METHOD & SYSTEM FOR NETWORK ENTITY CONFIGURATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for automatically configuring at least one network entity for participation in a network, said at least one network entity being associated with at least one service provider, said method comprising the steps of:
- assigning an identifier to said at least one network entity;
associating said identifier with at least one service provider;
providing a central server having a reference table for mapping said identifiers to at least one of said service providers,providing a configuration server associated with each of said service providers, said configuration server having configuration settings data for said at least one network entity;
including in a computer-readable medium of said at least one network entity instructions for communicating with said central server or said configuration server;
causing said at least one network entity to automatically request configuration settings data from said central server when coupled to said network, said request including said network entity'"'"'s identifier;
receiving said request at said central server and determining which of said at least one of said service providers is associated with said identifier;
said central server redirecting said request to an appropriate configuration server having said configuration settings data specific to said identifier;
said configuration server providing said configuration settings data to said at least one network entity; and
whereby said at least one network entity is automatically configured without user intervention except to power-on and connect said at least one network entity to said network in order to contact said central server.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for configuring a plurality of network entities by a central server, each of the network entities being associated with a unique identifier, and each of the network entities being associated with at least one service provider having configuration settings data therefor.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for automatically configuring at least one network entity for participation in a network, said at least one network entity being associated with at least one service provider, said method comprising the steps of:
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assigning an identifier to said at least one network entity; associating said identifier with at least one service provider; providing a central server having a reference table for mapping said identifiers to at least one of said service providers, providing a configuration server associated with each of said service providers, said configuration server having configuration settings data for said at least one network entity; including in a computer-readable medium of said at least one network entity instructions for communicating with said central server or said configuration server; causing said at least one network entity to automatically request configuration settings data from said central server when coupled to said network, said request including said network entity'"'"'s identifier; receiving said request at said central server and determining which of said at least one of said service providers is associated with said identifier; said central server redirecting said request to an appropriate configuration server having said configuration settings data specific to said identifier; said configuration server providing said configuration settings data to said at least one network entity; and whereby said at least one network entity is automatically configured without user intervention except to power-on and connect said at least one network entity to said network in order to contact said central server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for configuring a plurality of network entities for implementation in a network, each of said network entities being associated with an identifier, and each of said network entities being associated with at least one service provider, said system having:
a computer-readable medium of each of said network entities having a program for executing instructions to communicatively couple each of said network entities to a central server to request configuration settings data matching said network entity'"'"'s identifier, said central server including a first mapping table comprising a list of said identifiers associated with each of said service providers, said first mapping table being used to redirect said request to a appropriate configuration server associated with each of said service providers, said configuration server including a second mapping table comprising a list of said identifiers and said configuration settings data associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A network entity for participating in a packet switched network, said network entity having a identifier and being configured automatically via a central server, said network entity being associated with at least one service provider, said network entity having:
a computer-readable medium comprising URI data for said central server and a program for executing instructions to communicatively couple said network entity to said central server via said network, and to request configuration settings data matching said network entity'"'"'s identifier;
said request being redirected to an appropriate configuration server based on said identifier, said configuration server having configuration settings data associated with said identifier and specific to said network entity.- View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for processing by a central server, said computer program for providing instructions to configure a plurality of network devices associated with a plurality of service providers, each network device having an identifier, said instructions being provided in response to requests for configuration settings data from said network devices, said request including said identifier, said machine-readable medium comprising:
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a first sub-program coded to associate said identifier to at least one of said service providers to form a first mapping table for each service provider, said first sub-program coded to analyze said requests from each of said network devices, and to determine whether said first mapping table comprises said identifier; a second sub-program coded to redirect each of said requests to an appropriate service provider based on said identifier;
said configuration server including a second mapping table comprising a list of said identifiers and said configuration settings data associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A redirect server to be implemented within a network having at least one network device, said redirect server for auto-configuring said at least one network device network device, said network devices being associated with different service providers, and at least one of said service providers requiring specific configuration settings data for each of said network devices, each of said network devices having an identifier, said redirect server comprising:
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a first machine-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for processing by said redirect server, said computer program coded to provide instructions for configuring said network devices, said instructions being provided in response to requests for configuration settings data from said network devices, each of said requests including said identifier, said machine-readable medium comprising; a first sub-program coded to associate said identifier with at least one of said service providers to form a first mapping table;
said first sub-program coded to analyze each of said requests from said network devices, and to determine whether said first mapping table comprises said identifier;a second sub-program coded to redirect each of said requests to an appropriate service provider based on said identifier;
said configuration server including a second mapping table comprising a list of said identifiers and said configuration settings data associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification