Network management using visual identifiers

• US 8,407,327 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technlogies Corp. (Rtx Corporation), Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Elliott, Brig Barnum
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daftuar, Saket K
• Application Number:
  US11/087,231
• Time in Patent Office: 2,925 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/204, 709206-207, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/224, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 340/870.01, 340/870.07, 340/870.2, 340/870.28, 340/573.1, 340/539.32, 375/132, 370/238, 705/412, 379/106.03
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]

Abstract

This disclosure relates to network management using visual identifiers. In one of many possible embodiments, a network management system includes a visual identifier device located visibly proximate to a network device. The visual identifier device includes a set of visual identifiers and a selector mechanism configured to be manipulated to select at least one of the visual identifiers to be assigned to the network device. The network management system also includes a display device configured to display a visual representation of said selected visual identifier.

Claims

1. A network management system, comprising:

a visual identifier device located visibly proximate to a network device, said visual identifier device including a set of visual identifiers and a selector mechanism configured to be manipulated to select at least one of said visual identifiers to be assigned to the network device; and

a display device configured to display a visual representation of said selected visual identifier.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said display device and said visual identifier device are located at different nodes of a network, said visual identifier device being configured to transmit information representative of said selected visual identifier to the node associated with the display device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said information includes said visual representation of said selected visual identifier.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said set of visual identifiers comprises a plurality of different colors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said set of visual identifiers comprises a plurality of distinguishable images.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said selector mechanism comprises a housing or a turn knob configured to be rotated to select said one of said visual identifiers.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said selector mechanism comprises a sliding actuator.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said visual identifier device is configured to provide a failure notification indicative of said selected visual identifier already being in use in a network.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said visual identifier device is configured to provide a success notification indicative of said selected visual identifier being available in the network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said failure notification and said success notification comprise distinguishable sound or light patterns.

11. An apparatus for management of a network, the apparatus comprising:

a set of visual identifiers; and

a selector mechanism configured to be manipulated to select at least one of said visual identifiers to be assigned to a network device, said selected visual identifier being located visibly proximate to the network device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said set of visual identifiers comprises a plurality of different colors.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said set of visual identifiers comprises a plurality of distinguishable images.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said selector mechanism comprises a housing or a turn knob configured to be rotated to select said one of said visual identifiers.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said selector mechanism comprises a sliding actuator.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a communication mechanism for transmitting information representative of said selected visual identifier over the network to a network management application.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said information includes a visual representation of said selected visual identifier, said visual representation being configured for display.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a notification mechanism for providing a failure notification indicative of said selected visual identifier already being in use in the network.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said notification mechanism is configured to provide a success notification indicative of said selected visual identifier being available in the network.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said failure notification and said success notification comprise distinguishable sound or light patterns.

21. A method of introducing a network device into a network, the method comprising:

providing a visual identifier device, said visual identifier device offering a set of visual identifiers from which one of said visual identifiers may be selected to be assigned to the network device;

recognizing said selected visual identifier and associating it with the network device;

determining whether said selected visual identifier is already in use by another network device of the network; and

providing a failure notification and an opportunity to select another one of said visual identifiers if it is determined that said selected visual identifier is already in use.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said one of said visual identifiers may be selected by manipulating a selector mechanism of said visual identifier device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said determining step includes:

sending a message over the network, said message including information representative of said selected visual identifier; and

comparing said information with said visual identifiers being used by other network devices of the network.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a success notification to the network operator if it is determined that said selected visual identifier is available.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said failure notification and said success notification are provided in the form of distinguishable sound or light patterns.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying a visual representation of said selected visual identifier on a network management display.