Controlling devices on a network through policies

Details Controlling devices on a network through policies Controlling devices on a network through policies

1998-07-17

2001-01-02

Coulter, Kenneth R. (Department: 2758)

Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput

Computer network managing

C709S241000

Utility Patent

active

06170009

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to controlling devices across a computer network. More specifically, the present invention relates to providing an infrastructure that allows a user to specify a policy to govern the operation of devices coupled to a computer network.
2. Related Art
In addition to facilitating communications between computer systems, computer networks are increasingly being used to facilitate communications between computer systems and electrical or mechanical devices such as network routers, printers, facsimile machines, PBX systems, photocopiers and audio/visual equipment. For example, computer networks make it possible for computer systems to control and coordinate the actions of switching equipment in a PBX system, or to remotely control the operation of a routers in a computer network.
However, the mechanisms being used to control such devices are presently very unsophisticated, which creates a number of problems for a system operator desiring to control a group of devices. First, devices are typically controlled by sending low-level device-specific commands to the devices. Thus, in order to control such devices a system operator must learn these low-level device-specific commands. Second, devices are typically controlled individually. Hence, in order to control a group of devices, a system operator must explicitly send commands to individual devices in the group. This can be a time-consuming process. Third, different devices are typically controlled through different management interfaces. Hence, a system operator must use a number of different management interfaces to operate a group of devices. Finally, present systems do not provide automated mechanisms to control and monitor the actions of devices. Consequently, a system operator must manually monitor and control the devices in order to accomplish a task requiring periodic monitoring and control.
What is needed is a system that provides high-level control over a group of devices coupled to a computer network.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides a system that facilitates high-level control over a group of devices coupled to a computer network. This system allows an operator to specify a high-level policy for controlling a group of devices. This high-level policy is automatically translated into lower-level device-specific commands, which are sent to the devices across the computer network. The system additionally provides a mechanism for continuous monitoring and control of the devices. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides a system for controlling devices on a network. This system operates by receiving a request to define a policy for controlling the devices. In response to the request, the system creates a policy object specifying actions of the devices to implement the policy, and stores the policy object in a memory. Next, the system associates the policy object with devices from the network, and controls these associated devices automatically according to actions specified in the policy object. In one embodiment of the present invention, during creation of the policy object, the system translates the policy into device-specific commands for controlling the devices on the network, and associates the device-specific commands with the policy object.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5765153 (1998-06-01), Benantar et al.
patent: 5797128 (1998-08-01), Birnbaum
patent: 5872928 (1999-01-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5889953 (1999-03-01), Thebaut et al.
patent: 6014700 (2000-01-01), Bainbridge et al.

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