Methods and apparatuses for processing wake events of communication networks

• US 20090172443A1
• Filed: 12/31/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Omer, Zimmer, Vincent J., Rothman, Michael A., Kumar, Arvind, Kutch, Patrick G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,839,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products that respond to wake events of communication networks are disclosed. One or more embodiments comprise setting a wake password of a computing device, such as a notebook computer or a server. Some of the embodiments comprise receiving a wake request from a communications network, establishing a secure communication session, and setting the wake password with the secure communication session. Some embodiments comprise an apparatus having a network controller to allow a platform to communicate via a communications network, non-volatile memory that stores a wake password, and a management controller which may communicate with a management console via a secure communication session to update the wake password. One or more embodiments the network controller may wake management hardware and/or wake the management controller while keeping one or more of the devices in the power conservation mode.

Claims

1. A method of setting a wake password, comprising:

receiving, by a communication device of a computing device, a wake request via a communications network;

establishing a secure communication session based upon reception of the wake request; and

setting the wake password via the secure communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating an initial wake password of the wake request.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing a power mode of at least one component of the computing device to process the wake request.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the changing the power mode of the at least one component comprises waking a management controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing the secure communication session comprises establishing a secure communication session with a management controller via a management console.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the wake request comprises receiving a packet header and sixteen instances of a media access control address of the communication device.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a network controller to allow a platform to communicate via a communications network;

non-volatile memory coupled to the network controller, wherein the non-volatile memory is arranged to store a wake password; and

a management controller coupled to the network controller, wherein the management controller may communicate with a management console via a secure communication session to update the wake password.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a number of devices coupled to the network controller, wherein at least one device of the platform is capable of being placed in a power conservation mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising management hardware coupled to the management controller, wherein the network controller is arranged to wake the management hardware, to wake the management controller, and to keep the at least one device in the power conservation mode upon the communication with the management console.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the management controller is arranged to process a management event while the at least one device is in the power conservation mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a central processor, a second controller, a display device, and a mass storage device.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the network controller is arranged to monitor communication packets of the communications network while at least one device of the platform is in a power conservation mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the network controller is arranged to validate a password associated with a wake packet for the secure communication session.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for setting a wake password, the computer program product including:

computer usable program code for evaluating a wake request received via a network controller;

computer usable program code for establishing a secure communication session with a management controller in response to the evaluation of the wake request; and

computer usable program code for setting the wake password via the secure communication session.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising computer usable program code for monitoring communication packets of a communications network for the wake request.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising computer usable program code for placing hardware coupled to the management controller in a power conservation mode.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer usable program code for placing hardware coupled to the management controller in power conservation mode comprises computer usable program code for placing the management controller in a power conservation mode.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the computer usable program code for placing hardware coupled to the management controller in power conservation mode comprises computer usable program code for placing a processor in an S3 state.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising computer usable program code for waking a subset of hardware coupled to the management controller, wherein the subset of hardware enables the management controller to set the wake password.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer usable program code for evaluating the wake request comprises computer usable program code for validating a password associated with the wake request.