US6345294B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for remote configuration of an appliance on a network
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
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Filing: 1999-04-19
•
Granted: 2002-02-05
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Expires: 2019-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A network appliance is capable of remote booting and obtaining its configuration information from a source located far away. The network appliance can be shipped to a business location or office environment without requiring a local boot server in that location or environment and without requiring the presence of a person who is familiar with and highly skilled in configuring the appliance. The invention allows for booting and the obtaining of configuration information, and therefore allows for the functioning of the appliance, regardless of whether there is a local server in the local network environment, such as a DHCP server or a boot server, that has been set up and configured to provide to the appliance the booting and configuration information it requires. Self-organizing distributed appliances (SODAs) according to the invention augment the Internet by providing a self-organizing network that efficiently distributes big data items, i.e., data items that cannot be downloaded timely (on demand) over today's networks. One application of self-organizing distributed appliances is the distribution of high-quality video (a half-hour MPEG-1 movies is about one Gbyte). The SODA network alleviates network bottlenecks.
Inventors
- 👤 James O'Toole
- 👤 M. Frans Kaashoek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/0806; G06K13/0825; H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/50; H04L61/5007; H04L61/5014; H04L61/5046; H04L61/5092; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/02; H04L67/025; H04L67/10; H04L67/34; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L2101/00; H04L2101/60; H04L2101/604; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 68
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An system for booting an appliance, comprising: appliance; and a local network of computers; the appliance being programmed to transmit a message over the local network to obtain a source of booting parameters; and if the appliance receives the message containing booting parameters, to test the parameters by attempting to send and receive network messages over the local network; and if the appliance fails to receive a message containing acceptable parameters, to observe the local network passively, to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use on the network, and to test the candidate parameters by sending and receiving packets in the local network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
An system for booting an appliance, comprising: appliance; and a local network of computers; the appliance being programmed to transmit a message over the local network to obtain a source of booting parameters; and if the appliance receives the message containing booting parameters, to test the parameters by attempting to send and receive network messages over the local network; and if the appliance fails to receive a message containing acceptable parameters, to observe the local network passively, to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use on the network, and to test the candidate parameters by sending and receiving packets in the local network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the candidate parameters comprise identification of a proxy server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the step of observing the local network passively comprises identifying the proxy server by observing whether messages are sent to certain TCP ports on the proxy server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the step of observing the local network passively comprises identifying the proxy server by observing whether messages are sent to the proxy server that include requests formatted according to an HTTP protocol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising an appliance registry, wherein the appliance is programmed to transmit, after the step of testing the candidate parameters, a boot status message to the appliance registry while the appliance registry is located outside the local network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the appliance is programmed to select a temporary address for the appliance and to use the temporary address to transmit the boot status message to the appliance registry, if the appliance fails to receive a message containing booting parameters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to send an actual address of the appliance from the appliance registry to the appliance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the candidate parameters comprise an address of at least one router.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the step of observing the local network passively comprises identifying the router in the local network by observing messages transmitted to the router that are actually addressed to other computers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the candidate parameters comprise identification of at least one name server.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the step of observing the local network passively comprises identifying the name server in the local network by observing whether messages are sent to the name server that appear to be domain name request messages.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance is programmed to transmit the message to obtain the source of booting parameters by transmitting a bootp, DHCP, or rarp request.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the booting parameters comprise an IP address of the appliance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the booting parameters comprises a subnet mask of the appliance.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the booting parameters comprise an IP addresses of at least one router.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the booting parameters comprises identification of at least one name server.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the appliance is preprogrammed with a unique identification that distinguishes the appliance from other appliances.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for obtaining configuration information for an appliance, comprising: an appliance having a unique global identifier; and an appliance registry; the appliance being programmed to transmit a boot status message from the appliance using its global identifier, in a local network, to an appliance registry located outside of the local network; the appliance registry being programmed to store boot status information from the boot status message in a database at the appliance registry, the boot status information including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; and the appliance registry being programmed to transmit configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance based on the global identifier of the appliance.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
115 words
