CA2470704C - Network configuration management - Google Patents
Network configuration management Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2470704C CA2470704C CA002470704A CA2470704A CA2470704C CA 2470704 C CA2470704 C CA 2470704C CA 002470704 A CA002470704 A CA 002470704A CA 2470704 A CA2470704 A CA 2470704A CA 2470704 C CA2470704 C CA 2470704C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- service
- network
- configuration
- vendor
- configuration settings
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000010200 validation analysis Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000011330 nucleic acid test Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012795 verification Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/02—Standardisation; Integration
- H04L41/022—Multivendor or multi-standard integration
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/50—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
- H04L41/5041—Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements characterised by the time relationship between creation and deployment of a service
- H04L41/5054—Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/34—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications involving the movement of software or configuration parameters
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
- H04L12/2807—Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network
- H04L12/2809—Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L12/00—Data switching networks
- H04L12/28—Data switching networks characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks]
- H04L12/2803—Home automation networks
- H04L12/2807—Exchanging configuration information on appliance services in a home automation network
- H04L12/2814—Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L41/00—Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
- H04L41/08—Configuration management of networks or network elements
- H04L41/0866—Checking the configuration
- H04L41/0873—Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- H04L69/22—Parsing or analysis of headers
Abstract
Customer premise network configuration to enable a new service within the network is provided by a network configuration manager (200 Figure 2). The network configuration manager is either manually or automatically invoked upon a new service being used in the network. The configuration manager obtains a service template (220) for the service, which template provides generic end-to-end requirements for enabling the service. A configuration generator generates vendor-neutral device-configuration settings from the service template. A
service configuration validator module then validates the service (212).
Finally, an adaptor (214) module translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings to vendor specific configuration settings corresponding to the devices in the network and configures the devices.
service configuration validator module then validates the service (212).
Finally, an adaptor (214) module translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings to vendor specific configuration settings corresponding to the devices in the network and configures the devices.
Description
NETWORK CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
BACKGROUND OF OUR INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
s Our invention relates generally to network configuration management. More particularly, our invention relates to end-to-end configuration management and configuration validation of customer premise networks to correctly enable new services being executed within these networks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND
Users are continuously executing from within their customer premise networks (e.g., small office/home office networks, small enterprise networks, home networks, etc.) new types of applications and services (hereinafter collectively referred to as services) including: web server hosting, multi-player is gaming, MP3 file sharing, video and voice conferencing, and IP-based services like telnet, FTP, and ssh. Coincident with these services, users are also employing new technologies in theirs networks such as broadband gateways/routers (hereinafter broadly referred to as gateways). As shown in Figure 1, a gateway 104 resides between a broadband access termination device 102 (e.g., cable 2o modem, DSL modem, satellite), which provides access to a service provider network 120, and user devices including a PC 106, a web terminal 110, an Internet radio 108, a laptop 112, etc. Gateways provide differing functions including firewall protection, network address translation (NAT), router functionality, VPN functionality, and quality of service assurance. The customer Zs premise network 100, as seen in Figure 1, may be connected, through an access router, to a private network, such as service provider network 120, and to a public network, such as the Internet 122.
Of concern here is the configuration management of these customer premise networks 100 when a user starts using new services like those described 3o above. Often, before these services can correctly function, the user must correctly configure the user devices 106-112 and gateway 104. For example, the user devices may require configuration of the IP-layer (and above) functionality.
Of greater concern is configuring gateway functionality. For example, NATs and firewalls break the traditional end-to-end model of IP networks and therefore make it impossible for the IP-based peer-to-peer and sever-based types of services described above to correctly operate (note that these services require external devices to access the home network) without first correctly configuring this functionality. Specifically, NATs and firewalls restrict access to external devices unless the correct entries are first made in the NAT's port forwarding table and the correct "holes" are first made in the firewall.
As such, a home user must correctly configure the user devices and gateway before these new service types will correctly execute. Unfortunately, the io configuration of gateways and user devices is a nontrivial task that the average user is not equipped to perform. Failure to correctly configure these devices when invoking new services cannot only be difficult to debug, it might also create security holes to which the user is unaware.
Prior solutions address customer premise network configuration is management but present several problems. First, prior solutions are associated with and only address a particular device (like a gateway 104 or PC 106) within the network 100. As such, these solutions fail to take an end-to-end view of the network and therefore, can fail to completely enable a new service and can create conflictinglincompatible configurations. A second problem is that some services 2o require configuration of devices and servers external to the customer premise network 100, which configurations cannot be performed by the prior solutions because they only operate from within the network. A third problem is that prior solutions fail to ensure that configuring the network for one service does not disable another service. Lastly, these solutions are vendor specific and cannot 2s address any device.
SUMMARY OF OUR INVENTION
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus to perform end-to-end network configuration management of a customer premise network, 3o thereby overcoming the above and other disadvantages of the prior art. In accordance with a first embodiment of our invention, a network configuration manager performs end-to-end configuration management and configuration
BACKGROUND OF OUR INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
s Our invention relates generally to network configuration management. More particularly, our invention relates to end-to-end configuration management and configuration validation of customer premise networks to correctly enable new services being executed within these networks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND
Users are continuously executing from within their customer premise networks (e.g., small office/home office networks, small enterprise networks, home networks, etc.) new types of applications and services (hereinafter collectively referred to as services) including: web server hosting, multi-player is gaming, MP3 file sharing, video and voice conferencing, and IP-based services like telnet, FTP, and ssh. Coincident with these services, users are also employing new technologies in theirs networks such as broadband gateways/routers (hereinafter broadly referred to as gateways). As shown in Figure 1, a gateway 104 resides between a broadband access termination device 102 (e.g., cable 2o modem, DSL modem, satellite), which provides access to a service provider network 120, and user devices including a PC 106, a web terminal 110, an Internet radio 108, a laptop 112, etc. Gateways provide differing functions including firewall protection, network address translation (NAT), router functionality, VPN functionality, and quality of service assurance. The customer Zs premise network 100, as seen in Figure 1, may be connected, through an access router, to a private network, such as service provider network 120, and to a public network, such as the Internet 122.
Of concern here is the configuration management of these customer premise networks 100 when a user starts using new services like those described 3o above. Often, before these services can correctly function, the user must correctly configure the user devices 106-112 and gateway 104. For example, the user devices may require configuration of the IP-layer (and above) functionality.
Of greater concern is configuring gateway functionality. For example, NATs and firewalls break the traditional end-to-end model of IP networks and therefore make it impossible for the IP-based peer-to-peer and sever-based types of services described above to correctly operate (note that these services require external devices to access the home network) without first correctly configuring this functionality. Specifically, NATs and firewalls restrict access to external devices unless the correct entries are first made in the NAT's port forwarding table and the correct "holes" are first made in the firewall.
As such, a home user must correctly configure the user devices and gateway before these new service types will correctly execute. Unfortunately, the io configuration of gateways and user devices is a nontrivial task that the average user is not equipped to perform. Failure to correctly configure these devices when invoking new services cannot only be difficult to debug, it might also create security holes to which the user is unaware.
Prior solutions address customer premise network configuration is management but present several problems. First, prior solutions are associated with and only address a particular device (like a gateway 104 or PC 106) within the network 100. As such, these solutions fail to take an end-to-end view of the network and therefore, can fail to completely enable a new service and can create conflictinglincompatible configurations. A second problem is that some services 2o require configuration of devices and servers external to the customer premise network 100, which configurations cannot be performed by the prior solutions because they only operate from within the network. A third problem is that prior solutions fail to ensure that configuring the network for one service does not disable another service. Lastly, these solutions are vendor specific and cannot 2s address any device.
SUMMARY OF OUR INVENTION
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus to perform end-to-end network configuration management of a customer premise network, 3o thereby overcoming the above and other disadvantages of the prior art. In accordance with a first embodiment of our invention, a network configuration manager performs end-to-end configuration management and configuration
2
3 PCT/US03/00958 validation of the customer premise network to enable a requested service to operate within the network.
Upon receiving a request to configure a specific service, our inventive system obtains a service template, from a plurality of service templates, that corresponds to the requested service. Service templates provide vendor-neutral end-to-end requirements for enabling a particular service within a customer premise network. The system uses the obtained service template to invoke a configuration generator that generates vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the device types that can comprise a network. The system next io invokes a configuration validator module to validate the network for the requested service. For example, the configuration validator determines if the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the requested service and the device-configuration settings for all priorly enabled services within a network meet the service requirements, as specified by the service templates, for the services is enabled within the network. Finally, the system invokes an adaptor module that translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings determined for the requested service to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and communicates these settings to the particular devices within the customer premise network to enable the service. Similar to the above, the network 2o configuration manager can also disable a service within the customer premise network.
In accordance with a first specific embodiment of our invention, the network configuration manager configures the customer premise network for a specific service upon receiving a user invoked configuration request through a web Zs interface. In accordance with a second specific embodiment of our invention, a packet sniffer is deployed within the customer premise network. The packet sniffer monitors traffic emanating from the network, watching for IP packets pertaining to specific services. Upon detecting a service that has not been priorly enabled, the packet sniffer requests the network configuration manager to configure the 3o network to enable the detected service. Lastly, in accordance with a third specific embodiment of our invention, a user accesses an external system for a specific service, which external system generates a request to the network configuration manager to configure the network for the service.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 depicts prior art customer premise network architecture, to which our invention is applicable, the architecture including a gateway and one or more user devices that require configuration before services and applications will correctly operate.
Figure 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of our invention wherein a network configuration manager performs end-to-end configuration management and configuration validation of the customer premise network to enable new io services.
Figure 3 depicts a first arrangement wherein a user initiates through the use of a web browser network configuration for a new service utilizing our invention.
Figure 4 depicts a second arrangement utilizing our invention wherein a is packet sniffer within a customer premise network automatically initiates network configuration for a new service when the packet sniffer first detects the presence of that service.
Figure 5 depicts a third arrangement utilizing our invention wherein an external system automatically initiates customer premise network configuration for ao a new service when a user accesses the external system to run, install, or download that service.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OUR INVENTION
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of network configuration manager 200 of 2s our invention that performs customer premise network configuration management.
Specifically, the network configuration manager 200 performs configuration management of a customer premise network 100, including the user devices 106-112 (only device 106 is shown for simplicity) and gateway 104, to enable these networks to 3o correctly execute new peer-to-peer and server-based services. The network configuration manager is preferably located either in a public network, such as Internet 122, or in a private network, such as a service provider's network 120, as shown by the dashed arrows 124 and 126 respectively.
Upon receiving a request to configure a specific service, our inventive system obtains a service template, from a plurality of service templates, that corresponds to the requested service. Service templates provide vendor-neutral end-to-end requirements for enabling a particular service within a customer premise network. The system uses the obtained service template to invoke a configuration generator that generates vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the device types that can comprise a network. The system next io invokes a configuration validator module to validate the network for the requested service. For example, the configuration validator determines if the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the requested service and the device-configuration settings for all priorly enabled services within a network meet the service requirements, as specified by the service templates, for the services is enabled within the network. Finally, the system invokes an adaptor module that translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings determined for the requested service to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and communicates these settings to the particular devices within the customer premise network to enable the service. Similar to the above, the network 2o configuration manager can also disable a service within the customer premise network.
In accordance with a first specific embodiment of our invention, the network configuration manager configures the customer premise network for a specific service upon receiving a user invoked configuration request through a web Zs interface. In accordance with a second specific embodiment of our invention, a packet sniffer is deployed within the customer premise network. The packet sniffer monitors traffic emanating from the network, watching for IP packets pertaining to specific services. Upon detecting a service that has not been priorly enabled, the packet sniffer requests the network configuration manager to configure the 3o network to enable the detected service. Lastly, in accordance with a third specific embodiment of our invention, a user accesses an external system for a specific service, which external system generates a request to the network configuration manager to configure the network for the service.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 depicts prior art customer premise network architecture, to which our invention is applicable, the architecture including a gateway and one or more user devices that require configuration before services and applications will correctly operate.
Figure 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of our invention wherein a network configuration manager performs end-to-end configuration management and configuration validation of the customer premise network to enable new io services.
Figure 3 depicts a first arrangement wherein a user initiates through the use of a web browser network configuration for a new service utilizing our invention.
Figure 4 depicts a second arrangement utilizing our invention wherein a is packet sniffer within a customer premise network automatically initiates network configuration for a new service when the packet sniffer first detects the presence of that service.
Figure 5 depicts a third arrangement utilizing our invention wherein an external system automatically initiates customer premise network configuration for ao a new service when a user accesses the external system to run, install, or download that service.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF OUR INVENTION
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of network configuration manager 200 of 2s our invention that performs customer premise network configuration management.
