System and method for providing customizable device capabilities to network equipment in a non-service affecting manner
First Claim
1. A method for enabling the receipt and activation of a service capability by a network device, the network device operating in a network with other network devices to form a plurality of network devices to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a notification at the network device that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including the service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
receiving the at least one service bundle at the network device without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices; and
activating the service capability on the network device so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for employing a remote management application to distribute so-called “service bundles” to network devices in a manner that allows capabilities provided to be discerned exactly, activating only those service capabilities desired remotely and without disrupting existing services provided on the network devices. In so doing, the system and method of the present invention allows for economic usage of memory on the network devices. The system and method of the present invention can be employed in all sizes of network devices and the software embodying new service capabilities is deployed on one or more network devices themselves and on a management workstation.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for enabling the receipt and activation of a service capability by a network device, the network device operating in a network with other network devices to form a plurality of network devices to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a notification at the network device that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including the service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
receiving the at least one service bundle at the network device without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices; and
activating the service capability on the network device so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing service capabilities to plurality of network devices, the plurality of network devices operating in a network to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a notification to the plurality of network devices that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
transmitting the at least one service bundle at the plurality of network devices without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices; and
instructing the plurality of network devices to activate the service capability on the plurality of network devices so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A network device capable of receiving and activating service capabilities, the network device operating in a network with other network devices to form a plurality of network devices to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the network device comprising:
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means for receiving a notification that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the network device;
means for receiving the at least one service bundle without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices; and
means for activating the service capability on the network device so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.
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17. A service management system capable of providing service capabilities to a plurality of network devices, the service management system coupled to the plurality of network devices by a network, the plurality of network devices operating in the network to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, the service management system comprising:
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means for transmitting a notification to the plurality of network devices that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
means for transmitting the at least one service bundle to the plurality of network devices; and
means for instructing the plurality of network devices to activate the service capability on the plurality of network devices so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.
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18. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for enabling the receipt and activation of a service capability by a network device, the network device operating in a network with other network devices to form a plurality of network devices to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, by performing the steps of:
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receiving a notification at the network device that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including the service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
receiving the at least one service bundle at the network device without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices; and
activating the service capability on the network device so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.
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19. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for providing service capabilities to a plurality of network devices, the plurality of network devices operating in a network to provide a plurality of services to at least one network user, by performing the steps of:
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transmitting a notification to the plurality of network devices that at least one service bundle is available, the service bundle including a service capability for deployment on the plurality of network devices;
transmitting the at least one service bundle at the plurality of network devices without disrupting the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices; and
instructing the plurality of network devices to activate the service capability on the plurality of network devices so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of services operating on the plurality of network devices.
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20. A method of activating a service capability for a service management system, the service management system operating in a network with a plurality of network devices to manage the plurality of network devices, the service management system providing a plurality of management services to at least one network user, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least one service bundle at the service management system without disrupting the plurality of management services operating on the service management system, the service bundle including the service capability for activation on the service management system; and
activating the service capability on the service management system so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of management services operating on the service management system.
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21. A service management system capable of receiving and activating service capabilities, the service management system operating in a network with a plurality of network devices to manage the plurality of network devices, the service management system providing a plurality of management services to at least one network user, the service management system comprising:
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means for receiving the at least one service bundle without disrupting the plurality of management services operating on the service management system; and
means for activating the service capability on the service management system so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of management services operating on the service management system.
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22. A computer readable medium comprising a computer program for activating a service capability for a service management system, the service management system operating in a network with a plurality of network devices to manage the plurality of network devices, the service management system providing a plurality of management services to at least one network user, by performing the steps of:
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receiving at least one service bundle at the service management system without disrupting the plurality of management services operating on the service management system, the at least one service bundle including the service capability for deployment on the service management system; and
activating the service capability on the service management system so that the service capability is available to the at least one network user without disrupting the operation of the plurality of management services operating on the service management system.
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Specification