Method and apparatus for providing access to a peripheral device management interface

• US 7,370,087 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Toole, James W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIDDIQI, MOHAMMAD A
• Application Number:
  US10/357,650
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 709208-211, 709217-229, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide mechanisms and techniques for providing access to a peripheral management interface, such as a Web-based graphical user interface (GUI) associated with a peripheral device. In order to access a GUI associated with a peripheral device, a user activates the peripheral device, such as by actuating a mechanical switch on the device or by transmitting a wireless signal, such as an infrared signal. Based on the activation, the peripheral device constructs a URL that allows the requesting user to access the GUI associated with peripheral device and transmits the URL to the user'"'"'s computer. The user then executes the URL, using a web browser, and accesses the GUI associated with the peripheral device, without knowledge of the IP address for the peripheral device.

Claims

1. In a peripheral device associated with a host computer, a method for providing access to a management interface associated with the peripheral device, comprising the steps of:

receiving a non-web based activation stimulus from an activation source through an activation interface;

preparing a device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a peripheral device identifier and

(ii) a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

transmitting the device message to a receiver, the resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device;

wherein;

preparing the device message comprises preparing the device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and

(ii) a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

transmitting the device message comprises broadcasting the device message as a network broadcast over a local area network (LAN) to the receiver, the uniform resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of preparing comprises the step of preparing the device message having the resource locator that provides access to the management interface, the resource locator having an identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a confirmation component in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the confirmation component allowing verification of an access request for the management interface and wherein the step of preparing comprises the step of preparing the device message having the resource locator that provides access to the management interface, the resource locator having the generated confirmation component.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request for the management interface, the access request having the confirmation component;

comparing the received confirmation component with the generated confirmation component; and

providing access to the management interface based upon a correspondence between the received confirmation component and the generated confirmation component.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of receiving comprises the step of receiving, through the activation interface, the activation stimulus as a wireless signal provided by a wireless signal transmitter, the wireless signal having a destination locator associated with a receiver; and

the step of transmitting comprises posting the device message at destination locator of the receiver.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of receiving comprises the step of receiving, through the activation interface, the activation stimulus as a wireless signal provided by a wireless signal transmitter; and

the step of transmitting comprises the step of broadcasting the device message through the network to a receiver in communication with the network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of receiving comprises the step of receiving, through the activation interface, the activation stimulus as a wireless signal provided by a wireless signal transmitter; and

the step of transmitting comprises the step of transmitting the device message as a wireless signal to the wireless signal transmitter.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving comprises the step of receiving, through the activation interface, the activation stimulus as a mechanical actuation of the activation interface.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the confirmation component in response to receiving the activation stimulus comprises generating a random string as the confirmation component in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the confirmation component allowing verification of an access request for the management interface and wherein the step of preparing comprises the step of preparing the device message having the resource locator that provides access to the management interface, the resource locator having the generated confirmation component.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein:

receiving comprises receiving, through the activation interface, the activation stimulus as the wireless signal provided by the wireless signal transmitter, the wireless signal having an IP address associated with the receiver; and

transmitting comprises transmitting the device message to a location associated with the IP address associated with the receiver.

11. A computerized device comprising:

at least one communications interface;

a controller; and

an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller;

wherein the computerized device is configured to;

receive a non-web based activation stimulus from an activation source through an activation interface;

prepare a device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a peripheral device identifier and

(ii) a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

transmit, through the communications interface, the device message to a receiver, the resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device;

wherein;

when preparing the device message the computerized device is configured to prepare the device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and

(ii) a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

when transmitting the device message the computerized device is configured to broadcast the device message as a network broadcast over a local area network (LAN) to the receiver, the uniform resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device.

12. The computerized device of claim 11 wherein the computerized device, when preparing, is configured to prepare the device message having the resource locator that provides access to the management interface, the resource locator having an identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus.

13. The computerized device of claim 11 wherein the computerized device is configured to generate a confirmation component in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the confirmation component allowing verification of an access request for the management interface and wherein, when preparing, the computerized device is further configured to prepare a device message having a resource locator for providing access to the management interface, the resource locator having the confirmation component.

14. The computerized device of claim 11 wherein the computerized device is further configured to:

receive, through the communications interface, an access request for the management interface, the access request having the confirmation component;

compare the received confirmation component with the generated confirmation component; and

provide access to the management interface based upon a correspondence between the received confirmation component and the generated confirmation component.

15. The computerized device of claim 11 wherein the computerized device is configured to:

when receiving, receive the activation stimulus, through the activation interface, as a wireless signal provided by a wireless signal transmitter, the wireless signal having a destination locator associated with a receiver; and

when transmitting, post the device message at destination locator of the receiver.

16. The computerized device of claim 11 wherein the computerized device is configured to:

when receiving, receive the activation stimulus, through the activation interface, as a wireless signal provided by a wireless signal transmitter; and

when transmitting, broadcast the device message through the network to a receiver in communication with the network.

17. The computerized device of claim 11 wherein the computerized device is configured to:

when receiving, receive the activation stimulus, through the activation interface, as a wireless signal provided by a wireless signal transmitter; and

when transmitting, transmit the device message as a wireless signal to the wireless signal transmitter.