Specifically, the network configuration manager 200 performs configuration management of a customer premise network 100, including the user devices 106-112 (only device 106 is shown for simplicity) and gateway 104, to enable these networks to 3o correctly execute new peer-to-peer and server-based services. The network configuration manager is preferably located either in a public network, such as Internet 122, or in a private network, such as a service provider's network 120, as shown by the dashed arrows 124 and 126 respectively.
4 Broadly, the network configuration manager 200 comprises a server interface 216, a configuration manager module 218, a configuration generator 210, a service configuration validator module 212, an adaptor module 214, a customer premise network database 202, a service database 204, a device database 206, and a network configuration directory 208. The server interface 216 provides a network interface through which the network configuration manager 200 can be invoked. Upon receiving a configuration request, the server interface calls the configuration manager module 218, which controls the workflow execution of the configuration generator 210, the service configuration validator Zo 212, and the adaptor module 214.
The customer premise network database 202 maintains entries for all users serviced by the network configuration manager 200 and specifically, maintains a list of the devices 104 -112 within a given customer premise network, the corresponding configurations of these devices (e.g., IP addresses), and a list of is the services installed and running in this network. The service database maintains a list of the available services the network configuration manager is capable of configuring and a list of corresponding service templates 220.
Service templates provide vendor neutral end-to-end requirements for enabling a particular service within a customer premise network. For example, a service ao template can provide the NAT port forwarding requirements and firewall requirements for a particular service (e.g., the port numbers and protocols used by the service). The device database 206 maintains device templates 222 for vendor specific devices. A device template provides the capabilities of a particular device and how to configure that particular device. The network configuration directory as 208 maintains all vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for all services priorly enabled in a given customer premise network 100.
As such, for each service requested by a user, the configuration manager 218 invokes the configuration generator 210 to generate, from a corresponding service template, vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the device types 3o that can comprise a network. The configuration manager next invokes the service configuration validator module 212 to validate a newly requested service.
Service validation includes determining if the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings produced by the configuration generator and the configuration settings for priorly enabled services meet the service requirements as specified by the service templates (e.g., that the new configuration settings do not conflict with or invalidate the configuration settings for services priorly enabled in a network).
Finally, the configuration manager invokes the adaptor module 214 to translate s the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings determined for the requested service to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and to communicate these settings to the particular devices 104-112 within a customer premise network to configure these device and to enable the service.
Three specific embodiments of our invention are described below and are io shown in Figures 3-5. Each of these embodiments can exist alone, or in combination with the others.
Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of our invention where a user, through a web browser 302, manually initiates network configuration. This embodiment can be used when a user installs a server-based service (e.g., web server, FTP, etc.) is or a peer-to-peer based service (e.g., video conferencing or multi-player game).
Under this embodiment, the user accesses the server interface 216 through a web browser 302, requesting network configuration. In response to this request, the server interface accesses the service database 204 to determine the services the network configuration manager is capable of configuring. In addition, the server 2o interface accesses the customer premise network database 202 to determine the devices 106-112 within the network 100. Both the determined services and devices are provided to the user through the web interface as menu options. In response, the user selects the service to enable and the specific user device on which this service will execute.
2s In response to the user's selections, the server interface accesses the customer premise network database 202 and first verifies that the requested service is not already enabled for the customer premise network. If the service is already enabled, the user is notified and the configuration is complete. If the service is not enabled, the server interface updates the customer premise network 3o database with the new service, and then invokes the configuration manager to control the workflow execution of the network configuration. The configuration manager begins by invoking the configuration generator 210. The configuration generator accesses the service database 204 to obtain the service template 220 for the requested service and using this service template, derives vendor-neutral device-configurations required to enable the selected service (e.g., NAT port forwarding configurations, firewall configurations, and host device configurations).
Upon completion, the configuration generator places the derived configuration s settings in a temporary location within the network configuration directory 208 for the specific user.
The configuration manager next invokes the service configuration validator module 212 to validate the network for the currently selected service. Network validation covers at least three verifications. First, the service configuration to validator verifies that the configuration settings for the newly requested service do not conflict with the configuration settings for priorly enabled services. To perform this validation, the service configuration validator queries the customer premise network database 202 and determines the list of services enabled for the customer premise network 100. Using this list of services, the service is configuration validator accesses the service database 204 and obtains the corresponding service templates 220. Next, the service configuration validator accesses the network configuration directory 208 and obtains the temporary vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the currently requested service and the configuration settings for priorly enable services for network 100.
