MILARRS systems and methods

• US 7,698,405 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lantronix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lantronix Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Curtis D., Witchey, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUTAH, ALINA A
• Application Number:
  US11/031,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20060156054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-224, 709/202, 709/217, 709/253
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• 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 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring

Abstract

An add-on module provides extrinsic management functionality to legacy and other devices. Contemplated modules include: (a) a state agent that provides at least one of the MILARRS function, and (b) a product agent that communicates with the device using at least one serial interface. Implementations are contemplated for both legacy devices that natively provide less than complete MILARRS functionality, and newly developed devices for which the developer desires a ready-made implementation of MILARRS functionality.

Claims

1. A remote management module for managing a remote device through an environment, comprising:

a state agent that provides MILARRS functions to the remote device;

a first serial interface;

a product agent that communicates with the remote device using the first serial interface and communicates information from the remote device to the state agent, the product agent including a translator for translating received responses to queries from the remote device into device data that can be understood and manipulated in a manner that provides the MILARRS functionalities that are not native to the device; and

a management environment agent that communicates with an administrator through a management environment interface.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the state agent stores information in a database.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the state agent stores information in a file structure.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein the state agent queries the device through the product agent.

5. The module of claim 1, wherein a state agent provides a level of intelligence that allows for other than a strict one-to-one correspondence between information received from the device, and a signal sent from the state engine.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein the module expresses the intelligence through at least one of translating data via filtering, abstraction, data deletion, data insertion, alteration, and taking actions based on defined rules.

7. The module of claim 1, further comprising an additional product agent.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the product agent comprises a second serial interface that can be used to communicate with the device.

9. The module of claim 8, wherein the first and second serial interfaces are different types.

10. The module of claim 1, wherein the first serial interface has no more than two pins, including a ground.

11. The module of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a programmable I/O pin.

12. The module of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a processor logic level set of pins.

13. The module of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises at least one of an I2C, SPI, CAN, and a Profibus interface.

14. The module of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises at least one of an RS 232, RS 485, and a RS 422 interface.

15. The module of claim 1, wherein the serial interface wherein the serial interface comprises at least one of a USB and an Ethernet interface.

16. The module of claim 1, wherein the serial interface carries data at no more than 19,200 baud.

17. The module of claim 1 further comprising an environment interface that communicates with an administrator of the device using a packet switched network protocol.

18. The module of claim 1 further comprising an environment interface that communicates with an administrator of the device using at least one of TCP, UDP, SNMP, FTP, TFTP, SSL, SSH, HTTP, Telnet, and SMTP protocols.

19. The module of claim 1 further comprising an environment interface that communicates with an administrator of the device using a wireless link.

20. The module of claim 19, wherein the environment interface interoperates with at least one of IPMI, SNMP, ALOM, DCML, and WMX.

21. The module of claim 19, wherein the environment interface provides at least some power to the device via at least one of power over Ethernet and power over serial.

22. The module of claim 19, wherein the product agent and the environment interface each employ a different management methodology.

23. The module of claim 1, wherein the module has components that collectively adhere to at least level 1 of at least 4 of the FIPS 140 requirements.