Providing configuration information to an endpoint

• US 7,627,656 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Qin, Chang, Tom WeiLiang, Anand, Adibettahalli, Siqueira, Marcio G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David R
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLUDE AFOLABI, OLATOYOSI
• Application Number:
  US11/129,818
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 705/5, 705/6, 705/1, 705/28, 705/26, 705/27, 709/204, 709206-207, 709217-220, 718/103, 718/107, 718/758, 725/40, 725/39, 725/37, 725/32, 725/22, 370/229, 370/230
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]

Abstract

Providing configuration information to an endpoint includes receiving at a file server a configuration information request from the endpoint. The configuration information request requests configuration information for the endpoint. The file server establishes whether the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information. If the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information, the endpoint is instructed to register to receive the configuration information. A notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information is received. The configuration information is provided to the endpoint when the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information.

Claims

1. A method for providing configuration information to an endpoint, comprising:

receiving at a file server a configuration information request from an endpoint, the configuration information request requesting configuration information for the endpoint;

establishing whether the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

if the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

instructing the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information; and

receiving a notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

providing the configuration information to the endpoint when the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

receiving at the file server a second configuration information request from the endpoint, the second configuration information request having a version identifier;

establishing whether the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is a current version used at the file server; and

if the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is not the current version, providing, by the file server, an update to the endpoint that comprises one or more differences between the version of the configuration information identified by the version identifier and the current version of the configuration information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information further comprises:

sending the endpoint a message indicating that the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

receiving a request for registration information from the endpoint, the registration information referring to information for registering the endpoint; and

providing the registration information to the endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information further comprises:

receiving the notification, the notification sent in response to registration of the endpoint.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the update further comprises providing:

the current version of the configuration information.

5. A system for providing configuration information to an endpoint, comprising:

an interface operable to receive a configuration information request from an endpoint, the configuration information request requesting configuration information for the endpoint; and

a processor coupled to the interface and operable to execute one or more applications to;

establish whether the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

if the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

instruct the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information; and

receive a notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information; and

provide the configuration information to the endpoint when the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

receive at the file server a second configuration information request from the endpoint, the second configuration information request having a version identifier;

establish whether the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is a current version used at the file server; and

if the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is not the current version, provide, by the file server, an update to the endpoint that comprises one or more differences between the version of the configuration information identified by the version identifier and the current version of the configuration information.

6. The system of claim 5, the processor operable to instruct the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information by:

sending the endpoint a message indicating that the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

receiving a request for registration information from the endpoint, the registration information referring to information for registering the endpoint; and

providing the registration information to the endpoint.

7. The system of claim 5, the processor operable to receive the notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information by:

receiving the notification, the notification sent in response to registration of the endpoint.

8. The system of claim 5, the processor operable to provide the update by providing:

the current version of the configuration information.

9. Logic for providing configuration information to an endpoint, the logic embodied in a medium and operable to:

receive at a file server a configuration information request from an endpoint, the configuration information request requesting configuration information for the endpoint;

establish whether the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

if the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

instruct the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information; and

receive a notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information; and

provide the configuration information to the endpoint when the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

receive at the file server a second configuration information request from the endpoint, the second configuration information request having a version identifier;

establish whether the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is a current version used at the file server; and

if the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is not the current version, provide, by the file server, an update to the endpoint that comprises one or more differences between the version of the configuration information identified by the version identifier and the current version of the configuration information.

10. The logic of claim 9, operable to instruct the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information by:

sending the endpoint a message indicating that the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

receiving a request for registration information from the endpoint, the registration information referring to information for registering the endpoint; and

providing the registration information to the endpoint.

11. The logic of claim 9, operable to receive the notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information by:

receiving the notification, the notification sent in response to registration of the endpoint.

12. The logic of claim 9, operable to provide the update by providing:

the current version of the configuration information.

13. A system for providing configuration information to an endpoint, comprising:

means for receiving at a file server a configuration information request from an endpoint, the configuration information request requesting configuration information for the endpoint;

means for establishing whether the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

means for performing the following if the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

instructing the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information; and

receiving a notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information; and

means for providing the configuration information to the endpoint when the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

means for receiving at the file server a second configuration information request from the endpoint, the second configuration information request having a version identifier;

means for establishing whether the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is a current version used at the file server; and

if the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is not the current version, means for providing, by the file server, an update to the endpoint that comprises one or more differences between the version of the configuration information identified by the version identifier and the current version of the configuration information.

14. A method for providing configuration information to an endpoint, comprising:

receiving at a file server a configuration information request from an endpoint, the configuration information request requesting configuration information for the endpoint;

establishing whether the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

if the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

instructing the endpoint to register to receive the configuration information by;

sending the endpoint a message indicating that the endpoint is not authorized to receive the configuration information;

receiving a request for registration information from the endpoint, the registration information referring to information for registering the endpoint; and

providing the registration information to the endpoint; and

receiving a notification that the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information, the notification sent in response to registration of the endpoint;

providing the configuration information to the endpoint when the endpoint is authorized to receive the configuration information;

receiving at the file server a second configuration information request from the endpoint, the second configuration information request having a version identifier;

establishing whether the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is a current version used at the file server; and

if the version identifier indicates that the configuration information is not the current version, providing, by the file server, an update to the endpoint that comprises;

the current version of the configuration information; and

one or more differences between the version of the configuration information identified by the version identifier and the current version of the configuration information.