Using Zo this information, the service configuration validator verifies that all service requirements as specified by the service templates 220 are true/met given the particular configuration settings as specified by the device configuration settings obtained from the network configuration directory 208. Methods for performing validation of the configuration settings are described in Sanjai Narain's U.S.
patent 2s application 09/966,136, filed September 28, 2001. The configuration generator will attempt to correct the configuration settings if it determines that the service requirements, as specified by the service templates, are not met.
Second, the service configuration validator verifies that the customer premise network can be configured for the requested service. Specifically, the so service configuration validator accesses the customer premise network database 202 to determine the specific devices within the customer premise network 100 and accesses the device database 206 to obtain the device templates for these devices. Using this information and the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings, the service configuration validator verifies that the network devices can be configured for the requested service.
Third, the service configuration validator may also remotely access probes within the network devices 104-112 (the probes are not shown in the figures), which probes can determine, for example, if the user has installed an application corresponding to the requested service or if required ports are enabled on PC
or gateway 104. If the service configuration validator 212 is unable.to correct the configurations or determines a configuration issue, the service is removed from the customer premise network database 202 and the service interface 216 notifies ~o the user via the web interface 302 that the configuration has failed.
If the service configuration validator determines that the service requirements are met, the configuration manager triggers the adaptor module to perform the actual configurations of the network 100 devices. Again, the configurations determined thus far by the network configuration manager 200 are is device-neutral configurations for varying device types. The adaptor 214 is responsible for translating a device-neutral configuration for a particular device type to a format appropriate for a specific vendor's device 104-112 and for then communicating with that device to perform the configurations. Each type of vendor equipment therefore has a corresponding adaptor module 214 (1 )-(n). Hence, the 2o adaptor module 214 accesses the customer premise network database to determine the specific devices 104-112 within the customer premise network 100, accesses the device database to obtain the device templates to determine how to configure these devices, and accesses the network configuration directory to obtain the temporary vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the current 2s service. The adaptor module then determines the specific adaptors 214 (1 )-(n) needed to enable the network for the new service. Each adaptor translates the vendor neutral configuration information to a format appropriate for the particular vendor's device 104-112 to which it is associated and then interfaces with the specific device through the device's configuration interface/capabilities (e.g., 3o SNMP or HTTP protocol). Once each adaptor has finished, the adaptor module 214 updates the network configuration directory 206 by merging the temporary vendor-neutral device-configuration settings with the prior configurations.
The service interface 216 then notifies the user that the configuration is complete. As is further described below in a second embodiment of our invention, the service interface 216 may also update a packet sniffer 402 associated with the customer premise network 100 such that the packet sniffer will not detect the newly enabled service.
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of our invention where network configuration is automatically initiated when a user begins using a new service.
This embodiment applies to cases where a user begins executing a new peer-to-peer based service. A packet sniffer 402 that monitors all network traffic emanating from within the network 100 initiates the network configuration. The to packet sniffer is situated within the network 100 (behind any firewall/NAT
functionality) and can be located on the gateway 104 or another user device, such as a PC 106. The packet sniffer "watches" for the transmission of IP packets that are unique to a particular service (e.g., specific port numbers and/or specific protocols). Upon detecting a new service, the packet sniffer notes the source host is (as determined by the IP source address in the detected IP packet) and invokes a request to the server interface 216 to configure the network 100 for the specific service. The packet sniffer 402 also updates its filters to ignore further packets pertaining to the service.
Upon receiving the request, the server interface 216 accesses the 2o customer premise network database 202 to ensure the network has not been priorly enabled for the requested service. If the network has already been enabled, the configuration is complete. If the network has not been enabled, the configuration proceeds as in the first embodiment, with the configuration generator 210 deriving vendor-neutral device-configurations and the service configuration 2s validator 212 performing network validation for the new service, etc.
If the configuration validator determines that the new configuration settings are incorrect, the newly entered service is removed from the customer premise network database 202 and the service interface 216 may also notify the packet sniffer 402 to update its filters such that future packets from the service are again so detected. If the configuration validator 212 determines that the new configuration settings are correct, the configuration manager triggers the adaptor module 214 to configure the network 100 and to update the network configuration directory with the new configuration settings.
Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of our invention where a system 502 external from the network 100 automatically initiates network configuration when a user accesses the external system 502 to run, install, or download a new service to a user device, such as PC 106. The external system 502 can include an s application server, a download site, etc. Upon receiving a request from a user device, the external system initiates a request to the server interface 216 for network configuration. The request includes the user device that requested the service from the external system 502, the name of the service, and a service template (making the assumption that the home network manager is not capable io of configuring the specified service). In response to the request, the server interface 216 accesses the customer premise network database 202 to ensure the network 100 has not been priorly enabled for the specified service. If the network has already been enabled, the configuration is complete. If the network has not been enabled, the server interface updates the customer premise network is database 202 with the new service and then accesses the service database for the list of available services that the network configuration manager is capable of configuring. If the specified service is not on this list, the server interface 216 adds the specified service and stores the service template provided by the external server, thereby enabling the system to enable this service for future user 2o requests. Configuration then proceeds as in the first embodiment, with the configuration generator 210 deriving vendor-neutral device-configurations and the service configuration validator 212 performing network validation for the new service, etc.
If the configuration validator determines that the new configuration settings 2s are incorrect, the newly entered service is removed from the customer premise network database 202 and the server interface notifies the external server 502 to abort the requested download/install. If the configuration validator determines that the new configuration settings are correct, the configuration manager triggers the adaptor module 214 to configure the network 100 and to update the network 3o configuration directory 208 with the new configuration settings. The server interface may also notify a packet sniffer 402 associated with the network such that the packet sniffer will not detect the newly enabled service, and then notifies the external server 502 to proceed with requested download/install.
In addition to enabling customer premise network for a service, the network configuration manager 200 can also disable a network for a specific service by removing the configuration settings that enabled that service. For example, a user can initiate this action through a web interface or the network s configuration manager 200 can maintain service timers for each user, automatically disabling a service when a timer expires. Upon receiving an indication to disable a service, the server interface 216 updates the customer premise network database 202 to remove the specified service. The configuration manager then invokes the service configuration generator 212 to derive vendor-to neutral device-configurations for the service to be disabled and triggers the adaptor module 214 to reconfigure the network 100 and to update the network configuration directory 208 to remove the configuration settings. The configuration manager may also invoke the configuration validator 212 to ensure the configuration settings resulting from the removal of the service are correct.
Lastly, is the server interface may notify a packet sniffer 402 within the network 100 to update its filters such that future packets from the service are again detected.
Advantageously, our inventive network configuration manager performs end-to-end configuration management of a customer premise network to completely enable a new service. Our inventive configuration manager also Zo validates new network configurations to ensure these configurations do not conflict with or invalidate priorly enabled service configurations. In addition, our inventive configuration manager is vendor-neutral, utilizes existing configuration interfaces provided by vendor equipment, and resides external to the customer premise network. These advantages allow our system to configure diverse vendor zs equipment, to configure devices in the external public network, and to configure customer premise networks without requiring users to have to install additional management software and components.
The above-described embodiments of our invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in 3o the art without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.
The customer premise network database 202 maintains entries for all users serviced by the network configuration manager 200 and specifically, maintains a list of the devices 104 -112 within a given customer premise network, the corresponding configurations of these devices (e.g., IP addresses), and a list of is the services installed and running in this network. The service database maintains a list of the available services the network configuration manager is capable of configuring and a list of corresponding service templates 220.
Service templates provide vendor neutral end-to-end requirements for enabling a particular service within a customer premise network. For example, a service ao template can provide the NAT port forwarding requirements and firewall requirements for a particular service (e.g., the port numbers and protocols used by the service). The device database 206 maintains device templates 222 for vendor specific devices. A device template provides the capabilities of a particular device and how to configure that particular device. The network configuration directory as 208 maintains all vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for all services priorly enabled in a given customer premise network 100.
As such, for each service requested by a user, the configuration manager 218 invokes the configuration generator 210 to generate, from a corresponding service template, vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the device types 3o that can comprise a network. The configuration manager next invokes the service configuration validator module 212 to validate a newly requested service.
Service validation includes determining if the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings produced by the configuration generator and the configuration settings for priorly enabled services meet the service requirements as specified by the service templates (e.g., that the new configuration settings do not conflict with or invalidate the configuration settings for services priorly enabled in a network).
