BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Access to networks including world wide networks such as the Internet has been provided in the past by the utilization of a general purpose information handling system. The general purpose information handling system includes a large variety of hardware and software components for handling a wide number of tasks or functions regardless of how often the information handling system is called upon to implement those tasks or functions. Thus, many hardware or software components remain dormant for extended periods of time until, occasionally, they are activated to execute a requested task. For many situations and for many users, the convenience of the ability to perform a great variety of tasks and functions when called upon far outweighed the fact that the modules and hardware that executed those tasks and functions may remain unused for extended periods of time. This model for an information handling system was particularly beneficial for general purpose applications such as desktop computer systems designed for home or office use where the information handling system was intended to be used for more than one task or function.

However, with the advent of increasing amounts of processing power achieved from reduced size components, information handling systems are increasingly being utilized for special-purpose applications rather than for general purpose applications.

Rather than being designed to handle every possible task or function that a user may desire, information handling systems are being designed to optimally implement a smaller set of tasks or functions in order to achieve reduced size, complexity and costs, while at the same time retaining at least some level of general purposeness such that at least one or two additional functions may be later added to the information

handling system if necessary in order to extend the useful life of the system and to provide a level or flexibility. This type of special purpose information handling system is often referred to as an"appliance"or"box"in order to connote that, while still retaining a certain level of general purposeness, the information handling system is optimized (i. e. stripped down) to perform only a few core functions and that some of the"bells and whistles"of a general purpose information handling system are not included because they have been deemed to be unnecessary for most users. Thus, there has arisen such products as the personal digital assistant (PDA) having been optimized for saving and retrieving phone numbers, to-do lists, calendar functions, time keeping, expense tracking, etc. While having an architecture based upon a general purpose computer, the PDA generally will have a lesser powered processor, a lesser amount of memory, no hard disk drive, and a reduced instruction set operating system. Furthermore, the PDA operating system may be stored in a read-only memory chip or flash type memory chip rather than on a hard disk drive such that the boot time for the PDA is significantly reduced compared to the boot time for a general purpose information handling system having a more complex, full featured operating system booted from a hard disk drive. For network access, a modem may be included with the PDA or added as an upgrade such that the PDA may couple to the Internet for web browsing and electronic mail functions with software that has fewer features than comparable software found in general purpose information handling systems.

Other types of appliances or boxes include set top boxes for providing television tuning features with Internet browsing features, game console boxes having Internet capabilities such that two remotely located users may play against each other via the Internet, ovens that have Internet capability such that a user may program the oven from a remote location to have dinner ready when the user arrives home, etc.

With the unfettered growth of the Internet and the results that can be achieved when multiple information handling systems are interconnected, more and more devices are being designed to communicate with other devices via a network in order to provide a greater level of control and functionality. As a result, appliances, boxes and personal computers are being coupled together via local networks. In a business environment such local networks are typically referred to as intranets, whereas in a consumer environment such local networks are referred to as home networks. In a

home network environment, for example, multiple appliances, boxes and at least one personal computer are coupled together via a home network, and a common connection to a world wide network such as the Internet via a modem is shared by all of the devices. It is contemplated that, in such an environment, an appliance or box type of information handling system will access the network (e. g., the Internet) using its reduced set of functions and thus operate at a first level of functionality. However, it is contemplated that, on occasion, while the appliance or box system is accessing the network, the system will be required to execute a task or function that the system will not be able to execute. The application required to execute the task may only be included on a general purpose information handling system that is capable of operating at a second level of functionality. It would therefore be desirable to provide a system and method for accessing the network at a multileveled, multi-tiered functionality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a system for providing multi-tiered network access. In one embodiment, the system includes a first device for accessing a network wherein the first device provides a first level of functionality, a second device for accessing a network wherein the second device provides a second level of functionality, a means such as a local or home network for coupling the first device with the second device, and a means such as a modem or router for providing network access to either of the first device or the second device wherein the first device accesses the network at the first level of functionality and, when required by the first device, the second device accesses the network at the second level of functionality.

The present invention is further directed to a method for providing multi-tiered access to a network. In one embodiment, the method includes steps for accessing a network with a first device wherein the first device provides a first level of functionality, receiving information to be processed from the network, determining whether the first device is capable of processing the received information, in the event the first device is determined to be incapable of processing the received information, activating a second device wherein the second device provides a second level of functionality, and processing the information with the second device.

It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information handling system operable to tangibly embody the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system for providing multi-tiered network access in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of the multi-tiered network access system of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method for providing multi-tiered network access in accordance with the present invention; and FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of another method for providing multi-tiered network access in accordance with the present invention will be discussed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an information handling system 100 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, processor 102, system controller 112, cache 114, and data-path chip 118 are each coupled to host bus 110.

