Device server access using a data-type aware markup language

• US 20060031544A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Dirstine, Adam D.
• Application Number:
  US10/873,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/326 in the transport layer [OSI layer 4] H04L69/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of managing devices on a client/server computer network that comprises providing a transport protocol layer to transfer data among the devices, providing a request and response protocol layer implemented using a data-type aware general markup language, and transferring device management information to and from the devices using the transport protocol layer and the request and response protocol layer.

Claims

1. A method of managing devices on a client/server computer network, the method comprising:

providing a transport protocol layer, the transport protocol layer to transfer data among the devices;

providing a request and response protocol layer, the request and response protocol layer implemented using a data-type aware general markup language; and

transferring device management information to and from the devices using the transport protocol layer and the request and response protocol layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request and response protocol layer includes request elements and reply elements, the request and reply elements expressed using a data-type aware general markup language.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the request and response layer includes a command layer, the command layer including commands expressed as sub-elements of the request and reply elements using a data-type aware general markup language.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request and response protocol layer includes a data layer, the data layer including data elements expressed using a data-type aware general markup language.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data-type aware general markup language includes extensible markup language (XML).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport protocol layer is compatible with a web interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport protocol layer includes a serial communication protocol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring device management information includes configuring devices.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring device management information includes controlling devices.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring device management information includes transferring device status information.

3. The method of claim 3, wherein the reply elements include error and/or warning elements.

12. A network device, comprising:

at least one processor;

a network interface to communicate with the at least one processor and a network using a transport protocol layer; and

a request and response protocol application to exchange device management information with the at least one processor and a remote device, wherein the request and response protocol includes at least one layer implemented using a data-type aware general markup language.

13. The network device of claim 12, wherein the request and response protocol includes request elements and reply elements, the request and reply elements both expressed in the data-type aware general markup language.

14. The network device of claim 13, wherein the request elements and reply elements configure managed devices.

15. The network device of claim 13, wherein the request elements and reply elements control managed devices.

16. The network device of claim 13, wherein the request elements and reply elements request and return status information from managed devices.

17. The network device of claim 12, wherein the request and response protocol includes a plurality of layers including a command layer and data layer, the command and data layers implemented as elements expressed in the data-type aware general markup language.

18. The network device of claim 12, wherein the transport protocol layer is compatible with a web interface.

19. The network device of claim 12, wherein the transport protocol layer includes a serial communication protocol.

20. The network device of claim 12, wherein the data-type aware general markup language includes extensible markup language (XML).

21. A computer readable medium to implement a method of transferring device management information to and from remote devices on a network, the computer readable medium comprising:

a transport protocol layer module, the transport protocol layer module to implement a network communication protocol; and

a request and response protocol layer module expressed as request and reply elements using a data-type aware general markup language, the request and response protocol layer to provide information to manage devices on the network.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the medium further includes a command module, the command module including at least one command expressed as a sub-element of the request and reply elements using a data-type aware general markup language, wherein the at least one command specifies a device action.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the medium further includes a data module, the data module including data structures expressed as data elements of a data-type aware general markup language.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the data-type aware general markup language includes extensible markup language (XML).