Finally, the configuration manager invokes the adaptor module 214 to translate s the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings determined for the requested service to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and to communicate these settings to the particular devices 104-112 within a customer premise network to configure these device and to enable the service.
Three specific embodiments of our invention are described below and are io shown in Figures 3-5. Each of these embodiments can exist alone, or in combination with the others.
Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of our invention where a user, through a web browser 302, manually initiates network configuration. This embodiment can be used when a user installs a server-based service (e.g., web server, FTP, etc.) is or a peer-to-peer based service (e.g., video conferencing or multi-player game).
Under this embodiment, the user accesses the server interface 216 through a web browser 302, requesting network configuration. In response to this request, the server interface accesses the service database 204 to determine the services the network configuration manager is capable of configuring. In addition, the server 2o interface accesses the customer premise network database 202 to determine the devices 106-112 within the network 100. Both the determined services and devices are provided to the user through the web interface as menu options. In response, the user selects the service to enable and the specific user device on which this service will execute.
2s In response to the user's selections, the server interface accesses the customer premise network database 202 and first verifies that the requested service is not already enabled for the customer premise network. If the service is already enabled, the user is notified and the configuration is complete. If the service is not enabled, the server interface updates the customer premise network 3o database with the new service, and then invokes the configuration manager to control the workflow execution of the network configuration. The configuration manager begins by invoking the configuration generator 210. The configuration generator accesses the service database 204 to obtain the service template 220 for the requested service and using this service template, derives vendor-neutral device-configurations required to enable the selected service (e.g., NAT port forwarding configurations, firewall configurations, and host device configurations).
Upon completion, the configuration generator places the derived configuration s settings in a temporary location within the network configuration directory 208 for the specific user.
The configuration manager next invokes the service configuration validator module 212 to validate the network for the currently selected service. Network validation covers at least three verifications. First, the service configuration to validator verifies that the configuration settings for the newly requested service do not conflict with the configuration settings for priorly enabled services. To perform this validation, the service configuration validator queries the customer premise network database 202 and determines the list of services enabled for the customer premise network 100. Using this list of services, the service is configuration validator accesses the service database 204 and obtains the corresponding service templates 220. Next, the service configuration validator accesses the network configuration directory 208 and obtains the temporary vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the currently requested service and the configuration settings for priorly enable services for network 100.
Using Zo this information, the service configuration validator verifies that all service requirements as specified by the service templates 220 are true/met given the particular configuration settings as specified by the device configuration settings obtained from the network configuration directory 208. Methods for performing validation of the configuration settings are described in Sanjai Narain's U.S.
patent 2s application 09/966,136, filed September 28, 2001. The configuration generator will attempt to correct the configuration settings if it determines that the service requirements, as specified by the service templates, are not met.
Second, the service configuration validator verifies that the customer premise network can be configured for the requested service. Specifically, the so service configuration validator accesses the customer premise network database 202 to determine the specific devices within the customer premise network 100 and accesses the device database 206 to obtain the device templates for these devices. Using this information and the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings, the service configuration validator verifies that the network devices can be configured for the requested service.
Third, the service configuration validator may also remotely access probes within the network devices 104-112 (the probes are not shown in the figures), which probes can determine, for example, if the user has installed an application corresponding to the requested service or if required ports are enabled on PC
or gateway 104. If the service configuration validator 212 is unable.to correct the configurations or determines a configuration issue, the service is removed from the customer premise network database 202 and the service interface 216 notifies ~o the user via the web interface 302 that the configuration has failed.
If the service configuration validator determines that the service requirements are met, the configuration manager triggers the adaptor module to perform the actual configurations of the network 100 devices. Again, the configurations determined thus far by the network configuration manager 200 are is device-neutral configurations for varying device types. The adaptor 214 is responsible for translating a device-neutral configuration for a particular device type to a format appropriate for a specific vendor's device 104-112 and for then communicating with that device to perform the configurations. Each type of vendor equipment therefore has a corresponding adaptor module 214 (1 )-(n). Hence, the 2o adaptor module 214 accesses the customer premise network database to determine the specific devices 104-112 within the customer premise network 100, accesses the device database to obtain the device templates to determine how to configure these devices, and accesses the network configuration directory to obtain the temporary vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the current 2s service. The adaptor module then determines the specific adaptors 214 (1 )-(n) needed to enable the network for the new service. Each adaptor translates the vendor neutral configuration information to a format appropriate for the particular vendor's device 104-112 to which it is associated and then interfaces with the specific device through the device's configuration interface/capabilities (e.g., 3o SNMP or HTTP protocol). Once each adaptor has finished, the adaptor module 214 updates the network configuration directory 206 by merging the temporary vendor-neutral device-configuration settings with the prior configurations.
