System and method for policy-driven device queries
First Claim
1. In a system of devices, a policy-driven method for querying, the method comprising:
- accepting a query, from a client, directed to a device;
selecting a query policy; and
, sending the query to an agent using a method responsive to the selected query policy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A policy-driven system and method are provided for querying devices. The method comprises: accepting a query, from a client, directed to a device; selecting a query policy; and, sending the query to an agent using a method responsive to the selected query policy. The queries may concern a device communication port information, network information, communication checks (Ping), capability requests, or status updates. The methods may include spooler API, simple network management protocol (SNMP), printer database, proprietary protocol, Windows 2K directory service, service location protocol (SLP), and HTTP embedded device web page queries. The method further comprises: receiving a query result from the agent; and, sending the query result to the client using a method responsive to the selected query policy. In some aspects, an additional step merges a plurality of query results in response to the selected query policy. Then, the merged query result is sent to the client.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. In a system of devices, a policy-driven method for querying, the method comprising:
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accepting a query, from a client, directed to a device;
selecting a query policy; and
,sending the query to an agent using a method responsive to the selected query policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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19. The method of 1 wherein sending the query to a agent using a method responsive to the selected query policy includes sending a query to an agent having a connectivity with the device selected from the group including local, remote, and network connectivity.
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25. A policy-driven system for querying devices, the system comprising:
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a client having an interface to supply a query directed to a device;
a manager having an interface connected to receive the query from the client and an interface to send queries, the manager selecting a query policy and sending the query using a method responsive to the selected query policy. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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43. The system of 27 wherein the device is a device that has a relationship with the manager selected from the group including local, remote, and network connectivity.
Specification