NETWORKING DEVICE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A GATEWAY FOR A LOCAL NETWORK, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

• US 20130311656A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Liekens, Werner, Vermoesen, Luc, De Loof, Jourik
• Granted Patent: US 10,187,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

A networking device for use as a gateway for a local network is configured to be remotely managed by a remote management protocol. The networking device includes a controller configured to detect whether the networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session, and an indicator configured to indicate whether the networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session, being controlled by the controller.

Claims

1. A networking adapted for use as a gateway for a local network, said networking device being configured to be remotely managed by a remote management protocol, wherein said networking device comprises a controller configured to detect whether said networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session, and an indicator controlled by said controller and configured to indicate whether said networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session.

2. Networking device according to claim 1, wherein said indicator is positioned on the outside of said networking device.

3. Networking device according to claim 1, wherein said controller is embodied as a remote management protocol agent running on an OSGI platform.

4. Networking device according to claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises at least one lighting device which is capable of emitting light, and said lighting device comprising at least two emitting states.

5. Networking device According to claim 4, comprising a plurality of lighting devices, each lighting device comprising at least two emittion states, said emitting states comprising a non-light-emitting state and a light emitting state.

6. Networking device according to claim 4, wherein said controller is further configured to identify different states of said remote management protocol session, and to control said one or said plurality of lighting devices to correspond to said different states of said remote management protocol session by generating different emitting patterns for said different states.

7. Networking device according to claim 4, wherein said controller is further configured to control said indicator to indicate another state of said networking device, said other state being not related to remote management protocol sessions.

8. Networking device according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to receive signalling instructions from a remote management server, said signalling instructions defining how the step of indicating whether said networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session is to be indicated by said indicator.

9. Networking device according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to communicate information describing the capabilities of said indicator to a remote management server.

10. Networking device according to claim 1, wherein said a remote management protocol is one of TR-069, SNMP and OMA-DM.

11. A method for providing remote management protocol session information about a networking device to a user, comprising at said networking device:

a. detecting whether said networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session; and

b. based on said detection, indicating whether said networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session, by means of an indicator comprised in said networking device.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein indicating comprises controlling the emission of light of one or of a plurality of lighting devices, each lighting device comprising at least two emitting states.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein detecting comprises identifying different states of said remote management protocol session, and generating different emitting patterns by said one or said plurality of lighting devices corresponding to said different states of said remote management protocol session.

14. Method according to any of the claims 11, further comprising communicating information describing the capabilities of said indicator to a remote management server by said controller, and receiving signalling instructions from said remote management server by said controller, said signalling instructions defining how the step of indicating whether said networking device is taking part in a remote management protocol session is to be indicated by said indicator.

15. A computer program comprising a code adapted for performing a method according to any of the claims 11, when performed on a networking device adapted for use as a local network gateway.