Method for managing an appliance

• US 20020198975A1
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bogia, Douglas P.
• Application Number:
  US09/893,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

An appliance is configured by sending an electronic data file to the appliance. The appliance is automatically configured based on the electronic data file, which contains configuration information.

Claims

1. A method of configuring an appliance comprising:

sending an electronic data file containing configuration information to the appliance; and

automatically configuring the appliance in response to receiving the electronic data file.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is in a markup language.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuration information is in XML.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic data file is embedded in an email, and further comprising:

encrypting the electronic data file prior to sending it to the appliance.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

decrypting the email after being received by the appliance.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

authenticating the email after being received by the appliance.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

checking that the email has a proper authorization before configuring the appliance.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing access through a firewall to a particular IP address in response to receiving the electronic data file.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

allowing the particular IP address to modify the appliance through an interactive session.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

authenticating the electronic data file by the appliance.

11. A method of configuring an appliance comprising:

receiving an email containing configuration information; and

configuring the appliance based on the configuration information.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

decrypting the email.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

authenticating the configuration information.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

allowing access through a firewall to a particular IP address responsive to receiving the email.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

allowing access by the particular IP address to the appliance via an interactive menu.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the interactive menu is part of a browser.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

sending a confirmation email indicating that the appliance was reconfigured successfully.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

encrypting the configuration information in the email.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

the multiple appliances authenticating the email before configuring themselves based on the configuration information.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

the multiple appliances authenticating the email before configuring themselves based on the configuration information.

18. A method of configuring multiple appliances comprising:

sending an email containing configuration information for multiple appliances; and

the multiple appliances configuring themselves based on the configuration information.

22. A method of communicating with a network comprising:

receiving an email containing a user identifier; and

allowing access through a firewall of the network to an IP address corresponding to the user identifier in response to receiving the email.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

authenticating the email.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

decrypting the email.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein access through the firewall is allowed for a predetermined time interval.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

sending a confirmation email indicating that access was allowed through the firewall.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the user identifier is the IP address.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein access through the firewall is allowed for a predetermined time interval.

30. The article of claim 29, wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions, the instructions, when executed, cause systems to:

decrypt the electronic data file.

31. The article of claim 29, wherein the storage medium further comprises instructions, the instructions, when executed, cause systems to:

authenticate the configuration information.

29. An article comprising:

a storage medium which stores instructions, the instructions, when executed, causing systems to;

receive an electronic data file containing configuration information; and

configure an appliance based on the configuration information.