Networking hardware element to couple computer network elements and method of displaying information thereon

1 . A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of:

displaying network information; and

displaying additional information.

2 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the networking hardware element is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a router;

a hub;

a switch;

a wireless network access point; and

a wireless networking card.

3 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display is iconographic.

4 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display comprises an LCD.

5 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a network layout map;

a network security indicator;

a service set identifier;

a guest service set identifier;

a wired network speed;

a wireless network speed;

a wireless channel;

a network security standard;

an unauthorized user alarm;

a counter indicating a number of unauthorized user attempts;

an actual Internet connection speed;

a maximum Internet connection speed;

a network usage time;

a network traffic type;

a network traffic load;

an Internet Protocol address;

a firewall status; and

a guest security password.

6 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a service set identifier; and

a guest service set identifier.

7 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a wired network speed;

a wireless network speed; and

a wireless channel.

8 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

an unauthorized user alarm; and

a counter indicating a number of unauthorized user attempts.

9 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

an actual Internet connection speed; and

a maximum Internet connection speed.

10 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a network usage time;

a network traffic type; and

a network traffic load.

11 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

an Internet Protocol address;

a firewall status; and

a guest security password.

12 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a time;

a date;

a calendar;

a weather forecast;

a news report;

a stock quote;

a sports score;

an email ticker;

an instant messenger ticker;

a radio channel;

information regarding a song played on the radio channel;

an available storage space on a memory device;

a used storage space on the memory device; and

a total storage space on the memory device.

13 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a time;

a date; and

a calendar.

14 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a weather forecast;

a news report;

a stock quote; and

a sports score.

15 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

an email ticker; and

an instant messenger ticker.

16 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 further comprising:

speakers,

wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a radio channel; and

information regarding a song played from the radio channel and on the speakers.

17 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 further comprising:

a memory device;

wherein:

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

an available storage space on a memory device;

a used storage space on the memory device; and

a total storage space on the memory device.

18 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display is capable of displaying network setup advice.

19 . The networking hardware element of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic display is capable of displaying network troubleshooting advice.

20 . A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of:

displaying network information; and

displaying network advice.

21 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 further comprising:

a removable label located over the electronic display; and

network setup advice located on the removable label,

wherein:

the network advice comprises additional network setup advice.

22 . The networking hardware element of claim 21 wherein:

the network setup advice is designed to be followed by a user of the networking hardware element before the user removes the removable label from the electronic display and before the user follows the additional network setup advice.

23 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

turning on or off a wireless local area network radio;

modifying a power output of the wireless local area network radio;

modifying an antenna configuration of the wireless local area network radio;

setting a quality of service by application or client;

minimizing noise and interference with the wireless local area network radio;

dedicating one or more wireless channels to one or more clients;

providing a security password;

providing a PIN for Windows Rally connection setup;

providing instructions for a WPS push button;

providing one or more technical support telephone numbers;

providing a troubleshooting wizard;

permitting handling of a Windows ConnectNow thumb drive method; and

providing Microsoft SideShow support.

24 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 further comprising:

a wireless local area network radio having one or more channels,

wherein:

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

turning on or off the wireless local area network radio;

modifying a power output of the wireless local area network radio;

modifying an antenna configuration of the wireless local area network radio;

minimizing noise and interference with the wireless local area network radio; and

dedicating at least one of the one or more channels to one or more clients.

25 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

setting quality of service by application or client;

a security password;

a PIN for Windows Rally connection setup;

instructions for a WPS push button;

handling of a Windows ConnectNow thumb drive method; and

Microsoft SideShow support.

26 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

one or more technical support telephone numbers; and

a troubleshooting wizard.

27 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the networking hardware element is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a router;

a hub;

a switch;

a wireless network access point; and

a wireless networking card.

28 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the electronic display is iconographic.

29 . The networking hardware element of claim 20 wherein:

the electronic display comprises an LCD.

30 . A method of displaying information on a networking hardware element coupling together computer network elements, the method comprising:

displaying on the networking hardware element:

network information; and

additional information.

31 . A method of displaying information on a networking hardware element coupling together computer network elements, the method comprising:

displaying on the networking hardware element:

network information; and

network advice.

32 . A networking hardware element to allow computer network elements to communicate with each other, comprising:

one or more network communication ports to couple to the computer network elements;

a network diagnostic mechanism coupled to the one or more network communication ports and creating an output;

network information based on the output;

network advice triggered by the output; and

additional information.

33 . The networking hardware element of claim 32 wherein:

the additional information is based on information separate from the output.

34 . The networking hardware element of claim 32 further comprising:

an LCD electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism to display the network information, the network advice, and the additional information.

35 . The networking hardware element of claim 32 wherein:

the networking hardware element is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a router;

a hub;

a switch;

a wireless network access point; and

a wireless networking card.

36 . The networking hardware element of claim 32 further comprising:

an iconographic, electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of displaying the network information, the network advice, and the additional information.

37 . The networking hardware element of claim 32 wherein:

the network information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a network layout map;

a network security indicator;

a service set identifier;

a guest service set identifier;

a wired network speed;

a wireless network speed;

a network security standard;

an unauthorized user alarm;

a counter indicating a number of unauthorized user attempts;

an actual Internet connection speed;

a maximum Internet connection speed;

a network usage time;

a network traffic type;

a network traffic load;

an Internet Protocol address;

a firewall status; and

a guest security password;

the additional information is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a time;

a date;

a calendar;

a weather forecast;

a news report;

a stock quote;

a sports score;

an email ticker;

an instant messenger ticker;

a radio channel;

information regarding a song played on the radio channel;

an available storage space on a memory device;

a used storage space on the memory device; and

a total storage space on the memory device; and

the network advice is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

turning on or off a wireless local area network radio;

modifying a power output of the wireless local area network radio;

modifying an antenna configuration of the wireless local area network radio;

setting quality of service by application or client;

minimizing noise and interference with the wireless local area network radio;

dedicating one or more wireless channels to one or more clients;

providing a security password;

providing a PIN for Windows Rally connection setup;

providing instructions for a WPS push button;

providing one or more technical support telephone numbers;

providing a troubleshooting wizard;

permitting handling of a Windows ConnectNow thumb drive method; and

providing Microsoft SideShow support.

38 . A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of displaying a security password.

39 . The networking hardware element of claim 38 wherein:

the security password permits a first one of the computer network elements to log onto the networking hardware element.

40 . The networking hardware element of claim 38 wherein:

the electronic display is capable of displaying a second security password different from the security password; and

the electronic display is capable of displaying simultaneously the first and second security passwords.

41 . The networking hardware element of claim 40 wherein:

the security password permits a first one of the computer network elements to log onto the networking hardware element; and

the second security password permits a second one of the computer network elements to log onto the networking hardware element

42 . A networking hardware element to couple together computer network elements, comprising:

a network diagnostic mechanism; and

an electronic display electrically coupled to the network diagnostic mechanism and capable of displaying a network speed.

43 . The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed is displayed as an analog speedometer.

44 . The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed is displayed as a digital number.

45 . The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed comprises an actual network speed.

46 . The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed comprises a maximum network speed.

47 . The networking hardware element of claim 42 wherein:

the network speed comprises an historical network speed.