Proactive M2M Framework Using Device-Level vCard for Inventory, Identity, and Network Management

• US 20140173073A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pignataro, Carlos M., Clarke, Joseph Michael, Salgueiro, Gonzalo
• Granted Patent: US 9,525,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453

Abstract

A network device may connect to a smart-enabled network. Once connected, the network device may receive a network address for a network management server (NMS). Having the network address for the NMS, the network device may generate a vCard comprising the attributes necessary for registering with the NMS. The network device may then communicate the vCard to the NMS. The NMS may then be configured to identify, register, and add the network device to a directory.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting to a network;

receiving a network address for a network management server (NMS);

generating a vCard comprising identity attributes necessary for registering with the NMS; and

communicating the vCard to the NMS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the vCard comprises generating inventory and asset tracking information for the NMS.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication that a new network device has connected to the network; and

communicating, to the new network device via a secure communication protocol, the network address for the NMS.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the vCard at the NMS; and

in response to receiving the vCard at the NMS, performing, by the NMS, at least one of the following;

identifying a network device associated with the vCard,

registering the network device,

adding the network device to a device directory, and

managing the network device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the network address for the NMS comprises receiving the network address from at least one existing network device already in communication with the NMS.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating the vCard to an administrator of the network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the NMS with updated attributes when the attributes have changed.

8. A method comprising:

receiving device attributes for a newly connected network device;

using the device attributes to identify the network device; and

adding the network device to a device directory.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising causing an existing network device to provide the newly connected device with a network address designated to receive the device attributes.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the device attributes comprises receiving, via a secure communication protocol, the device attributes at least one of the following:

at least one network management server (NMS) and at least one smart collector.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the device attributes comprises receiving, from the network device, a vCard generated by the network device, the vCard comprising the device attributes necessary for at least one of the following:

identifying the network device,

registering the network device,

adding the network device to the device directory, and

managing the network device.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

notifying an administrative contact once the network device is added to the directory.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, the processing unit being configured to;

receive a vCard comprising device attributes from a newly connected network device;

register, using the device attributes included in the vCard, the network device to the network; and

add the network device to a directory comprising a listing of network devices registered to the network.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the network is configured to cause at least one existing network device to forward, to the newly connected network device, location information for a device configured to receive the vCard.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing unit is further configured to cascade updated location information for the device configured to receive the vCard when the location information for the device has changed.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the device configured to receive the vCard comprises one of the following:

a network management server (NMS) and a smart collector.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing unit being configured to receive the vCard comprising the device attributes from the newly connected network device comprises the processing unit being configured to receive the vCard generated by the network device, the vCard comprising the device attributes necessary for the processing unit to perform at least one of the following:

identify the network device,

register the network device,

inventory the network device,

add the network device to the directory, and

manage the network device.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is further configured to notify an administrative contact once the network device is registered to the network.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the directory with new device attributes when updated device attributes for the network device have been received.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, the processing unit being configured to;

connect to the network,

receive a network address for a network management server (NMS) from at least one of the following;

at least one existing network device,

a configuration server, and

the NMS,

generate a vCard comprising attributes necessary for enabling registration with the NMS,

communicate the vCard to the NMS,

receive an indication of a new network device connected to the network, and

broadcast the network address for the NMS to the new network device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

receive contact information for an administrator, and

communicate the vCard to the administrator.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processing unit is further configured to cascade an updated network address for receiving the device attributes through the network when the network address has changed.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the NMS with new device attributes when the device attributes for the apparatus have changed.