System and method for programmatically changing the network location of a network component

• US 7,383,340 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Sistla, Amber D., Rover, Jeremy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, LIANG CHE A
• Application Number:
  US10/611,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

A system and method for programmatically changing the network location of a network component is disclosed. A network management layer programmatically interrupts a link between the network component and the network. The network management layer then changes the network to which the network component is linked. The link between the network component and the changed network is programmatically established or reestablished.

Claims

1. A method of changing a network location of a network component comprising:

programmatically interrupting a link between the network component and a network, wherein the network component is associated with a network resource wrapper, the network resource wrapper to provide a machine accessible and standardized description of the network component;

changing the network to which the network component is linked, wherein the network includes a plurality of network components, at least some of the network components having an associated network resource wrapper, each network resource wrapper to provide a machine accessible and standardized description of one or more functions of an associated network component, wherein the associated network component is capable of being configured by a network resource wrapper function call from a network management agent, and further wherein changing the network includes programmatically altering at least one of the network resource wrappers to configure at least one network component; and

establishing a link between the network component and the changed network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein programmatically interrupting the link between the network component and the network comprises:

powering down a hub that connects the network component to the network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein programmatically interrupting the link between the network component and the network comprises:

interrupting a confirmation signal from a cable that connects the network component to the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein programmatically interrupting the link between the network component and the network comprises:

deactivating a transmitter in an access point that connects the network component to the network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein programmatically interrupting the link between the network component and the network comprises:

opening a switch that connects the network component to the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the network to which the network component is linked comprises:

programmatically disassociating the network component from a first network; and

programmatically associating the network component with a second network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the network to which the network component is linked comprises:

programmatically reconfiguring the network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein programmatically reconfiguring the network comprises:

programmatically configuring a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) switch to include the network component in a VLAN of the VLAN switch.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein programmatically reconfiguring the network comprises:

programmatically configuring a router to associate a network interface with the network component.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein programmatically reconfiguring the network comprises:

programmatically configuring a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to associate a network interface with Internet Protocol (IP) address information.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein programmatically reconfiguring the network comprises:

programmatically configuring a power onloff module to an associated network component.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the link between the network component and the changed network comprises:

powering up a hub that connects the network component to the network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the link between the network component and the changed network comprises:

providing a confirmation signal to a cable that connects the network component to the network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the link between the network component and the changed network comprises:

activating a transmitter in an access point that connects the network component to the network.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the link between the network component and the changed network comprises:

closing a switch that connects the network component to the network.

16. A system comprising:

a network component to connect with a network wherein the network component is associated with a network resource wrapper, the network resource wrapper to provide a machine accessible and standardized description of the network component; and

a node to change the location of the network component, the node having a processor and logic executable thereon to

interrupt a link between the network component and the network;

change the network to which the network component is linked, wherein the network includes a plurality of network components, at least some of the network components having an associated network resource wrapper, each network resource wrapper to provide a machine accessible and standardized description of one or more functions of an associated network component, wherein the associated network component is capable of being configured by a network resource wrapper function call from a network management agent, and further wherein changing the network includes programmatically altering at least one of the network resource wrappers to configure at least one network component; and

establish a link between the network component and the changed network.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a hub to provide the link between the network component and the network; and

wherein

the node having the processor and logic executable thereon to interrupt the link between the network component and the network comprises the node having logic executable thereon to power down the hub that provides the link between the network component and the network.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an access point to provide the link between the network component and the network; and

wherein

the node having the processor and logic executable thereon to interrupt the link between the network component and the network comprises the node having logic executable thereon to deactivate the access point that provides the link between the network component and the network.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the node having a processor and logic executable thereon to change the network to which the network component is linked comprises the node having logic executable thereon to:

programmatically disassociate the network component from a first network; and

programmatically associate the network component with a second network.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the node having a processor and logic executable thereon to change the network to which the network component is linked comprises the node having logic executable thereon to:

programmatically reconfigure the network.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the node having a processor and logic executable thereon to programmatically reconfigure the network comprises the node having logic executable thereon to:

programmatically configure a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) switch to include the network component in a VLAN of the VLAN switch.

22. An article of manufacture comprising:

an electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to

interrupt a link between the network component and a network, wherein the network component is associated with a network resource wrapper, the network resource wrapper to provide a machine accessible and standardized description of the network component;

change a network to which the network component is linked, wherein the network includes a plurality of network components, at least some of the network components having an associated network resource wrapper, each network resource wrapper to provide a machine accessible and standardized description of one or more functions of an associated network component, wherein the associated network component is capable of being configured by a network resource wrapper function call from a network management agent, and further wherein changing the network includes programmatically altering at least one of the network resource wrappers to configure at least one network component; and

establish a link between the network component and the changed network.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to interrupt the link between the network component and the network cause the apparatus to:

power down a hub that connects the network component to the network.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to interrupt the link between the network component and the network cause the apparatus to:

deactivate a transmitter in an access point that connects the network component to the network.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to change the network to which the network component is linked cause the apparatus to:

programmatically disassociate the network component from a first network; and

programmatically associate the network component with a second network.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to change the network to which the network component is linked cause the apparatus to:

programmatically reconfigure the network.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the electronically accessible medium providing instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to programmatically reconfigure the network cause the apparatus to:

programmatically configure a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) switch to include the network component in a VLAN of the VLAN switch.