Method and apparatus for network connection registration and selection

A computer enabled to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, said computer comprising:

• a connection request receiving device for receiving a network connection request from a user according to predetermined identification information;
• an adapter changing device for changing a network adapter to another according to adapter information received from a database and corresponding to said predetermined identification information;
• and
• a network configuration updating device for updating a network configuration in accordance with a change of said network adapter according to said network configuration information corresponding to said predetermined identification information received from said database.

A computer enabled to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, said computer comprising:

• a database for storing adapter information, which is physical change information, and network configuration information, which is logical change information corresponding to said adapter information, both adapter information and network configuration information being registered for each of a plurality of said network connections;
• a connection request receiving device for receiving a network connection request from a user;
• an adapter changing device for changing an adapter to another according to said adapter information received from said database in response to a network connection request received by said connection request receiving device;
• and,
• a network configuration updating device for updating a network configuration according to said network configuration information received from said data base in response to a network connection request received by said connection request receiving device.

A computer, comprising:

• a device for storing a registered profile that includes network configuration setting-up information corresponding to a predetermined identifier;
• a device for scanning an identifier that identifies an object to be operatively connected with said computer;
• and
• a device for reading a registered profile corresponding to said identifier resulting from said scanning by said scanning device to set up the configuration of a network according to the information of said registered profile.

A computer, comprising:

• a device for generating information of a registered profile that includes an identifier used to connect a network;
• a device for storing information of said registered profile generated by said generating device;
• and
• a device for assigning connection priority to a connectable network with use of said selected profile information.

A portable information apparatus enabled to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, said portable information apparatus comprising:

• a database for storing information of changeable network adapters and network configuration information corresponding to predetermined identification information;
• a display device for displaying a list of said identification information items stored in said database;
• an input device for entering a user's selection of specific identification information from said list displayed on said display device;
• and
• a network changing unit for reading both network adapter information and network configuration information from said database according to said user's selection of said specific identification information entered to said input device so as to change a network connection to another.

A network connection registering method for enabling a computer to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving an input from the user about location information related to a place where said computer is possibly used;
• displaying a list of usable network adapters selected from a plurality of network adapters employed for said system;
• receiving a user's selection of a network adapter usable in said location;
• receiving a logical network configuration input required for connecting said network adapter to a network;
• and
• registering said selected network adapter and said entered logical network configuration information corresponding to said location information.

A network connection registering method for enabling a computer to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving registered identification information used by the user to identify a network connection so as to change said network connection to another;
• receiving selection of a network adapter in accordance with said registered identification information;
• receiving inputs of IP (Internet Protocol) information and DNS (Domain Name System) information of said network adapter selected in accordance with said registered identification information;
• and
• receiving an input of a specified proxy server in accordance with said registered identification information.

A network connection selecting method for enabling a computer to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, said method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a list of identification information items registered corresponding to respective places to which said computer is possibly moved and used;
• receiving information of a network adapter corresponding to selected identification information and information of said network adapter in response to a user's selection of said identification information from said displayed list;
• and
• changing a network adapter to another according to said received network adapter information and connecting said changed network adapter to a network according to said received configuration information.

A network connection selecting method for enabling a computer to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing adapter information, which is physical change information, and network configuration information, which is logical change information corresponding to said adapter information for each of a plurality of network connections;
• receiving a network connection request from a user;
• changing an adapter to another according to predetermined adapter information selected from stored adapter information according to said received network connection request;
• and
• updating a network configuration according to predetermined network configuration information selected from stored network configuration information according to said received network connection request.

A network configuration setting-up method employed in a computer, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining an identifier used to identify an object to be operatively connected to said computer by scanning identifiers;
• retrieving a registered profile that includes said identifier resulting from said scanning step among a plurality of profiles registered and stored beforehand;
• and
• setting up a configuration of a network according to said registered profile resulting from said retrieving step.

A recording medium for storing a program to be read and executed by a computer, wherein said program enables said computer to execute one or more processing steps for:

• receiving an input of identification information related to an information of a place to which said computer is possibly moved and used;
• displaying a list of usable network adapters selected from a plurality of network adapters employed for a system;
• receiving a selected network adapter used according to said entered identification information;
• receiving an input of logical network configuration information required so as to connect said selected network adapter to a network;
• and
• registering said selected network adapter and said entered logical network configuration information corresponding to said entered identification information.

A recording medium for storing a program to be read and executed by a computer, wherein said program enables said computer to execute one or more processing steps for:

• displaying a list of identification information items registered so as to be related respectively to information of a place to which said computer is possibly moved and used;
• receiving information of a network adapter corresponding to said selected identification information and configuration information of said network adapter according to selected identification information by a user to the display of said list;
• and
• changing a network adapter to another according to said received network adapter information and connecting said selected adapter to a network according to said received network configuration information.

A recording medium that stores a computer readable program enabling said computer to execute one or more processing steps for:

• obtaining an identifier used to identify an object to be operatively connected with said computer by scanning identifiers;
• retrieving a registered profile that includes said identifier resulting from said scanning among a plurality of profiles registered and stored beforehand;
• and
• setting up a configuration of a network according to said registered profile resulting from said retrieving step.

A program for enabling a computer to execute a plurality of functions, said computer being enabled to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally with a system connected to a plurality of networks, wherein said plurality of functions include:

• a function for selecting a predetermined network adapter from among a plurality of network adapters employed for said system so as to set up a logical network configuration corresponding to said selected network adapter;
• a function for specifying predetermined identification information so as to select said network adapter and set up said logical network configuration;
• and
• a function for storing information of said selected network adapter and said logical network configuration corresponding to said set up identification information.

A program for enabling a computer to execute a plurality of functions in a system connected to a plurality of networks, said computer being enabled to select a predetermined network connection so as to communicate externally, wherein said plurality of functions include:

• a function for receiving a network connection request from the user according to predetermined identification information;
• a function for changing an adapter to another according to the adapter information received from said data base and corresponding to said predetermined identification information;
• and
• a function for updating a network configuration according to the network configuration information received from said database and corresponding to said predetermined identification information.

A program for enabling a computer to execute:

• a function for obtaining an identifier used to identify an object to be operatively connected with said computer by scanning identifiers;
• a function for retrieving a registered profile that includes said identifier resulting from said scanning among a plurality of profiles registered and stored beforehand;
• and
• a function for setting up a configuration of a network according to said registered profile resulting from said retrieving.

A program for enabling a computer to execute:

• a function for generating information of a registered profile that includes an identifier used to connect a network;
• a function for storing said generated information of said registered profile in a data base;
• and
• a function for reading specific information of said registered profile according to said identifier, selected from among information of said profile registered and stored in said database.