence to automatically configure itself. The computing system includes a computing device (e.g., computer, laptop, handheld device, smart appliance, etc.) and a zip code database. The zip code database may reside locally at the computing device, or remotely at a server accessible by the computing device over a network. The zip code database correlates zip codes with corresponding configuration information that can be derived from the zip code (e.g., city, state, time zone, area code, and daylight savings settings). During a first boot sequence (i.e., a process executed when the user turns on the computer for the first time), the computing device prompts a user to enter a zip code. The computing device passes the zip code to the zip code database either locally, or over a network. The zip code is then used to look up the corresponding configuration information in the zip code database. The configuration information is returned and used to configure the computing device. The configuration information may be used to populate data fields presented in a graphical user interface for the user to review and confi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.