18. The computerized device of claim 11 wherein the computerized device is configured to:

when receiving, receive, through the activation interface, the activation stimulus as a mechanical actuation of the activation interface.

19. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a controller in a computerized device having a coupling to at least one communications interface provides a method for performing the operations of:

receiving a non-web based activation stimulus from an activation source through an activation interface;

preparing a device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a peripheral device identifier and

(ii) a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

transmitting, through the communications interface, the device message to a receiver, the resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device;

wherein;

preparing the device message comprises preparing the device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and

(ii) a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

transmitting the device message comprises broadcasting the device message as a network broadcast over a local area network (LAN) to the receiver, the uniform resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device.

20. A computerized device comprising:

at least one communications interface;

a controller; and

an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller;

wherein the computerized device is configured to produce a means for providing access to a management interface associated with the computerized device, such means including;

means for receiving a non-web based activation stimulus from an activation source through an activation interface;

means for preparing a device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a peripheral device identifier and

(ii) a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

means for transmitting, through the communications interface, the device message to a receiver, the resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device;

wherein;

means for preparing the device message comprises means for preparing the device message in response to receiving the activation stimulus, the device message having

(i) a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and

(ii) a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device; and

means for transmitting the device message comprises means for broadcasting the device message as a network broadcast over a local area network (LAN) to the receiver, the uniform resource locator of the device message providing access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device.

21. In an activation source associated with a peripheral device, a method for accessing a management interface associated with the peripheral device, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a non-web based activation stimulus to the peripheral device through an activation interface associated with the peripheral device, the activation stimulus having a transmitted identification component indicating an identity of the activation source;

receiving a device message from the peripheral device, the device message having a peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the resource locator having a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus; and

detecting a correspondence between the transmitted identification component and the received identification component;

wherein receiving the device message from the peripheral device comprises receiving the device message from the peripheral device, the device message having the peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the peripheral device identifier having a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and the resource locator having a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device and a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of receiving further comprises receiving the device message generated by the peripheral device, the device message having a confirmation component, generated by the peripheral device, allowing user access to the management interface and further comprising the steps of:

transmitting, to the peripheral device, an access request for the management interface, the access request having the received confirmation component; and

receiving access to the management interface based upon a correspondence between the confirmation component transmitted by the activation source and the confirmation component generated by the peripheral device.

23. A computerized device comprising:

at least one communications interface;

a controller; and

an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller;

wherein the computerized device is configured to;

transmit a non-web based activation stimulus to the peripheral device through an activation interface associated with the peripheral device, the activation stimulus having a transmitted identification component indicating an identity of the activation source;

receive, through the communications interface, a device message from the peripheral device, the device message having a peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the resource locator having a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus; and

detect a correspondence between the transmitted identification component and the received identification component;

wherein when receiving the device message from the peripheral device the computerized device is configured to receive the device message from the peripheral device, the device message having the peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the peripheral device identifier having a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and the resource locator having a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device and a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus.

24. The computerized device of claim 23 wherein the computerized device, when receiving, is further configured to receive a device message generated by the peripheral device, the device message having a confirmation component, generated by the peripheral device, allowing user access to the management interface and wherein the computerized device is further configured to:

transmit, to the peripheral device through the communications interface, an access request for the management interface, the access request having the received confirmation component; and

receive access to the management interface based upon a correspondence between the confirmation component transmitted by the activation source and the confirmation component generated by the peripheral device.

25. A computer program product having a computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed on a controller in a computerized device having a coupling to at least one communications interface provides a method for performing the operations of:

transmit a non-web based activation stimulus to the peripheral device through an activation interface associated with the peripheral device, the activation stimulus having a transmitted identification component indicating an identity of the activation source;

receive, through the communications interface, a device message from the peripheral device, the device message having a peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the resource locator having a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus; and

detect a correspondence between the transmitted identification component and the received identification component;

when receiving the device message from the peripheral device, receive the device message from the peripheral device, the device message having the peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the peripheral device identifier having a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and the resource locator having a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device and a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus.

26. A computerized device comprising:

at least one communications interface;

a controller; and

an interconnection mechanism coupling the at least one communications interface and the controller;

wherein the computerized device is configured to produce a means for accessing a management interface associated with the peripheral device, such means including;

means for transmitting a non-web based activation stimulus to the peripheral device through an activation interface associated with the peripheral device, the activation stimulus having a transmitted identification component indicating an identity of the activation source;

means for receiving, through the communications interface, a device message from the peripheral device, the device message having a peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the resource locator having a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus; and

means for detecting a correspondence between the transmitted identification component and the received identification component;

wherein means for receiving the device message from the peripheral device comprises means for receiving the device message from the peripheral device, the device message having the peripheral device identifier indicating the identity of the peripheral device and a resource locator that provides access to the management interface associated with the peripheral device, the peripheral device identifier having a model name and media access control (MAC) address of the peripheral device, and the resource locator having a uniform resource locator (URL) that provides an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the management interface associated with the peripheral device and a received identification component indicating the identity of the activation source for the activation stimulus.