Apparatus and accompanying methods for providing, through a centralized server site, an integrated virtual office environment, remotely accessible via a network-connected web browser, with remote network monitoring and management capabilities
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring a local area network (LAN) through a remote administrative web site, the apparatus comprising:
- a service enablement platform (SEP) for connection to the LAN and for connection, through a wide area network (WAN) connection, to the administrative web site, wherein the SEP comprises;
a processor;
a memory, connected to the processor, for storing computer executable instructions therein; and
first and second network interfaces, operable in conjunction with the processor, for communicatively interfacing the SEP, through a first network connection, to the WAN and, through a second network connection, to the LAN, respectively;
wherein the processor, in response to execution of the instructions;
continually monitors operational status of a monitored entity so as to detect an alarm condition resulting from an operational failure in the monitored entity, the monitored entity comprising the SEP, at least one of the first and second connections or at least one of a plurality of servers residing on the LAN;
generates, in response to the alarm condition, an alarm message containing information related to the alarm condition;
converts the alarm message into a predefined format suitable for communication over a web connection so as to yield a web-communicable alarm message; and
transmits the web-communicable alarm message, via the WAN interface and the first network connection, to the administrative web site which, in response to receipt of the web-communicable alarm message;
extracts the alarm information from the web-communicable alarm message so as to define extracted alarm information; and
updates a record in a database, maintained by the administrative web site and associated with the SEP, to reflect the extracted alarm information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and accompanying methods for use therein for implementing an integrated, virtual office user environment, through an office server(s), through which a remotely stationed user can access typical office network-based applications, including e-mail, file sharing and hosted thin-client programs, through a remotely located network, e.g., WAN, connected web browser. Specifically, a front end, namely a service enablement platform (SEP), to one or more office servers on a LAN is connected to both the WAN and LAN and acts both as a bridge between the user and his (her) office applications and as a protocol translator to enable bi-directional, web-based, real-time communication to occur between the browser and each such application. The SEP translates user input originating from the browser into application-specific protocols and applies a result to a corresponding office application server. The SEP monitors operational status of its connections and associated office servers. If a fault is detected, the SEP generates a corresponding alarm and reports it, through a web-based connection, to a centralized administrative web site. A customized configuration profile for each SEP, based on its expected network and operational environment, can be established for that SEP and stored on that site and subsequently downloaded to that SEP during its initial installation, thereby simplifying provisioning of the SEP. During initial operation, the SEP, operating under a default profile, establishes, over an analog connection to the WAN, a management session with the site to obtain customer WAN access information, then tears down the analog connection and establishes a broadband WAN connection through which the SEP re-establishes its prior session and obtains a client certificate and its customized profile. The SEP then re-initializes itself to that particular profile.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring a local area network (LAN) through a remote administrative web site, the apparatus comprising:
a service enablement platform (SEP) for connection to the LAN and for connection, through a wide area network (WAN) connection, to the administrative web site, wherein the SEP comprises;
a processor;
a memory, connected to the processor, for storing computer executable instructions therein; and
first and second network interfaces, operable in conjunction with the processor, for communicatively interfacing the SEP, through a first network connection, to the WAN and, through a second network connection, to the LAN, respectively;
wherein the processor, in response to execution of the instructions;
continually monitors operational status of a monitored entity so as to detect an alarm condition resulting from an operational failure in the monitored entity, the monitored entity comprising the SEP, at least one of the first and second connections or at least one of a plurality of servers residing on the LAN;
generates, in response to the alarm condition, an alarm message containing information related to the alarm condition;
converts the alarm message into a predefined format suitable for communication over a web connection so as to yield a web-communicable alarm message; and
transmits the web-communicable alarm message, via the WAN interface and the first network connection, to the administrative web site which, in response to receipt of the web-communicable alarm message;
extracts the alarm information from the web-communicable alarm message so as to define extracted alarm information; and
updates a record in a database, maintained by the administrative web site and associated with the SEP, to reflect the extracted alarm information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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24. A method for use in apparatus for monitoring a local area network (LAN) through a remote administrative web site, the apparatus having:
- a service enablement platform (SEP) for connection to the LAN and for connection, through a wide area network (WAN) connection, to the administrative web site, wherein the SEP comprises;
a processor;
a memory, connected to the processor, for storing computer executable instructions therein; and
first and second network interfaces, operable in conjunction with the processor, for communicatively interfacing the SEP, through a first network connection, to the WAN and, through a second network connection, to the LAN, respectively;
the method comprising the steps, performed by the processor and in response to execution of the stored instructions, of;
continually monitoring operational status of a monitored entity so as to detect an alarm condition resulting from an operational failure in the monitored entity, the monitored entity comprising the SEP, at least one of the first and second connections or at least one of a plurality of servers residing on the LAN;
generating, in response to the alarm condition, an alarm message containing information related to the alarm condition;
converting the alarm message into a predefined format suitable for communication over a web connection so as to yield a web-communicable alarm message; and
transmitting the web-communicable alarm message, via the WAN interface and the first network connection, to the administrative web site which, in response to receipt of the web-communicable alarm message;
extracts the alarm information from the web-communicable alarm message so as to define extracted alarm information; and
updates a record in a database, maintained by the administrative web site and associated with the SEP, to reflect the extracted alarm information.
- a service enablement platform (SEP) for connection to the LAN and for connection, through a wide area network (WAN) connection, to the administrative web site, wherein the SEP comprises;
Specification