Processor 102 is a microprocessor such as a 486-type chip, a Pentium (g, Pentium IItE), Pentium ICI@, or the like suitable microprocessor. Cache 114 provides high-speed local-memory data (in one embodiment, for example, 512 KB of data) for processor 102, and is controlled by system controller 112, which loads cache 114 with data that is expected to be used soon after the data is placed in cache 112 (i. e. in the near

future). Main memory 116 is coupled between system controller 112 and data-path chip 118, and in one embodiment, provides random-access memory of between 16 MB and 128 MB of data. In one embodiment, main memory 116 is provided on SIMMs (Single In-line Memory Modules), while in another embodiment, main memory 116 is provided on DIMMs (Dual In-line Memory Modules), each of which plugs into suitable sockets provided on a motherboard holding these components and many of the other components shown in FIG. 1. Main memory 116 includes standard DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory), EDO (Extended Data Out) DRAM, SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), or the like suitable memory technology. System controller 112 controls PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus 120, a local bus for system 100 that provides a high-speed data path between processor 102 and various peripheral devices, such as video, disk, network, etc. Data-path chip 118 is also controlled by system controller 112 to assist in routing data between main memory 116, host bus 110, and PCI bus 120.

In one embodiment, PCI bus 120 provides a 32-bit-wide data path that runs at 33 MHz. In another embodiment, PCI bus 120 provides a 64-bit-wide data path that runs at 33 MHz. In yet other embodiments, PCI bus 120 provides 32-bit-wide or 64- bit-wide data paths that run at higher speeds. In one embodiment, PCI bus 120 provides connectivity to I/O bridge 122, graphics controller 127, and one or more PCI connectors 121, each of which accepts a standard PCI card. In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 and graphics controller 127 are each integrated on the motherboard along with system controller 112, in order to avoid a board-to-connector-to-board signal crossing interface and thus provide better speed and reliability. In the embodiment shown, graphics controller 127 is coupled to a video memory 128 that includes memory such as DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM, or VRAM (Video Random-Access Memory), and drives VGA (Video Graphics Adapter) port 129. VGA port 129 can connect to VGA-type or SVGA (Super VGA)-type displays or the like. Other input/output (I/O) cards having a PCI interface can be plugged into PCI connectors 121.

In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 is a chip that provides connection and control to one or more independent IDE connectors 124-125, to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 126, and to ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus 130. In this

embodiment, IDE connector 124 provides connectivity for up to two or more standard IDE-type devices such as hard disk drives, CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory) drives, DVD (Digital Video Disk or Digital Versatile Disk) drives, or TBU (Tape-Backup Unit) devices. In one similar embodiment, two IDE connectors 124 are provided, and each provide the EIDE (Enhanced IDE) architecture. In the embodiment shown, SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) connector 125 provides connectivity for preferably up to seven or fifteen SCSI-type devices (depending on the version of SCSI supported by the embodiment). In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 provides ISA bus 130 having one or more ISA connectors 131 (in one embodiment, three connectors are provided). In one embodiment, ISA bus 130 is coupled to I/O controller 152, which in turn provides connections to two serial ports 154 and 155, parallel port 156, and FDD (Floppy-Disk Drive) connector 157. In one embodiment, FDD connector 157 is connected to FDD 158 that receives removable media (floppy diskette) 159 on which is stored data and/or program code 160. In one such embodiment, program code 160 includes code that controls programmable system 100 to perform the method described below. In another such embodiment, serial port 154 is connectable to a computer network such as the internet, and such network has program code 160 that controls programmable system 100 to perform the method described below. In one embodiment, ISA bus 130 is connected to buffer 132, which is connected to X bus 140, which provides connections to real-time clock 142, keyboard/mouse controller 144 and keyboard BIOS ROM (Basic Input/Output System Read-Only Memory) 145, and to system BIOS ROM 146.

FIG. 1 shows one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, however other bus structures and memory arrangements are specifically contemplated. In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 is a chip that provides connection and control to one or more independent IDE connectors 124-125, to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port 126, and to ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus 130. In this embodiment, IDE connector 124 provides connectivity for up to two standard IDE-type devices such as hard disk drives or CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory) drives, and similarly IDE connector 125 provides connectivity for up to two IDE-type devices. In one such embodiment, IDE connectors 124 and 125 each provide the EIDE (Enhanced IDE) architecture. In one embodiment, I/O bridge 122 provides ISA bus

130 having one or more ISA connectors 131 (in one embodiment, three connectors are provided). In one embodiment, ISA bus 130 is coupled to I/O controller 152, which in turn provides connections to two serial ports 154 and 155, parallel port 156, and FDD (Floppy-Disk Drive) connector 157. In one embodiment, ISA bus 130 is connected to buffer 132, which is connected to X bus 140, which provides connections to real-time clock 142, keyboard/mouse controller 144 and keyboard BIOS ROM (Basic Input/Output System Read-Only Memory) 145, and to system BIOS ROM 146. It should be appreciated that modification or reconfiguration of information handling system 100 of FIG. 1 by one having ordinary skill in the art would not depart from the scope or the spirit of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a system for providing multi- tiered network access in accordance with the present invention will be discussed.

