ASSIGNING A NETWORK ADDRESS FOR A VIRTUAL DEVICE TO VIRTUALLY EXTEND THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A NETWORK DEVICE

• US 20110277028A1
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Piazza, Kevin, Matsubayashi, Don
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits

Abstract

Virtually extending the functionality of a network device to a server is provided. A virtual device which virtually represents functionality of the network device is created. An association is stored between the network device and a user or a group for the network device. A determination is made as to whether the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network or to a disparate network, based on the stored association. A network address for the virtual device is assigned based on the determination. Functionality of the network device is accessed via the virtual device, using the assigned network address for the virtual device.

Claims

1. A method for virtually extending the functionality of a network device to a server, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a virtual device which virtually represents functionality of the network device;

storing an association between the network device and a user or a group for the network device;

determining whether the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network or to a disparate network, based on the stored association;

assigning a network address for the virtual device based on the determination; and

accessing functionality of the network device via the virtual device, using the assigned network address for the virtual device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the server and the network device are separated by a firewall.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the network device is remote to the server, and wherein an application on the server accesses functionality of the network device via the virtual device in a transparent manner, such that the application does not recognize that the network device is remote.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

replicating network interfaces for the network device on the virtual device.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the replicated network interfaces on the virtual device correspond to a virtual network device driver, which is directly or indirectly connected to the network device using a tunneling mechanism,

wherein the virtual network device driver has an IP address accessible to applications residing on the server, and

wherein the assigning step assigns the network address for the virtual device by assigning the IP address for the virtual network device driver.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the IP address for the virtual network device driver is assigned the IP address for the network device, in a case where the determining step determines that the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the IP address for the virtual network device driver is assigned an arbitrary local subnet address, in a case where the determining step determines that the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a disparate network.

8. A method of creating a virtual environment which virtually extends the functionality of plural network devices to a server, the method comprising the steps of:

for each of the plural network devices, virtually extending the functionality of the network device to the server with a respective virtual device, using the method of claim 1.

9. A virtual device for virtually extending the functionality of a network device to a server, comprising:

a computer-readable memory constructed to store computer-executable process steps; and

a processor constructed to execute the computer-executable process steps stored in the memory,

the process steps comprising;

storing an association between the network device and a user or a group for the network device;

determining whether the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network or to a disparate network, based on the stored association;

assigning a network address based on the determination; and

accessing functionality of the network device using the assigned network address.

10. A virtual device according to claim 9, wherein the server and the network device are separated by a firewall.

11. A virtual device according to claim 9, wherein the network device is remote to the server, and wherein an application on the server accesses functionality of the network device in a transparent manner, such that the application does not recognize that the network device is remote.

12. A virtual device according to claim 9, further comprising:

replicating network interfaces for the network device.

13. A virtual device according to claim 12, wherein the replicated network interfaces correspond to a virtual network device driver, which is directly or indirectly connected to the network device using a tunneling mechanism, and

wherein the virtual network device driver has an IP address accessible to applications residing on the server, and

wherein the assigning step assigns the network address by assigning the IP address for the virtual network device driver.

14. A virtual device according to claim 13, wherein the IP address for the virtual network device driver is assigned the IP address for the network device, in a case where the determining step determines that the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network.

15. A virtual device according to claim 13, wherein the IP address for the virtual network device driver is assigned an arbitrary local subnet address, in a case where the determining step determines that the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a disparate network.

16. A computer-readable memory medium on which is stored computer-executable process steps for virtually extending the functionality of a network device to a server, the process steps comprising:

creating a virtual device which virtually represents functionality of the network device;

storing an association between the network device and a user or a group for the network device;

determining whether the network device and the user or the group for the network device correspond to a local network or to a disparate network, based on the stored association;

assigning a network address for the virtual device based on the determination; and

accessing functionality of the network device via the virtual device, using the assigned network address for the virtual device.

17. A computer-readable memory medium according to claim 16, wherein the server and the network device are separated by a firewall.

18. A computer-readable memory medium according to claim 16, wherein the network device is remote to the server, and wherein an application on the server accesses functionality of the network device via the virtual device in a transparent manner, such that the application does not recognize that the network device is remote.

19. A computer-readable memory medium according to claim 16, further comprising:

replicating network interfaces for the network device on the virtual device.

20. A computer-readable memory medium according to claim 19, wherein the replicated network interfaces on the virtual device correspond to a virtual network device driver, which is directly or indirectly connected to the network device using a tunneling mechanism, and

wherein the virtual network device driver has an IP address accessible to applications residing on the server, and

wherein the assigning step assigns the network address for the virtual device by assigning the IP address for the virtual network device driver.