A system for obtaining configuration information for an appliance, comprising: an appliance having a unique global identifier; and an appliance registry; the appliance being programmed to transmit a boot status message from the appliance using its global identifier, in a local network, to an appliance registry located outside of the local network; the appliance registry being programmed to store boot status information from the boot status message in a database at the appliance registry, the boot status information including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; and the appliance registry being programmed to transmit configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance based on the global identifier of the appliance.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the boot status information comprises identity of the appliance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to allow an authorized entity to access the database to learn the status of the appliance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 18 further comprising a Web browser programmed to access a troubleshooting Web page provided by the appliance registry in order to determine the status of the appliance, the troubleshooting Web page being configured to access the database to learn the status of the appliance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the appliance is programmed to observe the local network to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use, the appliance using the candidate parameters for communicating with the appliance registry to transmit the boot status message.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for obtaining configuration information for an appliance, comprising: an appliance; and an appliance registry; the appliance being programmed to transmit a boot status message from the appliance in a local network to an appliance registry located outside of the local network using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols; and the appliance registry being programmed to transmit configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
74 words
A system for obtaining configuration information for an appliance, comprising: an appliance; and an appliance registry; the appliance being programmed to transmit a boot status message from the appliance in a local network to an appliance registry located outside of the local network using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols; and the appliance registry being programmed to transmit configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the appliance is programmed to transmit a message from the appliance to the appliance registry indicating that the appliance has received the configuration information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to broadcast the configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance if the appliance failed to receive the configuration information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 25 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to broadcast the configuration information by sending the configuration information to the appliance through a multi-cast channel of the local network of the appliance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of protocols comprises sending an IP packet directly from the appliance to the appliance registry.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of protocols comprises encoding the boot status message into a universal resource locator and sending an HTTP request comprising the universal resource locator from the appliance to the appliance registry.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of protocols comprises encoding the boot status message as an imaginary host name and sending a DNS message from the appliance to the appliance registry as a request to obtain information pertaining to the imaginary host name.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of protocols comprises sending the boot status message from the appliance to the appliance registry as an e-mail message.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the appliance uses a plurality of redundant communications protocols by being programmed to observe the local network to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use and using the candidate parameters for communicating with the appliance registry.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
69 words
A system for configuring an appliance, comprising: an appliance; and a Web browser at a computer; the appliance being programmed to display information at the appliance; the Web browser being programmed to receive the information displayed by the appliance; to receive configuration data; and to transmit the configuration data from the Web browser to the appliance when the Web browser and the appliance are on a common local network.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
69 words
A system for configuring an appliance, comprising: an appliance; and a Web browser at a computer; the appliance being programmed to display information at the appliance; the Web browser being programmed to receive the information displayed by the appliance; to receive configuration data; and to transmit the configuration data from the Web browser to the appliance when the Web browser and the appliance are on a common local network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the information entered at the Web browser enables the web browser to communicate with the appliance.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the information comprises the IP address of the appliance.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the information further comprises a serial number of the appliance.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the information is encoded in order to allow an appliance registry to recognize typographical errors.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 32 wherein an appliance registry is programmed to receive the information from the Web browser and in response to send the configuration data for the appliance to the Web browser.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the display comprises an LCD panel.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for obtaining configuration information for an appliance, comprising: an appliance; an appliance registry; and a registry database; the appliance registry being programmed to store ownership information for the appliance in the registry database the appliance being programmed to transmit a boot status message from the appliance to the appliance registry while the appliance registry is located outside of a local network of the appliance, the boot status message including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; the appliance registry being programmed to transmit configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance in response to the boot status message.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for obtaining configuration information for an appliance, comprising: an appliance; an appliance registry; and a registry database; the appliance registry being programmed to store ownership information for the appliance in the registry database the appliance being programmed to transmit a boot status message from the appliance to the appliance registry while the appliance registry is located outside of a local network of the appliance, the boot status message including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; the appliance registry being programmed to transmit configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance in response to the boot status message.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to permit, based on the stored ownership information, the owner to change configuration information for the appliance stored at the registry database.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 40 wherein the change in the configuration information instructs the appliance to cease performing a function.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 40 wherein the change in the configuration information identifies the appliance as being disabled.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to permit, based on the stored ownership information, the owner to supply configuration information to the registry database.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 43 wherein the configuration information controls licensing of the appliance to permit or prohibit the appliance from carrying out at least one function, so as to provide secure commercial licensing of the appliance.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to transmit ownership information from the appliance registry to the appliance.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the appliance registry is programmed to permit, based on the stored ownership information, the owner to examine the status of the appliance based on the owner's ownership of the appliance.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the ownership information comprises an electronic license.