Virtual interfaces with dynamic binding
First Claim
1. A method for using a virtual interface associated with a second network device to control, via a data network, a first network device, the method comprising:
- binding the virtual interface with a selected physical interface, said selected physical interface comprising a communication link to the first network device;
receiving, at the virtual interface, a first command instruction for controlling at least one operational aspect of the first network device;
generating a command message, according to a predetermined protocol, using information from the a first command instruction; and
transmitting, via the data network, the command message to the first network device to thereby cause the first network device to realize said first command instruction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for providing a virtual interface between a router and a network, in which the router is not connected to the network using a local interface. A method and system in which a router may be dynamically decoupled from a first network and coupled to a second network, without losing state information associated with the coupling to either network. The router comprises a virtual interface to the network, at which state information for the physical interface to the network is recorded, and a binding between the virtual interface and a physical interface, the latter of which is coupled to the network. Dynamic binding of the virtual interface to the physical interface comprises an authentication step. A method and system in which a router can be dynamically coupled to one of a plurality of local networks of differing types, such as one local network using an ethernet technique and one local network using a token ring technique. The router comprises one virtual interface for each local network interface, a physical interface comprising a PC Card (PCMCIA card) controller, and one PC Card (PCMCIA card) network interface. A router is dynamically coupled to and decoupled from a set of networks sequentially, so that an administrator or an administrative program at the router may issue administrative and/or set-up commands to each of the networks. The administrative commands comprise configuration commands, so that an administrator may configure a plurality of networks from a single source location.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for using a virtual interface associated with a second network device to control, via a data network, a first network device, the method comprising:
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binding the virtual interface with a selected physical interface, said selected physical interface comprising a communication link to the first network device;
receiving, at the virtual interface, a first command instruction for controlling at least one operational aspect of the first network device;
generating a command message, according to a predetermined protocol, using information from the a first command instruction; and
transmitting, via the data network, the command message to the first network device to thereby cause the first network device to realize said first command instruction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
receiving the command message at the first network device;
extracting the first command information from the command message; and
performing, at the first network device, the first command in accordance with the first command information.
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6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network device is controllable by a user, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the first network device by the user via said virtual interface, without establishing a direct connection between the user and the first network device.
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7. The method of claim 6 further comprising enabling the user to control operational aspects of the first network device by transmitting command instructions to the second network device.
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8. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the second network device without using a network level address associated with the second network device.
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9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network device does not have a corresponding network level address.
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10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
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recording state information relating to at least one communication link associated with the selected physical interface;
decoupling the at least one virtual interface from the selected physical interface;
binding the at least one virtual interface to a second physical interface, said second virtual interface comprising a communication link to the first network device; and
using the recorded state information for communicating with the first network device via the second physical interface.
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11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network device comprises a MAC address, and wherein the method further comprises using the MAC address of the first network device to communicate with the first network device.
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12. A computer program product for using a virtual interface associated with a second network device to control, via a data network, a first network device, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising;
computer code for binding the virtual interface with a selected physical interface;
computer code for receiving, at the virtual interface, a first command instruction for controlling at least one operational aspect of the first network device;
computer code for generating a command message, according to a predetermined protocol, using information from the a first command instruction; and
computer code for transmitting, via the data network, the command message to the first network device to thereby cause the first network device to realize said first command instruction. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
computer code for receiving the command message at the first network device;
computer code for extracting the first command information from the command message; and
computer code for performing, at the first network device, the first command in accordance with the first command information.
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15. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the first network device is controllable by a user, and wherein the computer program product further comprises computer code for enabling the user to control operational aspects of the first network device by transmitting command instructions to the second network device.
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16. A system for using a virtual interface associated with a second network device to control, via a data network, a first network device, the system comprising:
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means for binding the virtual interface with a selected physical interface;
means for receiving, at the virtual interface, a first command instruction for controlling at least one operational aspect of the first network device;
means for generating a command message, according to a predetermined protocol, using information from the a first command instruction; and
means for transmitting, via the data network, the command message to the first network device to thereby cause the first network device to realize said first command instruction.
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17. A system for controlling a first network device in a data network, the system comprising:
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a second network device having at least one virtual interface and at least one physical interface;
said at least one virtual interface associated with a selected physical interface of the at least one physical interface;
said at least one virtual interface further being configured to receive command instructions for controlling at least one operational aspect of the first network device;
said second network device being configured to generate a encapsulated command messages, according to a predetermined protocol, using information from the received command messages; and
said second network device being further configured to transmit, via the data network, the encapsulated command messages to the first network device to thereby cause the first network device to carry out commands relating to the received command instructions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
receive encapsulated command message from the second network device;
extract command instructions from the encapsulated command message; and
implement actions in accordance with the command instructions.
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22. The system of claim 17 wherein the first network device does not have a corresponding network level address.
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23. The system of claim 17 wherein the second network device is a router.
Specification