System and method for delivering messages using alternate modes of communication

• US 20040218609A1
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Shilmover, Barry, Foster, Dayton, Kerstens, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,394,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

There is provided a novel system and method for delivering messages using alternate modes of communication when a primary mode of communication is not available as may happen in emergent circumstances such as those that arise during a terrorist attack causing damage to communications infrastructure.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a message using a primary mode of communication between a remote input device and a managed entity, the system comprising:

at least one alternate mode of communication;

adaptor means for said remote input device to access said at least one available alternate mode of communication said adaptor means activated upon determining that said managed entity is not responsive to said message transmitted using said primary mode of communication to commence transmitting said message using said at least one available alternate mode of communication;

switching means for said managed entity to access said at least one available alternate mode of communication; and

means for detecting loss of access by said managed entity to said primary mode of communication;

whereby, upon said means for detecting loss of access determining that said primary mode is not available for said managed entity to receive said message, said switching means permits the receipt by said managed entity of said message using said at least one available alternate mode of communication.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a primary message processor for receiving said message as a proxy for said managed entity, said primary message processor comprising any server adapted for connection to said primary mode of communication as well as to said managed entity.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary mode comprises the Internet.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said managed entity comprises a server and said remote input device comprises a computing device adapted for communication with a managed entity by a wired or wireless mode of communication selected from the group consisting of:

telephony, satellite, microwave, other radio, laser, and infrared.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said managed entity comprises a server connected to a LAN and said remote input device comprises a portable computing device having access to the Internet through radio means of communication.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said managed entity comprises a server connected to a LAN and said remote input device comprises a computing device having access to the Internet through radio means of communication.

7. The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said managed entity comprises a server connected to a LAN and said remote input device comprises a computing device having access to the Internet through wire means of communication.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device comprises a wireless input device having loaded thereon an agent configured to transmit a message and receive a response relating to said managed entity.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device comprises a multi-mode capable wireless input device having means for communicating wirelessly via cellular mode or satellite mode, further having loaded thereon an agent configured to transmit a message and receive a response relating to said managed entity.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device comprises a computing device having loaded thereon an agent configured to transmit a message and receive a response relating to said managed entity.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device includes signal conversion means and said adaptor means comprises coupling means for connecting at least one alternate mode of communication to said remote input device, said coupling means selected from the group consisting of:

wireless coupling, electrical coupling, and optical coupling.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adaptor means comprises a device electrically coupleable to said remote input device and has signal conversion means together with antenna means adapted for transmitting said message and receiving a response thereto using said at least one alternate mode of communication.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for detecting loss of access comprises an agent for monitoring an external source that is accessed using said primary mode of communication, said agent configured to activate said switching means in the event that said agent is unable to access said external source.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said switching means comprises a device electrically coupleable to said managed entity and having signal conversion means together with antenna means adapted for receiving said message and transmitting a response thereto using said at least one alternate mode of communication.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said switching means further comprises means for access to a plurality of alternate modes of communication, said switching means configured to receive data on one said alternate mode of communication and switch to a different said alternate mode of communication in accordance with at least one rule respecting the usage of said plurality of alternate modes of communication.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said adaptor means is responsive to instructions from said switching means and said at least one rule comprises an operational requirement to execute a pattern of switching between said alternate modes of communication.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 further wherein pattern of switching terminates upon confirmation of the restoration of access to said primary mode of communication, upon which confirmation said switching means switches to said primary mode of communication.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16 further wherein said adaptor means and said switching means negotiate when to switch between said alternate modes of communication as well as which of said alternate modes of communication to switch to.

19. The system as claimed in claim 15 further wherein said at least one rule is part of an Alternate Mode Sequence comprising a plurality of rules respecting when to switch between said alternate modes of communication as well as which of said alternate modes of communication to switch to.

20. The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means by which said agent monitors an external source comprises a test transmission to said external source.

21. The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising at least one backup message processor for receiving said message in the event that said primary message processor is not responsive to signals between said primary message processor and said at least one backup message processor or an agent of said at least one backup message processor.

22. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wireless input device comprises a radio network transception device selected from the group consisting of:

cell phone, pager, personal digital assistant, and portable computer.

23. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means to monitor a reliable external source for the purpose of detecting loss of access to the primary mode of communication, said means to monitor said external source selected from the group comprising:

receive a heartbeat transmission from said external source, send and receive a response to at least one Internet Control Message Protocol echo request to said external source, and measure a quality of service metric.

24. A system for delivering a message using a primary mode of communication from a remote input device, having means to monitor an external source for the purpose of detecting loss of access to said primary mode of communication, the system comprising:

at least one alternate mode of communication; and

adaptor means for said remote input device to access said at least one available alternate mode of communication said adaptor means activated upon detecting loss of access to said primary mode of communication to commence transmitting said message using said at least one available alternate mode of communication.

25. A system for receiving a message using a primary mode of communication on a managed entity, having means to monitor an external source for the purpose of detecting loss of access to said primary mode of communication, the system comprising:

at least one alternate mode of communication; and

switching means for said managed entity to access said at least one available alternate mode of communication said switching means activated upon detecting loss of access to said primary mode of communication to commence listening for said message using said at least one available alternate mode of communication.

26. A method for delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity, for use when loss of access by either said remote input device or said managed entity to a primary mode of communication has been detected, comprising the steps:

enable at least one alternate mode of communication;

activate adaptor means to and transmit said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication; and

activate switching means to permit the reception of said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication.

28. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein delivery of said message is between a remote input device and a primary message processor receiving said message as a proxy for said managed entity.

29. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein said message is encoded by applying a symbolic representation of groups of commands or an encryption of said representation for the purpose of making said message smaller in size or more difficult to access.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein delivery of said message is between a remote input device and at least one backup message processor for receiving said message in the event that said primary message processor is not responsive to signals between said primary message processor and said at least one backup message processor or an agent of said at least one backup message processor.

34. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein authentication and authorization are completed by said primary message processor acting as a proxy for at least one said managed entity.

35. The method as claimed in claim 26 further wherein after loss of access to said primary mode of communication is detected at least one preparatory function is executed for the purpose of placing said managed entity into a higher state of readiness and said switching means commences monitoring said at least one alternate mode of communication for the purpose of receiving said message.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35 wherein said at least one preparatory function comprises the step of initializing a limited instruction set on said managed entity, including at least one instruction selected from the group comprising:

backup directory, save registry, delete file, alert System Administrator, create log, alert User, lock down, and shut down.

37. The method as claimed in claim 28 further comprising the step bypass said message processor to transmit said message directly to said managed entity.

38. The method as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 further comprising the steps:

monitor the heartbeat of a reliable local device, and, if said heartbeat is absent, then at least one instruction selected from the group comprising;

backup directory, save registry, delete file, alert System administrator, create log, alert User, lock down, and shut-down.

39. The method as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 further comprising the step:

process commands received in said message if and only if said commands are included in a restricted instruction set.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39 further wherein said restricted instruction set is based on A, said alternate mode of communication selected and restricts administrative command rights based on criteria selected from the group consisting of:

bandwidth, security, reliability or quality-of-service.

41. The method as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 further comprising the steps:

monitor for the restoration of access to said primary mode of communication, and switch from said at least one alternate mode of communication to said primary mode of communication.

27. A method for delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity having at least one alternate mode of communication pre-enabled, for use when loss of access by either said remote input device or said managed entity to a primary mode of communication has been detected, comprising the steps:

select at least one alternate mode of communication;

activate adaptor means to and transmit said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication; and

activate switching means to permit the reception of said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication.

31. A method for delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity, in accordance with an Alternate Mode Sequence comprising a plurality of rules respecting when to switch between alternate modes of communication as well as which of said alternate modes of communication to switch to, for use when loss of access by either said remote input device or said managed entity to a primary mode of communication has been detected, comprising the steps:

reference said Alternate Mode Sequence to identify a secondary mode;

activate adaptor means to and transmit said message using said secondary mode; and

activate switching means to permit the reception of said message using said secondary mode.

32. A method of using a switching agent for enhancing security when delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity each having access to a plurality of alternate modes of communication M1, M2, M3, M4, comprising the steps:

send and receive request for communication using M1;

use M2 to send and receive reply to said request for communication using M1;

send and receive further request for communication using M3; and

use M4 to send and receive reply to said further request for communication using M3.

33. A method of using a switching agent together with a shared synchronized random number generator for enhancing security when delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity each having access to a plurality of alternate modes of communication MX, MY, MZ, MK, comprising the steps:

send and receive request for communication using MX;

generate a random number shared by said remote input device and said managed entity for the purpose of selecting the alternate mode of communication that is MY;

use MY to send and receive reply to said request for communication using MX;

generate a random number shared by said remote input device and said managed entity for the purpose of selecting the alternate mode of communication that is MZ;

send and receive further request for communication using MZ;

generate a random number shared by said remote input device and said managed entity for the purpose of selecting the alternate mode of communication that is MK; and

use MK to send and receive reply to said further request for communication using MZ.

42. A method for delivering a message consisting of a plurality of packets between a remote input device and a managed entity each having a plurality of alternate modes of communication all of which modes are enabled, for the purpose of making it difficult to intercept all said packets of said message, comprising the steps:

compose said message so as to comprise X blocks of packets;

select a first alternate mode of communication from said plurality of alternate modes;

use said first alternate mode of communication to transmit Y blocks of packets where Y is less than X;

select a second alternate mode of communication that is not said first alternate mode of communication; and

use said second alternate mode of communication to transmit the remaining X-Y blocks of packets that were not included among said Y blocks of packets.

43. A method of sending a message from a remote input device, for use when there is a loss of access to a primary mode of communication, comprising the steps:

activate adaptor means to and transmit said message using at least one alternate mode of communication; and

activate switching means to permit the reception of said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication.

44. A method of receiving a message on a managed entity, for use when there is a loss of access to a primary mode of communication, comprising the steps:

activate switching means to permit the reception of said message by said managed entity using at least one alternate mode of communication.