System with program for automating protocol assignments when newly connected to varing computer network configurations

摘要

A method of configuring a mobile computer (H3) among different computer network configurations (N1, N2). In this method, the mobile computer is connected (18) to a first network medium in various steps. In one step, a network interface circuit (NIC) of the mobile computer is coupled to communicate with the first network medium. In another step, the mobile computer is configured to have an IP address allocated for the first network medium. Next, there is the step (20) of performing a program operation on the mobile computer to determine whether a dynamic configuration protocol is available on the first network medium. Another step performs a program operation to store an indicator in a storage resource of the mobile computer representing whether a dynamic configuration protocol is available on the first network medium. Next, the mobile computer is disconnected (22) from the first network medium, including uncoupling the network interface circuit of the mobile computer from communicating with the first network medium. Next, the mobile computer is connected (24) to a second network medium, including coupling the network interface circuit of the mobile computer to communicate with the second network medium, and performing a program operation on the mobile computer to request a user interface input. In response to the user interface input, the method performs a program operation to store (29) the IP address allocated for the first network medium in a persistent storage resource included within the mobile computer if the indicator indicates that a dynamic configuration protocol is not available on the first network medium. Also in response to the user interface input, the method performs a program operation on the mobile computer to configure (32) the mobile computer to have an IP address allocated for the second network medium by transmitting along the second network medium the IP address allocated for the second network medium from a server computer to the mobile computer.