Method and apparatus for assigning roles to devices using physical tokens
First Claim
1. A method for assigning a role to a computing device in a network data processing system, the method comprising:
- providing at least a first physical token, wherein the first physical token includes at least one visible characteristic, wherein the first physical token has role information associated therewith, and wherein the at least one visible characteristic is indicative of at least a first role associated with the first physical token;
placing at least the first physical token in a physical relationship with a first computing device;
associating the first computing device with the first physical token;
receiving, by the first computing device, the role information from the first physical token;
responsive to the role information being received, assigning the first role to the first computing device based on the role information; and
installing, by the computing device, the first role on a storage of the computing device, wherein the first role comprises a number of bits, wherein the number of bits is associated with the first physical token, and wherein the number of bits distinguishes the first role on the computing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A physical token is provided that is used to assign an activity or role to a specific device by virtue of a physical relationship with the device. By associating the token with a device, through electrical connection or by mere proximity relative to the device, an administrator informs the device of the intended role for the device in an enterprise. In conjunction with some bootstrapping or other appropriate software on the computing device, the act of placing the token in the proper physical relationship with the device is all that is necessary to configure and deploy the device in a data center. A device may be assigned roles from a plurality of tokens. Computing devices may also be assigned roles based upon their proximity to other devices. Roles may also include a concept of seniority, wherein one device may be assigned a more senior role to another device.
64 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for assigning a role to a computing device in a network data processing system, the method comprising:
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providing at least a first physical token, wherein the first physical token includes at least one visible characteristic, wherein the first physical token has role information associated therewith, and wherein the at least one visible characteristic is indicative of at least a first role associated with the first physical token; placing at least the first physical token in a physical relationship with a first computing device; associating the first computing device with the first physical token; receiving, by the first computing device, the role information from the first physical token; responsive to the role information being received, assigning the first role to the first computing device based on the role information; and installing, by the computing device, the first role on a storage of the computing device, wherein the first role comprises a number of bits, wherein the number of bits is associated with the first physical token, and wherein the number of bits distinguishes the first role on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for assigning a role to a computing device in a network data processing system, the system comprising:
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at least a first computing device; at least a first physical token, wherein the first physical token includes at least one visible characteristic, wherein the first physical token has role information associated therewith, wherein the at least one visible characteristic is indicative of at least a first role associated with the first physical token, and wherein at least the first physical token is placed in a physical relationship with at least the first computing device; association means for associating the first computing device with the first physical token; receipt means for receiving, by the first computing device, the role information from the first physical token; role assignment means, responsive to the role information being received, for assigning the first role to the first computing device based on the role information; and installing means for installing, by the computing device, the first role on a storage of the computing device, wherein the first role comprises a number of bits, wherein the number of bits is associated with the first physical token, and wherein the number of bits distinguishes the first role on the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A computer program product for assigning a role to a computing device in a network data processing system, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for, responsive to at least a first physical token being placed in a physical relationship with at least a first computing device, associating the first computing device with the first physical token, wherein the first physical token includes at least one visible characteristic, wherein the first physical token has role information associated therewith, and wherein the at least one visible characteristic is indicative of at least a first role associated with the first physical token; instructions for receiving, by the first computing device, the role information from the first physical token; instructions for, responsive to the role information being received, assigning the first role to the first computing device based on the role information; and instructions for installing, by the computing device, the first role on a storage of the computing device, wherein the first role comprises a number of bits, wherein the number of bits is associated with the first physical token, and wherein the number of bits distinguishes the first role on the computing device.
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Specification