Method and System for Managing Devices in a Wireless Network

• US 20080049686A1
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Golash, Rahul, Shankar, Rohit, Gudipudi, Srinivas, Dharmalingam, Rajesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,929,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing devices in a wireless network includes defining, by a managing device, assignment rules for geographic areas in the wireless network. The method also includes retrieving, by the managing device, device parameters from a device, the device located in a selected geographic area. The method further includes determining, by the managing device, the selected geographic area of the device by comparing the device parameters with the assignment rules. The method further includes displaying, by the managing device, the device in the selected geographic area.

Claims

1. A method for managing devices in a wireless network, comprising:

defining, by a managing device, a respective plurality of assignment rules for one or more geographic areas in the wireless network, the plurality of assignment rules comprising a rule indicative of an IP address range and a rule indicative of a hostname regular expression;

retrieving, by the managing device, a plurality of device parameters from a device, the device located in a selected geographic area of the one or more geographic areas, the plurality of device parameters comprising a parameter indicative of an IP address and a parameter indicative of a hostname;

determining, by the managing device, the selected geographic area of the device by comparing the plurality of device parameters with the plurality of assignment rules;

retrieving, by the managing device, background data from a computer readable medium, the background data comprising a map of the selected geographic area;

identifying, by the managing device, a physical location of the device in the selected geographic area; and

displaying, by the managing device, the device in the identified physical location in the selected geographic area.

2. A method for managing devices in a wireless network, comprising:

defining, by a managing device, a respective plurality of assignment rules for one or more geographic areas in the wireless network;

retrieving, by the managing device, a plurality of device parameters from a device, the device located in a selected geographic area of the one or more geographic areas;

determining, by the managing device, the selected geographic area of the device by comparing the plurality of device parameters with the plurality of assignment rules; and

displaying, by the managing device, the device in the selected geographic area.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising retrieving, by the managing device, background data from a computer readable medium, wherein the background data comprises a map of the selected geographic area.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying, by the managing device, a physical location of the device in the selected geographic area; and

displaying, by the managing device, the device in the identified physical location in the selected geographic area.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of assignment rules comprises a rule indicative of an IP address range.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of assignment rules comprises a rule indicative of a hostname regular expression.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of device parameters comprises a parameter indicative of an IP address.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of device parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a hostname.

9. A system for managing devices in a wireless network, comprising:

a wireless network, the wireless network comprising one or more devices; and

a managing device operable to connect to the wireless network, the managing device comprising;

a processor; and

a storage device readable by the managing device, embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform acts for managing devices in the wireless network, the acts comprising;

defining a respective plurality of assignment rules for one or more geographic areas in the wireless network;

retrieving a plurality of device parameters from a device, the device located in a selected geographic area of the one or more geographic areas;

determining the selected geographic area of the device by comparing the plurality of device parameters with the plurality of assignment rules; and

displaying the device in the selected geographic area.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the acts further comprise retrieving background data from a computer readable medium, wherein the background data comprises a map of the selected geographic area.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the acts further comprise:

identifying a physical location of the device in the selected geographic area; and

displaying the device in the identified physical location in the selected geographic area.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of assignment rules comprises a rule indicative of an IP address range.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of assignment rules comprises a rule indicative of a hostname regular expression.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of device parameters comprises a parameter indicative of an IP address.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of device parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a hostname.

16. Logic encoded in media, the logic being operable to:

define, by a managing device, a respective plurality of assignment rules for one or more geographic areas in the wireless network;

retrieve, by the managing device, a plurality of device parameters from a device, the device located in a selected geographic area of the one or more geographic areas;

determine, by the managing device, the selected geographic area of the device by comparing the plurality of device parameters with the plurality of assignment rules; and

display, by the managing device, the device in the selected geographic area.

17. The logic of claim 16, further operable to retrieve, by the managing device, background data from a computer readable medium, wherein the background data comprises a map of the selected geographic area.

18. The logic of claim 16, further operable to:

identify, by the managing device, a physical location of the device in the selected geographic area; and

display, by the managing device, the device in the identified physical location in the selected geographic area.

20. The logic of claim 16, wherein the plurality of assignment rules comprises a rule indicative of an IP address range.

21. The logic of claim 16, wherein the plurality of assignment rules comprises a rule indicative of a hostname regular expression.

22. The logic of claim 16, wherein the plurality of device parameters comprises a parameter indicative of an IP address.

23. The logic of claim 16, wherein the plurality of device parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a hostname.