System and method for remote discovery and configuration of a network device

• US 7,240,106 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cochran, Charles W., Little, Billy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORRELL, ERON J
• Application Number:
  US09/842,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-224, 710 8- 10, 713/1, 713/100
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation

Abstract

A technique for remotely configuring a computing device via a network. A device configuration system is provided to determine a network address of the computing device, to identify the computing device, and to facilitate network configuration of the computing device. The device configuration system also may include a remote interface and a remote device information system.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a computing device coupled to a network, comprising the acts of:

actively electronically discovering a computing device coupled to a network;

identifying the computing device, wherein identifying the computing device comprises initiating a sensory identification event to identify the computing device; and

configuring network parameters of the computing device based on the identification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of actively electronically discovering the computing device comprises the act of monitoring network conmiunications.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of monitoring network communications comprises the act of discovering an address assignment for the computing device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of monitoring network communications comprises the act of detecting an address request from the computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of actively electronically discovering the computing device comprises the act of responding to the address request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the act of responding to the address request comprises the acts of verifying a desired characteristic of the computing device and assigning a network address to the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of actively electronically discovering the computing device comprises the act of scanning an address range of the network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the act of scanning the address range comprises the act of searching for devices having a desired identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying the computing device comprises the act of discovering a desired device characteristic.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of discovering the desired device characteristic comprises the act of discovering a device category.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the act of discovering the device category comprises the act of discovering a device source.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the act of discovering the device source comprises the act of discovering a device manufacturer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of discovering the desired device characteristic comprises the act of discovering a device model.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises the act of communicating an identification signal from the computing device to a remote display via the network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises the act of communicating an identification signal from a remote interface to the computing device via the network.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of configuring network parameters of the computing device comprises the act of remotely and automatically configuring the computing device using desired network parameters based on the identification of the computing device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of configuring network parameters of the computing device comprises the act of remotely interacting with computing device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of remotely interacting with the computing device comprises the act of configuring network addresses for the computing device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the act of remotely interacting with the computing device comprises the act of initiating a remote configuration system for the computing device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the act of initiating the remote configuration system comprises the act of transmitting a network address to the computing device based on the identification.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the act of transmitting the network address comprises the act of electronically directing the computing device to a web-based device configuration system.

22. The method of claim 1, comprising the act of interacting with the computing device via a remote computing device.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising the act of managing network addressing via the device configuration program.

24. The method of claim 22, comprising the act of accessing a device configuration program via the remote computing device.

25. The method of claim 24, comprising the act of displaying a list of devices electronically discovered.

26. The method of claim 25, comprising the act of selecting a desired device and transmitting configuration information to the desired device via the network.

27. The method of claim 1, comprising remotely configuring a plurality of the computing devices that have been electronically located and identified.

28. An actively discovered network server configured by the method of claim 1.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is headless.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises enabling user interaction with the computing device to activate a unit identification indicator in a graphical user interface of a remote display.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein enabling user interaction with the computing device comprises providing a button on the computing device.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises permitting selection of the computing device via a graphical user interface to trigger sensory output from the computing device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the sensory output comprises light emission from the computing device.

34. A method for networking a desired device, comprising the acts of:

electronically searching to identify the presence and location of a desired device on a network;

triggering a sensory identification event to identify the desired device; and

remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device via the network.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of electronically discovering a network address for the desired device.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of analyzing an address request communication from the desired device.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of generating a response to the address request communication based on address control parameters.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the act of generating the response comprises the acts of:

verifying an authorization criteria for configuring the desired device; and

assigning a network address to the desired device having the authorization criteria verified.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of electronically searching the network for a desired identifier for the desired device.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of discovering a desired device identifier.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the act of discovering the desired device identifier comprises the act of discovering a product identifier for the desired device.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device comprises the act of configuring a network address for the desired device.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device comprises the act of initiating a remote configuration system having a device database adapted to facilitate configuration of the desired device.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the act of initiating the remote configuration system comprises the act of transmitting a network address to the desired device to facilitate communication with the remote configuration system.

45. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device comprises the act of electronically communicating with the desired device via a remote computing system.

46. The method of claim 45, comprising the act of executing a device configuration program via the remote computing system.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of triggering the sensory identification event comprises the act of transmitting an identification signal between the desired device and a remote interface via the network.

48. The method of claim 34, wherein the desired device is headless.

49. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of triggering a sensory identification event comprises enabling user interaction with the desired device to activate a unit identification indicator in a graphical user interface of a remote display.

50. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of triggering a sensory identification event comprises permitting selection of the desired device via a graphical user interface to activate a light of the desired device.

51. A system of configuring a second computing device via a first computing device, wherein the first and second computing devices are communicatively coupled via a network, the system comprising:

a device configuration assembly accessible by the first computing device, comprising;

a device discovery assembly adapted for actively discovering the second computing device on the network and further adapted to facilitate identification of the second device via a sensory identification event; and

a device setup assembly adapted for initiating configuration of the second computing device via the network.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the first computing device comprises a display and an input device.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the second computing device comprises a network device.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the network device comprises a cache server.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the network device comprises a file server.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the network device comprises an application server.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein the network device comprises a web server.

58. The system of claim 51, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

59. The system of claim 51, wherein the device configuration assembly is disposed on the first computing device.

60. The system of claim 51, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a network addressing assembly.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the network addressing assembly comprises a network address management server coupled to the network.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the network addressing assembly comprises a network addressing module adapted for internally managing network addresses of devices coupled to the network.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the network addressing assembly comprises a dynamic address assignment module.

64. The system of claim 51, wherein the device configuration assembly comprises a user interface.

65. The system of claim 51, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises an address request monitor adapted to discover an address request from the second computing device.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises an address assignment module adapted to assign a network address to the second computing device in response to the address request.

67. The system of claim 51, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises an address assignment monitor adapted to discover an address assignment to the second computing device.

68. The system of claim 51, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a device identification module adapted to discover device information of the second computing device and to identify the second computing device based on the device information.

69. The system of claim 51, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a device locator module adapted for communicating an identification signal between the device locator module and an identification assembly coupled to the second computing device.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the identification assembly comprises a physical triggering mechanism configured to activate a unit identification indicator in a graphical user interface.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein physical triggering mechanism comprises a button.

72. The system of claim 69, wherein the identification assembly comprises a sensory output mechanism configured to emit sensory output upon selection of the second computing device via a graphical user interface.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the sensory output mechanism comprises a light.

74. The system of claim 51, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a device search module adapted to search the network for the second computing device based on desired parameters.

75. The system of claim 70, wherein the desired parameters comprise a desired network address range.

76. The system of claim 51, wherein the device setup assembly comprises a device configuration module adapted to configure operational parameters of the second computing device.

77. The system of claim 76, where the device configuration module comprises a remote configuration module coupled to the network, the remote configuration module comprising device specifications.

78. The system of claim 51, wherein the device discovery assembly comprises means for discovering the second computing device.

79. The system of claim 51, wherein the device setup assembly comprises means for configuring the second computing device.

80. The system of claim 51, wherein the second device is headless.

81. A system for remotely configuring a networked computing device, comprising:

a network analysis module adapted to determine a network address of a desired device coupled to a network;

a device identification module adapted to search for and identify the presence of the desired device based on desired parameters and to facilitate identification of the desired device via a sensory identification event; and

a device configuration module adapted to configure the desired device via the network.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the desired device comprises a network appliance.

83. The system of claim 81, wherein the desired device comprises a web server.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

85. The system of claim 81, wherein the network analysis module comprises a network analysis program disposed on a memory device and accessible by a computing device coupled to the network.

86. The system of claim 81, wherein the network analysis module comprises a network communication monitor adapted to detect a network transmission associated with the desired device.

87. The system of claim 81, wherein the network analysis module comprises an address assignment monitor adapted to detect an address assignment associated with the desired device.

88. The system of claim 81, wherein the network analysis module comprises a network scanner module adapted to search an address range of the network for the desired device.

89. The system of claim 81, wherein the device identification module comprises a device type identifier module adapted to discover a desired type of the desired device based on the desired parameters.

90. The system of claim 81, wherein the device identification module comprises a device locator module adapted to identify the desired device via an identifier signal communicated between the desired device and the device locator module.

91. The system of claim 81, comprising a network address assignment module adapted to assign the network address to the desired device.

92. The system of claim 81, comprising a network address management server having the network analysis module.

93. The system of claim 81, wherein the device configuration module comprises a network configuration module adapted to configure network parameters for the desired device.

94. The system of claim 81, where the network configuration module comprises a communication module adapted to initiate remote configuration of desired device.

95. The system of claim 81, wherein the desired device is headless.

96. The system of claim 81, wherein the device identification module comprises a device locator module adapted to activate a unit identification indicator of a graphical user interface upon receipt of an identification signal from the desired device.

97. The system of claim 81, wherein the device identification module comprises a device locator module adapted to trigger a sensory output event from the desired device upon selection of the desired device from a graphical user interface.