System 200 includes a first information handling system 210 and a second information handling system 212, each providing at least a portion of the functions, features, and hardware and software systems of information handling system 100 discussed with respect to FIG. 1. Information handling system 210 is preferably an "appliance"like information handling system in that it only includes the hardware necessary to perform one task or a limited range of tasks. For example, information handling system 210 may only include processor 102, bus 110, cache 114, main memory 116, graphics controller 127, video memory 128, VGA port 129, real time clock 142, keyboard/mouse controller 144, BIOS ROM 144, system BIOS ROM 146 and I/O controller 152 with one or more of ports 154-156 in a configuration that provides fewer features and lesser capabilities than information handling system 212.

As an example, information handling system 210 may be a set-top box for a television set that receives a multimedia signal, decodes the multimedia signal, and then displays the decoded signal content on a display coupled to information handling system 210.

In this embodiment the display corresponds to output device 224. Output device 224 may be any device or system coupled to information handling system 210 that provides an output or response appropriate to the function configuration of information handling system 210. For example, in the event information handling system 210 is configured as a video processing device (e. g., television tuner, web browser), output device 224 would be a display for displaying video information

processed by and received from information handling system 210. In the event information handling system 210 is configured as an audio processing device (e. g., MPEG-3 player), output device 224 may be a speaker or speaker and amplifier system for reproducing sounds in air in response to an audio signal processed by and received from information handling system 210. Additionally, output device 224 may comprise a combination of one or more output systems operating in conjunction with information handling system 210. As an example of such, output device 224 may comprise both a display system for displaying video information, and a speaker and amplifier system for reproducing sounds such that multimedia information may be played to a user when processed and received by information handling system 210.

I/O system 220 includes one or more input or output devices for controlling information handling system 210. Typically, such an I/O device converts an input or command provided by a human user into a format receivable and interpretable by a machine (i. e. information handling system 210). I/O device 220 may therefore comprise a keyboard, a mouse, a remote control device, an joystick, trackball, trackpad, or the like type of input devices. I/O device 220 may include any type of device, system or transducer for converting a human provided input into a machine readable input. In one embodiment, I/O device 220 includes a microphone system for converting speech commands into electronic commands for controlling information handling system 210.

Information handling system 210 couples to a modem or router 216 for accessing network 218 via coupling system 214. Network 218 may be, for example, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (LAN), a telephone network, a cellular network, a world wide network (e. g., the Internet), etc. Coupling system 214 may be compliant with a Home Phone Network Alliance (HomePNA) home network standard, a USB type network, etc. for providing interconnection of two or more devices such as information handling system 210 and information handling system 212. In a preferred embodiment, information handling system 212 provides at least one or more features, capabilities, or hardware or software components that information handling system 210 does not provide. Typically, information handling system 210 is configured such that very little or no boot time is required since a lesser range of features and modules is provided, whereas information handling system 212

provides a full-range of features and functions. Information handling systems 210 and 212 maybe alternatively or additionally coupled via direct coupling 222.

Referring now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the multi-tiered network access system of the present invention will be discussed. As an example, information handling system 210 is configured to function as a digital television (TV) tuner. A digital television signal may be received by digital TV tuner 210 and displayed on display 224. I/O system 220 is a remote control for controlling digital TV tuner 210 for providing commands such as station selection, volume control, on/off, etc. Digital TV tuner 210 is further provided with an Internet web browser that allows access to some HTML content via a world-wide network, and is also provided with text-based e-mail capability. Coupling system 214 is a local home network for allowing digital TV tuner 210 to share usage of a common modem 216 for sharing access to world wide network 218. Direct coupling 222 may be a direct VGA output from information handling system 212 to information handling system 210.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flow diagram of a method for providing multi- tiered network access in accordance with the present invention will be discussed.

Method 400 includes the step 410 of accessing network 218 with a first information handling system 210 which couples to network 218 by connecting to modem/router 216 via coupling system 214. In a preferred embodiment, information handling system 210 is configured as a"set-top box"that allows content received from network 218 to be provided to output device 224 wherein output device 224 is a display or television, coupling system 214 is a HomePNA compliant network, modem 216 is a cable modem, and network 218 is a world wide network such as the Internet.

