Retrieving data from a server

• US 20020116550A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PTC Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axeda (PTC Inc.)
• Inventors: Hansen, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A system includes a server and a controller embedded in a device. Both the server and the embedded controller are capable of communicating over a computer network. The embedded controller sends a command to the server over the computer network that identifies an instance of the device. In response, the server identifies the instance of the device based on the command, retrieves data that is specific to the instance of the device, and sends the data to the embedded controller over the computer network.

Claims

1. A method performed by a controller embedded in a device for retrieving data from a server, comprising:

sending a command to the server that identifies an instance of the device; and

receiving, from the server and in response to the command, data that is specific to the instance of the device, the data identifying additional data to retrieve for the device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command includes an operational parameter for the device and the data comprises an updated value for the operational parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the command includes plural operational parameters for the device and the data comprises updated values that differ from current values of the operational parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a list of operational parameters;

and

the method further comprises;

sending a second command to the server, which includes operational parameters from the list; and

receiving, from the server and in response to the second command, updated values of one or more of the operational parameters included in the second command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller;

and

the method further comprises;

parsing the operations from the list; and

performing the operations from the list.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a configuration file for the device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command identifies the instance of the device by a device type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the embedded controller sends the command to the server periodically.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the server runs the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the command contains Extensible Markup Language Code.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data is received at the device via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the command includes a first operational parameter for the device and the data includes a second operational parameter that is unrelated to the first operational parameter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the data includes a uniform resource locator; and

the method further comprises using the uniform resource locator to obtain additional data that relates to the device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the data includes an indication that additional data for the device is present at the server; and

the method further comprises;

sending a second command to the server to retrieve the additional data; and

receiving the additional data from the server in response to the second command.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein parameters in the command determine a content of the data.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the data is encrypted when the data is received; and

the method further comprises decrypting the data.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the data contains a digital signature when the data is received; and

the method further comprises authenticating the digital signature.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller; and

the operations comprise Simple Object Access Protocol calls that are scripted using Extensible Markup Language.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the command includes a device type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier; and

the instance of the device is identified based on the device type and/or one or more of the serial number and the universal unique identifier.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

parsing the device type and one or more of the serial number and universal unique identifier from the command prior to identifying the instance of the device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the command includes an operational parameter for the device; and

the data comprises an updated value of the operational parameter.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the data comprises a list of operational parameters for the device; and

the method further comprises;

receiving a second command from the embedded controller, which includes an operational parameter from the list of operational parameters;

obtaining an updated value of the operational parameter; and

sending the updated value of the operational parameter to the embedded controller.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the device.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the data comprises a configuration file for the device.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving the data specific to the instance of the device; and

storing the data in memory;

wherein the data is retrieved from the memory.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data specific to the instance of the device is received via a Web page generated by the server.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the server runs the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the command contains Extensible Markup Language Code.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

storing the data in a queue;

wherein the data is retrieved from the queue.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the embedded controller is not remotely-addressable from the computer network.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the computer network comprises the Internet.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the server runs the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the command contains Extensible Markup Language Code.

18. A method performed by a server for sending data over a network to a controller embedded in a device, comprising:

receiving a command from the embedded controller;

identifying an instance of the device from information in the command;

retrieving data that is specific to the instance of the device, the data identifying additional data for the embedded controller to retrieve; and

sending the data to the embedded controller.

29. A system comprising:

a controller embedded in a device, the controller being capable of communicating over a computer network; and

a server that is capable of communicating over the computer network;

wherein the embedded controller sends a command to the server over the computer network that identifies an instance of the device and, in response, the server (i) identifies the instance of the device based on the command, (ii) retrieves data that is specific to the instance of the device, the data identifying additional data for the embedded controller to retrieve, and (iii) sends the data to the embedded controller over the computer network.

33. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer program being executable by a controller embedded in a device to retrieve data from a server, the computer program comprising instructions that cause the embedded controller to:

send a command to the server that identifies an instance of the device; and

receive, from the server and in response to the command, data that is specific to the instance of the device, the data identifying additional data to retrieve for the device.

34. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the command includes an operational parameter for the device and the data comprises an updated value for the operational parameter.

35. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the command includes plural operational parameters for the device and the data comprises updated values that differ from current values of the operational parameters.

36. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the data comprises a list of operational parameters;

and

the computer program further comprises instructions that cause the embedded controller to;

send a second command to the server, which includes operational parameters from the list; and

receive, from the server and in response to the second command, updated values of one or more of the operational parameters included in the second command.

37. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller;

and

the computer program further comprises instructions that cause the embedded controller to;

parse the operations from the list; and

perform the operations from the list.

38. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the data comprises a configuration file for the device.

39. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the command identifies the instance of the device by a device type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier.

40. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the embedded controller sends the command to the server periodically.

41. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the server runs the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the command contains Extensible Markup Language Code.

42. The computer program of claim 41, wherein the data is received at the device via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

43. The computer program of claim 33, wherein the command includes a first operational parameter for the device and the data includes a second operational parameter that is unrelated to the first operational parameter.

44. The computer program of claim 33, wherein:

the data includes a uniform resource locator; and

the computer program further comprises instructions that cause the computer to use the uniform resource locator to obtain additional data that relates to the device.

45. The computer program of claim 33, wherein:

the data includes an indication that additional data for the device is present at the server; and

the computer program further comprises instructions that cause the computer to;

send a second command to the server to retrieve the additional data; and

receive the additional data from the server in response to the second command.

46. The computer program of claim 33, wherein parameters in the command determine a content of the data.

47. The computer program of claim 33, wherein:

the data is encrypted when the data is received; and

the computer program further comprises instructions that cause the computer to decrypt the data.

48. The computer program of claim 33, wherein:

the data contains a digital signature when the data is received; and

the computer program further comprises instructions that cause the computer to authenticate the digital signature.

49. The computer program of claim 33, wherein:

the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller; and

the operations comprise Simple Object Access Protocol calls that are scripted using Extensible Markup Language.

50. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium that is executable by a server to send data over a network to a controller embedded in a device, the computer program comprising instructions that cause the server to:

receive a command from the embedded controller;

identify an instance of the device from information in the command;

retrieve data that is specific to the instance of the device, the data identifying additional data for the embedded controller to retrieve; and

send the data to the embedded controller.

51. The computer program of claim 50, wherein:

the command includes a device type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier; and

the instance of the device is identified based on the device type and/or one or more of the serial number and the universal unique identifier.

52. The computer program of claim 51, further comprising instructions that cause the server to:

parse the device type and one or more of the serial number and universal unique identifier from the command prior to identifying the instance of the device.

53. The computer program of claim 50, wherein:

the command includes an operational parameter for the device; and

the data comprises an updated value of the operational parameter.

54. The computer program of claim 50, wherein:

the data comprises a list of operational parameters for the device; and

the computer program further comprises instructions that cause the server to;

receive a second command from the embedded controller, which includes an operational parameter from the list of operational parameters;

obtain an updated value of the operational parameter; and

send the updated value of the operational parameter to the embedded controller.

55. The computer program of claim 50, wherein the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the device.

56. The computer program of claim 50, wherein the data comprises a configuration file for the device.

57. The computer program of claim 50, further comprising instructions that cause the server to:

receive the data specific to the instance of the device; and

store the data in memory;

wherein the data is retrieved from the memory.

58. The computer program of claim 57, wherein the data specific to the instance of the device is received via a Web page generated by the server.

59. The computer program of claim 50, wherein the server runs the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the command contains Extensible Markup Language Code.

60. The computer program of claim 50, further comprising instructions that cause the computer to:

store the data in a queue;

wherein the data is retrieved from the queue.

61. An apparatus, embedded in a device, for retrieving data from a server, comprising:

a memory which stores executable instructions; and

a controller which executes the instructions to;

send a command to the server that identifies an instance of the device; and

receive, from the server and in response to the command, data that is specific to the instance of the device, the data identifying additional data to retrieve for the device.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the command includes an operational parameter for the device and the data comprises an updated value for the operational parameter.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the command includes plural operational parameters for the device and the data comprises updated values that differ from current values of the operational parameters.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the data comprises a list of operational parameters;

and

the controller executes instructions to;

send a second command to the server, which includes operational parameters from the list; and

receive, from the server and in response to the second command, updated values of one or more of the operational parameters included in the second command.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller;

and

the controller executes instructions to;

parse the operations from the list; and

perform the operations from the list.

66. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the data comprises a configuration file for the device.

67. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the command identifies the instance of the device by a device type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier.

68. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the controller sends the command to the server periodically.

69. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the server runs the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the command contains Extensible Markup Language Code.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the data is received at the apparatus via the Hypertext Transfer Protocol.

71. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the command includes a first operational parameter for the device and the data includes a second operational parameter that is unrelated to the first operational parameter.

72. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein:

the data includes a uniform resource locator; and

the controller uses the uniform resource locator to obtain additional data that relates to the device.

73. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein:

the data includes an indication that additional data for the device is present at the server; and

the controller executes instructions to;

send a second command to the server to retrieve the additional data; and

receive the additional data from the server in response to the second command.

74. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein parameters in the command determine a content of the data.

75. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein:

the data is encrypted when the data is received; and

the controller executes instructions to decrypt the data.

76. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein:

the data contains a digital signature when the data is received; and

the controller executes instructions to authenticate the digital signature.

77. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein:

the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller; and

the operations comprise Simple Object Access Protocol calls that are scripted using Extensible Markup Language.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein:

the command includes a device type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier; and

the instance of the device is identified based on the device type and/or one or more of the serial number and the universal unique identifier.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the apparatus executes instructions to:

parse the device type and one or more of the serial number and universal unique identifier from the command prior to identifying the instance of the device.

81. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein:

the command includes an operational parameter for the device; and

the data comprises an updated value of the operational parameter.

82. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein:

the data comprises a list of operational parameters for the device; and

the apparatus executes instructions to;

receive a second command from the embedded controller, which includes an operational parameter from the list of operational parameters;

obtain an updated value of the operational parameter; and

send the updated value of the operational parameter to the embedded controller.

83. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the data comprises a list of operations to be performed by the device.

84. The apparatus of claim 78 wherein the data comprises a configuration file for the device.

85. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the controller executes instructions to:

receive the data specific to the instance of the device; and

store the data in memory; and

wherein the data is retrieved from the memory.

86. The apparatus of claim 85, wherein the data specific to the instance of the device is received via a Web page generated by the server.

87. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the apparatus runs the Hypertext Transfer Protocol and the command contains Extensible Markup Language Code.

88. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

a queue for storing the data;

wherein the controller executes instructions to retrieve the data from the queue.

78. An apparatus for sending data over a network to a controller embedded in a device, comprising:

a memory which stores executable instructions; and

a controller which executes the instructions to;

receive a command from the embedded controller;

identify an instance of the device from information in the command;

retrieve data that is specific to the instance of the device, the data identifying additional data for the embedded controller to retrieve; and

send the data to the embedded controller.