Apparatus and method for providing smart network appliances
First Claim
1. A smart network appliance, comprising an instant messaging client routine in the smart network appliance for sending and receiving an instant message without user intervention.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for real-time monitoring and controlling of network or network appliance activity through use of instant messaging software on a smart network appliance are provided. Network and network appliance activity are monitored by a smart network appliance and communicated to a user, server, or other network appliance via instant messaging. The smart network appliance acts as an instant messaging client, with its own screen name and buddy list. A command set is provided in the smart network appliance to enable the buddies in the buddy list to order the smart network appliance to perform an action by sending an instant message to the smart network appliance, the instant message including a command from the command set.
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Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A smart network appliance, comprising an instant messaging client routine in the smart network appliance for sending and receiving an instant message without user intervention.
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21. A method of operating a smart network appliance, the method comprising:
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providing a network appliance having an instant messaging routine; and
executing the instant messaging routine without user intervention. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for determining an IP address of a first network appliance, the method comprising:
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executing an instant messaging routine in the first network appliance, without user intervention;
executing an instant messaging routine in a second network appliance, without user intervention; and
including the first network appliance in a buddy list associated with the second network appliance. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification