Configuration of network appliances via e-mail

• US 20030208567A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mark T. Gross
• Original Assignee: Mark T. Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US10/427,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method for configuring a network appliance with instructions sent by e-mail. A mail recipient on the appliance, either a mail client or a mail server, receives an e-mail containing instructions. The appliance then configures itself according to the instructions. The instructions may be parsed into instructions at the appliance or the instructions may arrive in a command format that does not require parsing. The appliance may have a persistent network connection or may connect to the network occasionally.

Claims

1. A method for configuring an appliance across a network, comprising:

receiving configuration instructions via e-mail received at the appliance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the e-mail is received at a mail server on the appliance

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the mail server on the appliance communicates is one of the group comprised of:

an IMAP server, and a SMTP server.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises running a mail daemon from the appliance, wherein the appliance is always connected to the network and the daemon monitors electronic mail for the device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises connecting the appliance to the network to receive the electronic mail.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the e-mail is received at a mail client on the appliance.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the mail client on the appliance communicates with a mail server on the network.

8. A network appliance, comprising:

a connector operable to connect the appliance to a network; and

a mail recipient operable to receive electronic mail sent to the device.

9. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the appliance further comprises a parser operable to parse the electronic mail and extract configuration instructions from the electronic mail.

10. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the mail recipient is a mail server.

11. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the connector is operable to provide a persistent connection to the network.

12. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the mail recipient is a mail client.

13. The appliance of claim 8, wherein the connector is operable to connect the appliance to the network occasionally.

14. An article comprising:

A storage medium, the storage medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a computing device, result in;

i) reception of electronic mail by a network appliance; and

ii) configuration of the appliance in accordance with instructions contained in the electronic mail.

15. The article of claim 14, wherein the computing device is the network appliance.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the network appliance is a remote camera.

17. The article of claim 15, wherein the network appliance is an Internet radio player.