Port management system
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method for automatically provisioning a switch in a network, the method comprising:
- storing a command on a storage medium in a switch having a port configuration, the command having variables including at least one of a common variable, an end user profile variable, a device profile variable, and a session variable, and, when executed on a processor on the switch, changing the port configuration of a port on the switch;
associating a defined network event with the command, the defined network event associated with an end user connecting to the network and a device connecting to the network;
further storing, on the storage medium in the switch, current values of variables referenced in the command, the current values determined either prior to or upon an occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command;
detecting in the network the occurrence of the defined network event, the defined network event having been previously associated with the command stored on the storage medium in the switch;
receiving in an input interface on the switch a message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event to the switch;
determining the current value of referenced variables prior to the occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command;
determining the current value of referenced variables upon the occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command;
preparing the command for execution in accordance with the determined values of the referenced variables;
executing the prepared command in the processor on the switch in response to receiving the message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event, wherein executing the prepared command in the processor on the switch includes;
evaluating an expression present in the control structure in the command, the control structure to modify the command'"'"'s execution based on the evaluated expression;
modifying the command execution to change the port configuration in accordance with the evaluated expression; and
changing the port configuration of the port on the switch in accordance with the determined values of the referenced variables and the evaluated expression.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for a port management system in which a switch is automatically provisioned with network resources. A command or set of commands are stored and automatically executed on the switch upon the occurrence of a defined network event. The command or set of commands may be associated with one or more ports on the switch. When executed, the commands cause a change to a port configuration and/or policy on the switch to control access to a network resource. The network resource may include any device or service accessible on the network. The defined network event may include any network event associated with a device or user connected to the network. The command or set of commands may reference variables, control structures, and functions to modify command execution.
52 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method for automatically provisioning a switch in a network, the method comprising:
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storing a command on a storage medium in a switch having a port configuration, the command having variables including at least one of a common variable, an end user profile variable, a device profile variable, and a session variable, and, when executed on a processor on the switch, changing the port configuration of a port on the switch; associating a defined network event with the command, the defined network event associated with an end user connecting to the network and a device connecting to the network; further storing, on the storage medium in the switch, current values of variables referenced in the command, the current values determined either prior to or upon an occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command; detecting in the network the occurrence of the defined network event, the defined network event having been previously associated with the command stored on the storage medium in the switch; receiving in an input interface on the switch a message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event to the switch; determining the current value of referenced variables prior to the occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command; determining the current value of referenced variables upon the occurrence of the defined network event associated with the command; preparing the command for execution in accordance with the determined values of the referenced variables; executing the prepared command in the processor on the switch in response to receiving the message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event, wherein executing the prepared command in the processor on the switch includes; evaluating an expression present in the control structure in the command, the control structure to modify the command'"'"'s execution based on the evaluated expression; modifying the command execution to change the port configuration in accordance with the evaluated expression; and changing the port configuration of the port on the switch in accordance with the determined values of the referenced variables and the evaluated expression. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 33, 34)
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17. A port management system to control access to a network resource, the system comprising:
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a repository in which is stored a profile containing a set of commands, the execution of which controls access to a network resource via a port on a switch, wherein the profile containing the set of commands further includes a command that references a variable, the variable including at least one of a common variable, an end user profile variable, a device profile variable, and a session variable, the referenced variable having a value stored in the repository that is determined either prior to or upon an occurrence of a defined network event associated with the profile, and a control structure to conditionally modify the profile execution depending on the value of the referenced variable stored in the repository; a definition of the defined network event, the occurrence of which triggers execution of the profile, the defined network event associated with an end user accessing the network and a device accessing the network; a message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event to the switch; a port manager having an interface to create the profile, define the defined network event, associate the profile with the defined network event and a port on the switch, and to receive the message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event to the switch; and a processor in which to operate the port manager, and in which to determine the value of the referenced variable prior to or upon the occurrence of the defined network event and prepare the profile for execution in accordance with the determined value of the referenced variable, execute the prepared profile upon receipt of the message communicating the occurrence of the defined network event and, in accordance with the control structure, to conditionally modify the prepared profile execution depending on the determined value of the referenced variable, the execution of the prepared profile to control access to the network resource via the associated port on the switch. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36)
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Specification