Triggered announcement from a gateway

• US 7,983,180 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrington, Kendra S., Huotari, Allen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryman; Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DECKER, CASSANDRA L
• Application Number:
  US11/129,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,258 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0846 using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords

Abstract

An advantageous system, apparatus, and method for remotely managing or maintaining a Gateway, such as a residential router, are provided. In one example, the Gateway generates and sends an announcement to a service or equipment provider informing the provider of the Gateway'"'"'s current IP address (or resolvable name) and a valid password to access the Gateway. Thus, in one example, a service/equipment provider without inherent knowledge of a Gateway IP address may remotely manage or troubleshoot a Gateway using a basic Web browser.

Claims

1. A gateway, comprising:

a processor configured to provide an announcement when initiated by an announcement trigger from a customized list of announcement triggers selected and combined by a gateway user from a list of potential announcement triggers in a setup wizard,

wherein the announcement trigger includes a combination of multiple triggers configured to function as a more complex trigger,

wherein the announcement includes an IP address and a password, and

wherein the list of potential announcement triggers includes a user-initiated announcement trigger, a gateway-initiated announcement trigger, and a provider-initiated announcement trigger; and

a transmitter for transmitting the announcement directly to a provider which does not have prior knowledge of the IP address in the announcement.

2. The gateway of claim 1, wherein the announcement includes a dynamic IP address of the gateway and a temporary password for accessing the gateway.

3. The gateway of claim 1, wherein the announcement trigger is based on a time schedule.

4. The gateway of claim 1, wherein the announcement trigger is provided by selecting a button on a gateway graphical user interface, selecting an option in the setup wizard, or power cycling the gateway.

5. A gateway, comprising:

means for detecting an announcement trigger from a customized list of announcement triggers selected and combined by a gateway user from a list of potential announcement triggers in a setup wizard,

wherein the announcement trigger includes a combination of multiple triggers configured to function as a more complex trigger,

wherein the list of potential announcement triggers includes a user-initiated announcement trigger, a gateway-initiated announcement trigger, and a provider-initiated announcement trigger;

means for providing an announcement when triggered, the announcement including an IP address and a password; and

means for transmitting the announcement directly to a provider which does not have prior knowledge of the IP address in the announcement.

6. A method for managing a gateway, the method comprising:

selecting and combining announcement triggers from a list of potential announcement triggers, in a setup wizard, to compile a customized list of announcement triggers, the list of potential announcement triggers including a user-initiated announcement trigger, a gateway-initiated announcement trigger, and a provider-initiated announcement trigger;

triggering the gateway by an announcement trigger from the customized list of announcement triggers, wherein the announcement trigger includes a combination of multiple triggers configured to function as a more complex trigger;

providing an announcement including an IP address and a password; and

transmitting the announcement to a provider'"'"'s processor which does not have prior knowledge of the IP address in the announcement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the announcement includes a dynamic IP address of the gateway and a temporary password for accessing the gateway.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising triggering the gateway based on a time schedule.

9. A method for managing a gateway, the method comprising:

receiving an announcement including an IP address and a password at a provider'"'"'s processor which does not have prior knowledge of the IP address in the announcement, the announcement triggered by an announcement trigger from a customized list of announcement triggers selected and combined by a gateway user from a list of potential announcement triggers in a setup wizard,

wherein the announcement trigger includes a combination of multiple triggers configured to function as a more complex trigger,

wherein the list of potential announcement triggers includes a user-initiated announcement trigger, a gateway-initiated announcement trigger, and a provider-initiated announcement trigger;

managing the announcement; and

accessing the gateway with the IP address and the password.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the announcement includes a dynamic IP address of the gateway and a temporary password for accessing the gateway.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing an announcement trigger to the gateway.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the announcement trigger is based on a time schedule.