System and method for delivering messages using alternate modes of communication

• US 7,394,761 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Avocent Huntsville Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Inventors: Foster, Dayton, Shilmover, Barry, Kerstens, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Juntima; Nittaya
• Application Number:
  US10/424,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

There is provided a novel system and method for delivering messages using alternate modes of communication when a primary mode of communication is not available as may happen in emergent circumstances such as those that arise during a terrorist attack causing damage to communications infrastructure.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity by selectively using a primary mode of communication, a first alternate mode of communication and a second alternate mode of communication, the system comprising:

an adaptor coupled between said remote input device and said managed entity, said adaptor, upon determining that said managed entity is not responsive to said message transmitted using said primary mode of communication, providing access to the first alternate mode of communication and transmitting said message using said first alternate mode of communication;

a switch electrically coupled to said managed entity and located between said managed entity and said remote input device, said switch having a signal converter and an antenna for receiving said message and transmitting a response thereto using said first alternate mode of communication, wherein said switch is configured to receive data on said first alternate mode of communication and switch to said second alternate mode of communication in accordance with at least one rule respecting the usage of said first and second alternate modes of communication when said managed entity has lost access to said primary mode of communication; and

a detector for detecting loss of access by said managed entity to said primary mode of communication;

whereby, upon said detector detecting said loss of access, said detector controls said switch to enable receipt by said managed entity of said message using said at least one of said first and second alternate modes of communication.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a primary message processor for receiving said message as a proxy for said managed entity, said primary message processor comprising any server adapted for connection to said primary mode of communication as well as to said managed entity.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising at least one backup message processor for receiving said message in the event that said primary message processor is not responsive to signals sent to said primary message processor.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary mode of communication comprises the Internet.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said managed entity comprises a server connected to a LAN and said remote input device comprises a portable computing device having access to the Internet through radio communication.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said managed entity comprises a server connected to a LAN and said remote input device comprises a computing device having access to the Internet through radio communication.

7. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said managed entity comprises a server connected to a LAN and said remote input device comprises a computing device having access to the Internet through wired communication.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said managed entity comprises a server and said remote input device comprises a computing device adapted for communication with a managed entity by a wired or wireless mode of communication selected from the group consisting of:

telephony, satellite, microwave, other radio, laser, and infrared.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device comprises a wireless input device having loaded thereon an agent configured to transmit a message and receive a response relating to said managed entity.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said wireless input device comprises a radio-based device selected from the group consisting of:

cell phone, pager, personal digital assistant, and portable computer.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device comprises a multi-mode capable wireless input device having a cellular mode or satellite mode wireless transceiver, said remote input device further comprising an agent configured to transmit a message and receive a response relating to said managed entity.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device comprises a computing device having loaded thereon an agent configured to transmit a message and receive a response relating to said managed entity.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said remote input device includes a signal converter and said adaptor selectively connects said first and second modes of communication to said remote input device.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detector comprises an agent for monitoring an external source that is accessed using said primary mode of communication, said agent configured to activate said switch in the event that said agent is unable to access said external source.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said agent monitors an external source by sending a test transmission to said external source.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adaptor is responsive to instructions from said switch and said at least one rule comprises an operational requirement to execute a pattern of switching between said first and second alternate modes of communication.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said switch terminates the pattern of switching upon confirmation of the restoration of access to said primary mode of communication and switches to said primary mode of communication.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adaptor and said switch negotiate when to switch between said first and second alternate modes of communication as well as which of said first and second alternate modes of communication to switch to.

19. The system as claimed in claim 1 further wherein said at least one rule is part of an Alternate Mode Sequence comprising a plurality of rules respecting when to switch between said first and second alternate modes of communication as well as which of said first and second alternate modes of communication to switch to.

20. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detector comprises at least one of:

(1) a receiver for receiving a heartbeat transmission from said external source, (2) a transceiver for sending, and receiving a response to, at least one Internet Control Message Protocol echo request to/from said external source, and (3) a quality of service metric measuring device.

21. A method for delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity, for use when loss of access by either said remote input device or said managed entity to a primary mode of communication has been detected, comprising the steps:

enabling at least one alternate mode of communication;

transmitting said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication;

activating a switch to permit the reception of said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication;

placing, after loss of access to said primary mode of communication is detected, said managed entity into a higher state of readiness and monitoring, using said switch, said at least one alternate mode of communication for the purpose of receiving said message;

processing commands received in said message via said at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication if and only if said commands are included in a restricted instruction set; and

monitoring packets from a reliable local device to determine a status of communication with the reliable local device, and, if the packets for determining the status of communication with the reliable local device are absent, then executing at least one instruction from the group comprising;

backup directory, save registry, delete file, alert System administrator, create log, alert User, lock down, and shut-down.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein delivery of said message is between a remote input device and a primary message processor receiving said message as a proxy for said managed entity.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein delivery of said message is between a remote input device and at least one backup message processor for receiving said message in the event that said primary message processor is not responsive to signals sent to said primary message processor.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein authentication and authorization are completed by said primary message processor acting as a proxy for at least one said managed entity.

25. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said message is encoded by applying a symbolic representation of groups of commands or an encryption of said representation for the purpose of making said message smaller in size or more difficult to access.

26. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said placing comprises the step of initializing a limited instruction set on said managed entity, including at least one instruction selected from the group comprising:

backup directory, save registry, delete file, alert System Administrator, create log, alert User, lock down, and shut down.

27. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the enabling comprises enabling the at least one alternate mode of communication in accordance with an Alternate Mode Sequence comprising a plurality of rules respecting when to switch between alternate modes of communication as well as which of said alternate modes of communication to switch to.

29. The method as claimed in claim 21 or claim 28 further comprising the steps:

monitoring for the restoration of access to said primary mode of communication, and

switching from said at least one alternate mode of communication to said primary mode of communication.

28. A method for delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity having at least one pre-enabled alternate mode of communication, for use when loss of access by either said remote input device or said managed entity to a primary mode of communication has been detected, comprising the steps:

selecting at least one alternate mode of communication;

transmitting said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication;

activating a switch to permit the reception of said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication;

processing commands received in said message via said at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication if and only if said commands are included in a restricted instruction set, wherein said restricted instruction set is based on said alternate mode of communication selected and restricts administrative command rights based on criteria selected from the group consisting of;

bandwidth, security, reliability or quality-of-service; and

monitoring packets from a reliable local device to determine a status of communication with the reliable local device, and, if the packets for determining the status of communication with the reliable local device are absent, then executing at least one instruction from the group comprising;

backup directory, save registry, delete file, alert System administrator, create log, alert User, lock down, and shut-down.

30. A method for delivering a message between a remote input device and a managed entity, for use when loss of access by either said remote input device or said managed entity to a primary mode of communication has been detected, comprising the steps:

enabling at least one alternate mode of communication;

transmitting said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication;

activating a switch to permit the reception of said message using at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication;

processing commands received in said message via said at least one of said at least one alternate mode of communication if and only if said commands are included in a restricted instruction set, wherein said restricted instruction set is based on said alternate mode of communication enabled and restricts administrative command rights based on criteria selected from the group consisting of;

bandwidth, security, reliability or quality-of-service; and

monitoring packets from a reliable local device to determine a status of communication with the reliable local device, and, if the packets for determining the status of communication with the reliable local device are absent, then executing at least one instruction from the group comprising;

backup directory, save registry, delete file, alert System administrator, create log, alert User, lock down, and shut-down.