Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing a remote non-IP-addressable device with an IP stack

• US 8,578,011 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maria, Arturo
• Primary Examiner(s): Keehn, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US12/815,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A system for dynamically provisioning a remote device with an Internet Protocol (IP) stack using a custom IP agent is disclosed. The system includes a Master Catalog storing a profile identifying an operating system and a native protocol of the device. The system also includes a Provisioning Master in communication with the Master Catalog. The Provisioning Master is configured to receive the device profile from the Master Catalog and generate the custom IP agent based on at least the device profile to allow communication of IP services to/from the remote device. The Provisioning Master is also configured to establish a data link to the remote device using the native protocol of the remote device, and install the IP agent onto the remote device, using the native protocol of the remote device, to form the IP stack for the remote device, thereby enabling communication of IP services to/from the remote device.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically provisioning a remote device, which is not addressable via an Internet Protocol (IP), with an IP stack, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a device profile from a database, the device profile identifying an operating system of the remote device and a native protocol by which the remote device communicates;

generating a custom IP agent based on the device profile to allow communication of IP services to/from the remote device;

establishing a data link to the remote device using the native protocol of the remote device;

causing the custom IP agent to be installed onto the remote device, using the native protocol of the remote device, to form the IP stack for the remote device, thereby allowing communication of IP services to/from the remote device;

generating an updated custom IP agent responsive to a notification of an alteration in the device profile that affects communications via the custom IP agent;

wherein the IP stack formed by installation of the IP agent includes an IP address and an IP driver for use in receiving/sending IP services;

wherein the alteration in the device profile includes a change to the operating system of the remote device, and wherein the updated custom IP agent includes an updated IP stack having at least one of a different IP address and a different IP driver than the IP address and the IP driver included in the IP stack of the custom IP agent; and

causing the updated custom IP agent to be installed onto the remote device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the remote device is a part of a smart grid network;

the database stores device profiles for each device in the smart grid network; and

the memory further has instructions stored thereon which cause the processor to communicate with the smart grid network to establish the data link and install the IP agent.

3. The system of claim 1,

wherein the memory further has instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control interactions with a network to which the remote device belongs.

4. The system of claim 3,

wherein the memory further has instructions stored thereon which, when executed by processor, cause the processor to allow an operator to identify rules for provisioning, create new IP agents, and update IP agents.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein the processor is included in a server that is part of a device network to which the remote device belongs.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the processor is included in a server that is part of a carrier network providing IP services to the remote device after the IP agent is installed.

7. A method for dynamically provisioning a remote device, which is not addressable via an Internet Protocol (IP), with an IP stack, the method comprising:

receiving a device profile from a database, the device profile identifying an operating system of the remote device and a native protocol by which the remote device communicates;

generating, by a processor, a custom IP agent based on the device profile;

establishing a data link to the remote device using the native protocol of the remote device;

causing, by the processor, the custom IP agent to be installed onto the remote device, using the native protocol of the remote device, to form the IP stack for the remote device, thereby allowing communication of IP services to/from the remote device;

generating an updated custom IP agent responsive to a notification of an alteration in the device profile that affects communications via the custom IP agent;

wherein the IP stack formed by the installation of the IP agent includes an IP address and an IP driver for use in receiving/sending IP services;

wherein the alteration in the device profile includes a change to the operating system of the remote device, and wherein the updated custom IP agent includes an updated IP stack having at least one of a different IP address and a different IP driver than the IP address and the IP driver included in the IP stack of the custom IP agent; and

causing the updated custom IP agent to be installed onto the remote device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the remote device is part of a smart grid network; and

establishing the data link and causing the IP agent to be installed include connecting to the smart grid network.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising

controlling interactions with a network to which the remote device belongs.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising

allowing an operator to identify rules for provisioning, create new IP agents, and update IP agents.

11. The method of claim 7,

wherein the processor is included in at least one of server that is part of a device network to which the remote device belongs and a server that is part of a carrier network providing IP services to the remote device after the IP agent is installed.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for dynamically provisioning a remote device, which is not addressable via an Internet Protocol (IP), with an IP stack, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions recorded thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a device profile from a database, the device profile identifying an operating system for the device and a native protocol by which the device communicates;

generating the custom IP agent based on the device profile;

establishing a data link to the remote device using the native protocol of the remote device;

causing the custom IP agent to be installed onto the remote device, using the native protocol of the remote device, to form the IP stack for the remote device, thereby allowing communication of IP services to/from the remote device;

generating an updated custom IP agent responsive to a notification of an alteration in the device profile that affects communications via the custom IP agent;

wherein the IP stack is formed to include an address and an IP driver for use in sending/receiving IP services;

wherein the alteration in the device profile includes a change to the operating system of the remote device, and wherein the updated custom IP agent includes an updated IP stack having at least one of a different IP address and a different IP driver than the IP address and the IP driver included in the IP stack of the custom IP agent; and

causing the updated custom IP agent to be installed onto the remote device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12,

wherein the instructions further cause the processor to control interactions with a network to which the remote device belongs.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13,

wherein the instructions further cause the processor to allow an operator to identify rules for provisioning, create new IP agents, and update IP agents.