System and method of configuring a network device

• US 8,028,046 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mote, Scott, Thomas, Blaine, Elliott, Shane Michael, Robertson, Ty, Winburn, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOO, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US11/880,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20090031008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4517 using open systems interconnection [OSI] directories, e.g. X.500
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

In a particular illustrative embodiment, a method of configuring a network device is disclosed that includes determining network device information at a network device using a boot strapping protocol during an initial set-up process of the network device. The method further includes automatically modifying a configuration profile of the network device to connect to a network in a first device mode using the network device information. The method also includes receiving configuration information transmitted from a configuration server without requesting the configuration information. The configuration information includes routing information and configuration parameters particular to the network device. The method further includes automatically modifying the configuration profile of the network device to operate in a second device mode based on the configuration information. The first device mode is a non-operational mode and the second device mode is an operational mode.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a network device, the method comprising:

determining, using the network device, network device information using a boot strapping protocol during an initial set-up process of the network device;

automatically modifying a configuration profile of the network device using the network device to enable the network device to connect to a network in a first device mode using the network device information, wherein the first device mode comprises a non-operational mode;

receiving, at the network device, configuration information for the network device transmitted from a configuration server without the network device requesting the configuration information, wherein the configuration information is transmitted from the configuration server based on a list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses that includes an IP address for the network device, the configuration information including routing information and configuration parameters particular to the network device; and

automatically modifying the configuration profile of the network device using the network device to enable the network device to change from the first device mode to a second device mode based on the configuration information, wherein the second device mode comprises an operational mode;

wherein the configuration server verifies installation of the configuration profile at the network device;

wherein the configuration server compares a result from verification of installation of the network device to a threshold;

wherein the configuration server generates an alert when the result is below the threshold; and

wherein the configuration server saves installation information for the network device in a memory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device routes media content within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) access network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a message related to modifying the configuration profile to the configuration server, wherein the message indicates a status of the modification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device information further comprises a device name.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising ignoring media content packets received via the network when operating in the first device mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing media content packets received via the network when operating in the second device mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is transmitted from the configuration server based on a schedule.

8. A system to configure network devices, the system comprising:

a network interface coupled to a network;

processing logic coupled to the network interface, the processing logic adapted to;

determine one or more network devices to be configured;

dynamically assemble a configuration profile for each network device of the one or more network devices;

transmit the configuration profile for a particular network device to the particular network device via the network based on a list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for the one or more network devices without receiving a request for the configuration profile from the particular network device, wherein the particular network device uses the configuration profile to change from a non-operational mode to an operational mode;

verify installation of the configuration profile at each respective network device based on data received from each respective network device via the network;

compare results from verified installations at each respective network device to a threshold; and

generate an alert when at least one of the results falls below the threshold; and

a memory to store installation information for each network device.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a graphical user interface module to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) including information related to network devices associated with the network and including information related to scheduled network device installation.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the GUI further comprises information indicating forecast data indicating expected completion of network device installation and configuration.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing logic is adapted to provide a network management tool to manage workflow for installation of the one or more network devices.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a reporting module to calculate metrics related to the one or more network devices and to provide the calculated metrics to a graphical user interface generator.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the configuration profile is transmitted to each respective network device based on a schedule.

14. A method of configuring network devices, the method comprising:

dynamically assembling a configuration profile for each network device of one or more network devices to be configured;

transmitting the configuration profile for a particular network device to the particular network device via a network based on a list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for the one or more network devices without receiving a request for the configuration profile from the particular network device, wherein the particular network device uses the configuration profile to change from a non-operational mode to an operational mode;

verifying installation of the configuration profile at the particular network device based on data received from the particular network device via the network;

compare a result from verification of the installation of the configuration profile at the particular network device to a threshold;

generate an alert when the results falls below the threshold; and

store installation information pertaining to the particular network device in a memory.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the one or more network devices to be configured.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the one or more network devices comprises:

dynamically assigning an IP address to each of the one or more network devices; and

assembling a list of IP addresses for the one or more network devices, wherein the list represents the one or more network devices to be configured.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the one or more network devices comprises receiving a list of IP addresses from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, wherein the list of IP addresses represent the one or more network devices to be configured.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining network configuration information related to a network domain associated with each of the one or more network devices; and

determining unique device configuration information associated with each network device of the one or more network devices;

wherein dynamically assembling the configuration profile for each network device comprises generating the configuration profile for each network device of the one or more network devices based on the network configuration information and the unique device configuration information.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving data related to a schedule input from a scheduling system, wherein the data identifies a date and time to initiate operation of at least one of the one or more network devices; and

storing the data in the memory;

wherein the data comprises a target date for configuring the at least one of the one or more network devices to route media content.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein transmitting the configuration profile comprises pushing the configuration profile to the particular network device based on an IP address associated with the particular network device.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the configuration profile is transmitted to each respective network device based on a schedule.

22. A non-transitory processor readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions executable by a processor to configure a network device, the plurality of instructions comprising instructions to:

determine one or more network devices to be configured;

dynamically generate a configuration profile for each network device of the one or more network devices; and

transmit the configuration profile for a particular network device to the particular network device via the network based on a list of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the one or more network devices without receiving a request for the configuration profile from the particular network device, wherein the particular network device uses the configuration profile to change from a non-operational mode to an operational mode;

verify installation of the configuration profile for the particular network device based on data received from the particular network device via the network;

compare a result for installation of the configuration profile for the particular network device to a threshold; and

generate an alert when the results falls below the threshold; and

store installation information for the particular network device in a memory.

23. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) including information related to a schedule.

24. The non-transitory processor readable medium of claim 22, further comprising instructions executable by the processor to generate a graphical user interface including information related to the one or more network devices, other network elements, and network element circuits, wherein the information includes data related to installation problems.