System and method for remote device management

• US 7,043,537 B1
• Filed: 09/05/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pratt, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prieto, Beatriz
• Application Number:
  US08/924,785
• Time in Patent Office: 3,168 Days
• Field of Search: 370/245, 370/453, 370/457, 709/223, 709/219, 709/220, 709/224, 709/201, 709/221, 380/25, 395/653, 717/103, 717/107, 717/118, 717/140, 710/104, 713/182, 707/119
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A manufacturing method enables the manufacture of a remotely controlled network device management system. The manufacturing method includes the steps of obtaining a software program, obtaining a downloadable unit (e.g. an applet) configured to communicate with the software program, compiling the software program into a binary file, embedding the downloadable unit into the binary file, and loading the binary file with the embedded downloadable unit onto the network device. A management method enables a remote client to manage the network device. The management method includes the steps of receiving from a remote client a request to manage a software program which has a binary file with an embedded downloadable unit, locating the downloadable unit embedded in the binary file, extracting the downloadable unit from the binary file, and forwarding the downloadable unit to the remote client.

Claims

1. A method for modifying available remote device management services of a network device, the method comprising:

obtaining a new downloadable unit for performing a new service, the new downloadable unit including;

a communicator component for establishing a communications channel between a remote client and the network device,

an interface component for enabling the remote client to communicate with the new downloadable unit, and

a configuration component for managing the network device;

retrieving a network device control software program binary file having an embedded old downloadable unit for performing an old service from the network device;

substituting the old downloadable unit with the new downloadable unit; and

loading the network device control software program binary file having the new downloadable unit embedded in the binary file onto the network device,

wherein the network device control software program is executed by the network device.

2. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of modifying available remote device management services of a network device, the method comprising:

obtaining a new downloadable unit for performing a new service, the new downloadable unit including;

a communicator component for establishing a communications channel between a remote client and the network device,

an interface component for enabling the remote client to communicate with the new downloadable unit, and

a configuration component for managing the network device;

retrieving a network device control software program binary file having an embedded old downloadable unit for performing an old service from the network device;

substituting the old downloadable unit with the new downloadable unit; and

loading the network device control software program binary file having the new downloadable unit embedded in the binary file onto the network device,

wherein the network device control software program is executed by the network device.

3. An apparatus for modifying available remote device management services of a network device, the apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a new downloadable unit for performing a new service, the new downloadable unit including;

a communicator component for establishing a communications channel between a remote client and the network device,

an interface component for enabling the remote client to communicate with the new downloadable unit, and

a configuration component for managing the network device;

means for retrieving a network device control software program binary file having an embedded old downloadable unit for performing an old service from the network device;

means for substituting the old downloadable unit with the new downloadable unit; and

means for loading the network device control software program binary file having the new downloadable unit embedded in the binary file onto the network device,

wherein the network device control software program is executed by the network device.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the network device includes a network router.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the new downloadable unit includes more than one new downloadable unit.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the new downloadable units have been combined into downloadable unit bundles.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the new downloadable units have been combined into downloadable unit bundles according to downloadable unit function.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the new downloadable units have been combined into downloadable unit bundles according to version information.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the network device control software program includes an operating system.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the network device includes a router.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the network device control software program includes a list of available management services.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, further comprising a downloadable unit for each of the available management services.