Information handling system 210 provides at least a first level of Internet communications capability, including HTML processing and electronic mail capability. Content is received from network at step 412, and is normally processed by information handling system 210 alone. A determination is made at step 414 whether information handling system 210 is capable of processing the received network content, for example, whether a particular application required to process the content is available. In the event it is determined that the required application is available, the content is processed at step 416 by information handling system 210 using the available application. Information handling system 210 is thereby capable

of continuing to receive content from network 218 and process the content accordingly so long as the required application or applications are available. In the event the required application is not available, a second device is activated at step 418 such as information handling system 212. The second device then executes the required application at step 420 so that the content may be processed at step 422. For communicating between the first and second devices (e. g., information handling system 210 and information handling system 212), a determination is made at step 424 whether there is a direct connection between the first and second devices. In the event there is not a direct connection between the first and second devices, the devices may be coupled at step 426 for communication via a local network such as coupling system 214 (e. g., a HomePNA compliant network). In the event there is a direct connection, the first and second devices are coupled via the direct connection at step 428. In any event, a result of the execution and processing of the content by the second device is provided to the first device at step 430.

As an example of operation of one embodiment of the present invention, the second information handling system 212 has full network and Internet capability, but it is not as convenient for the user to use as first information handling system 210 for the task that information handling system 210 was designed to implement, but information handling system 210 has limited network and Internet capability compared to information handling system 212. Such an arrangement allows the user to perform basic Internet functions easily while still allowing for full capability by switching over to second information handling system 212 for providing a higher level of Internet functions and capability. In one embodiment, where information handling system 210 is disposed nearby information handling system 212, the information handling systems may be coupled by a direct connection 222 for providing, for example, VGA and USB coupling between the two devices. In another embodiment, such as where information handling system 212 fully renders Internet content for information handling system 210, the information handling systems may communicate via coupling system 214 (e. g., a HomePNA compliant network) such that the information handling systems may be located anywhere in the home or similar environment with respect to the position of the other system and need not be adjacently disposed.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow diagram of another method for providing multi-tiered network access in accordance with the present invention will be discussed. Method 500 is initiated when a first system (e. g., information handling system 210) accesses network 218 at step 510 whereby content is received from network 218 at step 512. A determination is made at step 514 whether the content received from network 218 is supported by first information handling system 210. In the event the content is supported, the content is processed by first information handling system 210 at step 516. In the event that the content is determined to not be supported, the user is notified of such at step 518. A determination is made at step 520 whether to activate second information handling system 520. The determination may be made by the user, or the determination may be made by first information handling system 210 based upon a predetermined condition, for example, if the content is known to be supported by second information handling system 212. In the event it is determined not to activate second information handling system, that particular content is foregone at step 522, and other content is continued to be received at step 512. In the event it is determined to activate second information handling system 212, second information handling system 212 is activated at step 524. First information handling system 210 may utilize standard mechanisms to activate or"wake up"second information handling system 212, for example, network wake up events when coupling system 214 is a network, keystroke events when the systems are coupled via a direct connection 222 such as keyboard emulation in compliance with a USB standard, ot the like type of events. The appropriate application for processing the content is launched by second information handling system 212 at step 526, and the current context such as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is provided to second information handling system 212 at step 528. Display 224 is switched to second information handling system 212 at step 530 such that the output of second information handling system 212 may be displayed thereon. In one embodiment, display 224 is switched using either a full screen switch between the displays of the two information handling systems, or by providing video overlay wherein pixel by pixel multiplexing between the two displays is provided. In an alternative embodiment, second information handling system 212 renders the content into pixels which are sent over coupling system 214 to first information handling

system 210 for actual display. While second information handling system 212 is activated and processing content, first information handling system 210 may act as a proxy or proxy like server between I/O devices 220 and second information handling system 212 at step 532. Second information handling system 212 is then able to process the content at step 534 and provide a result of the processing to first information handling system via direct coupling 222 or via network 214.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be recognized that elements thereof may be altered by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of the embodiments of the invention can be implemented as sets of instructions resident in the main memory 116 of one or more computer information handling systems configured generally as described in FIG. 1. Until required by the computer system, the set of instructions may be stored in another computer readable memory such as information storage medium 159 of FIG. 1, for example in a hard disk drive or in a removable memory such as an optical disk for utilization in a CD-ROM drive, a floppy disk for utilization in a floppy disk drive, a floptical disk for utilization in a floptical drive, or a personal computer memory card for utilization in a personal computer card slot. Further, the set of instructions can be stored in the memory of another computer and transmitted over a local area network or a wide area network, such as the Internet, when desired by the user. Additionally, the instructions may be transmitted over a network in the form of an applet (a program executed from within another application) or a servlet (an applet executed by a server) that is interpreted or compiled after transmission to the computer system rather than prior to transmission.

One skilled in the art would appreciate that the physical storage of the sets of instructions, applets or servlets physically changes the medium upon which it is stored electrically, magnetically, chemically, physically, optically or holographically so that the medium carries computer readable information.

It is believed that the method and system for multi-tiered network access of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.