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 39 wherein the appliance is programmed to observe the local network to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use, the appliance using the candidate parameters for communicating with the appliance registry to transmit the boot status message.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of obtaining configuration information for an appliance located in a local network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a boot status message from the appliance to an appliance registry located outside of the local network using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols; and transmitting configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of obtaining configuration information for an appliance located in a local network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a boot status message from the appliance to an appliance registry located outside of the local network using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols; and transmitting configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance using a plurality of redundant transmission protocols.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 49 further comprising the steps of: observing the local network to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use; and using the candidate parameters for communicating with the appliance registry for transmission of the boot status message.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of obtaining configuration information for an appliance located in a local network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a boot status message from the appliance to an appliance registry located outside of the local network, the boot status message including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; storing the boot status information from the boot status message in a database at the appliance registry; and transmitting configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of obtaining configuration information for an appliance located in a local network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a boot status message from the appliance to an appliance registry located outside of the local network, the boot status message including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; storing the boot status information from the boot status message in a database at the appliance registry; and transmitting configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 51 further comprising the steps of: observing the local network to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use; and using the candidate parameters for communicating with the appliance registry for transmission of the boot status message.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of obtaining configuration information for an appliance located in a local network, comprising the steps of: storing ownership information for the appliance at a registry database of an appliance registry located outside of the local network; transmitting a boot status message from the appliance to the appliance registry, the boot status message including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; transmitting configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance in response to the boot status message.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of obtaining configuration information for an appliance located in a local network, comprising the steps of: storing ownership information for the appliance at a registry database of an appliance registry located outside of the local network; transmitting a boot status message from the appliance to the appliance registry, the boot status message including information pertaining to the local network as observed by the appliance; transmitting configuration information from the appliance registry to the appliance in response to the boot status message.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 53 further comprising the steps of: observing the local network to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use; and using the candidate parameters for communicating with the appliance registry for transmission of the boot status message.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of booting an appliance in a local network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a message over the local network to obtain a source of booting parameters; attempting to receive, in response to the message transmitted by the appliance, a message that contains booting parameters for the appliance; if the appliance receives the message containing booting parameters, testing the parameters by attempting to send and receive network messages over the local network; and if the appliance fails to receive a message containing acceptable parameters, observing the local network passively, developing candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use on the network, and testing the candidate parameters by sending and receiving packets in the local network.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of booting an appliance in a local network, comprising the steps of: transmitting a message over the local network to obtain a source of booting parameters; attempting to receive, in response to the message transmitted by the appliance, a message that contains booting parameters for the appliance; if the appliance receives the message containing booting parameters, testing the parameters by attempting to send and receive network messages over the local network; and if the appliance fails to receive a message containing acceptable parameters, observing the local network passively, developing candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use on the network, and testing the candidate parameters by sending and receiving packets in the local network.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of configuring an appliance in a local network, comprising the steps of: displaying information at the appliance; entering the information at a Web browser at a computer on the local network; receiving configuration data at the Web browser; and transmitting the configuration data from the Web browser to the appliance.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
52 words
A method of configuring an appliance in a local network, comprising the steps of: displaying information at the appliance; entering the information at a Web browser at a computer on the local network; receiving configuration data at the Web browser; and transmitting the configuration data from the Web browser to the appliance.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
98 words
An appliance programmed to transmit a message over a local area network to obtain a source of booting parameters, and being programmed to determine if the appliance receives a message containing booting parameters, to test the parameters by attempting to send and receive network message over the local network; and if the appliance fails to receive a message containing acceptable parameters, to observe the local network passively, to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use on the network, and to test the candidate parameters by sending and receive packets in the local network.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
98 words
An appliance programmed to transmit a message over a local area network to obtain a source of booting parameters, and being programmed to determine if the appliance receives a message containing booting parameters, to test the parameters by attempting to send and receive network message over the local network; and if the appliance fails to receive a message containing acceptable parameters, to observe the local network passively, to develop candidate parameters based on network traffic and network addresses in use on the network, and to test the candidate parameters by sending and receive packets in the local network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-04 | 2005-08-06 | 2006-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-04 | 2009-08-06 | 2010-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-04 | 2013-08-06 | 2014-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |