Method and apparatus for monitoring remote devices through a local monitoring station and communicating with a central station supporting multiple manufacturers
First Claim
1. In a network based apparatus having a monitoring system and at least one device communicatively coupled via a network, the monitoring system communicatively coupled to first and second databases, a method of monitoring the at least one device comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining if the monitoring system is configured to communicate with said at least one device by obtaining configuration information from said at least one device;
(b) communicating with said at least one device using information stored in said first database if the monitoring system is configured to interface with said at least one device;
(c) updating said first database with the configuration information received from said at least one device;
(d) determining if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said second database if said at least one device is not configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said first database; and
(e) enabling said second database to determine what type of status information is obtained from said at least one device for storing in said first database if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring at least one network connected device (monitored device) using a controller is disclosed. Initially, the controller/monitoring system attempts to establish communication with the monitored device. If the controller cannot be configured to interface with the monitored device, then configuration information, such as, manufacturer, model, and a unique identifier are obtained from the monitored device. In the process of determining the configuration information, a determination is made to find out if the monitored device is supported by the controller using information from System Support Database (SSD). A device object is created using information from the SSD, thus establishing a communication protocol between the controller and the monitored device Subsequently, configuration information for the monitored device is updated in the System Configuration Database (SCD).
67 Citations
23 Claims
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1. In a network based apparatus having a monitoring system and at least one device communicatively coupled via a network, the monitoring system communicatively coupled to first and second databases, a method of monitoring the at least one device comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining if the monitoring system is configured to communicate with said at least one device by obtaining configuration information from said at least one device;
(b) communicating with said at least one device using information stored in said first database if the monitoring system is configured to interface with said at least one device;
(c) updating said first database with the configuration information received from said at least one device;
(d) determining if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said second database if said at least one device is not configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said first database; and
(e) enabling said second database to determine what type of status information is obtained from said at least one device for storing in said first database if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for monitoring at least one device in a network based system, comprising:
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a monitoring system communicatively coupled to the at least one device via a network;
a first database communicatively coupled to said monitoring system and storing configuration and status information, said configuration information used to configure said monitoring system with said at least one device; and
a second database communicatively coupled to said monitoring system and storing manufacturer and model information of said at least one device, said manufacturer and model information being used to determine if said at least one device is supported by said monitoring system, said second database is enabled to determine what type of status information is obtained from said at least one device for storing in said first database. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a network based apparatus having a monitoring system and at least one device communicatively coupled via a network, the monitoring system communicatively coupled to first and second databases, a computer program product having a computer usable medium comprising:
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instructions for determining if the monitoring system is configured to communicate with said at least one device by obtaining configuration information from said at least one device;
instructions for communicating with said at least one device using information stored in said first database if the monitoring system is configured to interface with said at least one device;
instructions for updating said first database with the configuration information received from said at least one device;
instructions for determining if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said second database if said at least one device is not configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said first database; and
instructions for enabling said second database to determine what type of status information is obtained from said at least one device for storing in said first database if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system.
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22. In a network based apparatus having a monitoring system and at least one device communicatively coupled via a network, the monitoring system communicatively coupled to first and second databases, an apparatus for monitoring the at least one device comprising the steps of:
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(a) means for determining if the monitoring system is configured to communicate with said at least one device by obtaining configuration information from said at least one device;
(b) means for communicating with said at least one device using information stored in said first database if the monitoring system is configured to interface with said at least one device;
(c) means for updating said first database with the configuration information received from said at least one device;
(d) means for determining if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said second database if said at least one device is not configured to interface with said monitoring system using information from said first database; and
(e) means for enabling said second database to determine what type of status information is obtained from said at least one device for storing in said first database if said at least one device is configured to interface with said monitoring system.
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23. A method for monitoring a device connected to a network using a controller, the method comprising:
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(a) determining if the controller is configured to communicate with the device by obtaining configuration information from the device;
(b) if the controller is configured to interface with the device, then communicating with the device using information stored in a first database;
(c) updating said first database with configuration information received from the device;
(d) if the device is not configured to interface with said controller using information from said first database, then determining if the device is configured to interface with said controller using information from a second database; and
(e) if the device is configured to interface with said controller, enabling said second database to determine what type of status information is stored in said first database for the device.
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Specification