The service interface 216 then notifies the user that the configuration is complete. As is further described below in a second embodiment of our invention, the service interface 216 may also update a packet sniffer 402 associated with the customer premise network 100 such that the packet sniffer will not detect the newly enabled service.
Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of our invention where network configuration is automatically initiated when a user begins using a new service.
This embodiment applies to cases where a user begins executing a new peer-to-peer based service. A packet sniffer 402 that monitors all network traffic emanating from within the network 100 initiates the network configuration. The to packet sniffer is situated within the network 100 (behind any firewall/NAT
functionality) and can be located on the gateway 104 or another user device, such as a PC 106. The packet sniffer "watches" for the transmission of IP packets that are unique to a particular service (e.g., specific port numbers and/or specific protocols). Upon detecting a new service, the packet sniffer notes the source host is (as determined by the IP source address in the detected IP packet) and invokes a request to the server interface 216 to configure the network 100 for the specific service. The packet sniffer 402 also updates its filters to ignore further packets pertaining to the service.
Upon receiving the request, the server interface 216 accesses the 2o customer premise network database 202 to ensure the network has not been priorly enabled for the requested service. If the network has already been enabled, the configuration is complete. If the network has not been enabled, the configuration proceeds as in the first embodiment, with the configuration generator 210 deriving vendor-neutral device-configurations and the service configuration 2s validator 212 performing network validation for the new service, etc.
If the configuration validator determines that the new configuration settings are incorrect, the newly entered service is removed from the customer premise network database 202 and the service interface 216 may also notify the packet sniffer 402 to update its filters such that future packets from the service are again so detected. If the configuration validator 212 determines that the new configuration settings are correct, the configuration manager triggers the adaptor module 214 to configure the network 100 and to update the network configuration directory with the new configuration settings.
Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of our invention where a system 502 external from the network 100 automatically initiates network configuration when a user accesses the external system 502 to run, install, or download a new service to a user device, such as PC 106. The external system 502 can include an s application server, a download site, etc. Upon receiving a request from a user device, the external system initiates a request to the server interface 216 for network configuration. The request includes the user device that requested the service from the external system 502, the name of the service, and a service template (making the assumption that the home network manager is not capable io of configuring the specified service). In response to the request, the server interface 216 accesses the customer premise network database 202 to ensure the network 100 has not been priorly enabled for the specified service. If the network has already been enabled, the configuration is complete. If the network has not been enabled, the server interface updates the customer premise network is database 202 with the new service and then accesses the service database for the list of available services that the network configuration manager is capable of configuring. If the specified service is not on this list, the server interface 216 adds the specified service and stores the service template provided by the external server, thereby enabling the system to enable this service for future user 2o requests. Configuration then proceeds as in the first embodiment, with the configuration generator 210 deriving vendor-neutral device-configurations and the service configuration validator 212 performing network validation for the new service, etc.
If the configuration validator determines that the new configuration settings 2s are incorrect, the newly entered service is removed from the customer premise network database 202 and the server interface notifies the external server 502 to abort the requested download/install. If the configuration validator determines that the new configuration settings are correct, the configuration manager triggers the adaptor module 214 to configure the network 100 and to update the network 3o configuration directory 208 with the new configuration settings. The server interface may also notify a packet sniffer 402 associated with the network such that the packet sniffer will not detect the newly enabled service, and then notifies the external server 502 to proceed with requested download/install.
In addition to enabling customer premise network for a service, the network configuration manager 200 can also disable a network for a specific service by removing the configuration settings that enabled that service. For example, a user can initiate this action through a web interface or the network s configuration manager 200 can maintain service timers for each user, automatically disabling a service when a timer expires. Upon receiving an indication to disable a service, the server interface 216 updates the customer premise network database 202 to remove the specified service. The configuration manager then invokes the service configuration generator 212 to derive vendor-to neutral device-configurations for the service to be disabled and triggers the adaptor module 214 to reconfigure the network 100 and to update the network configuration directory 208 to remove the configuration settings. The configuration manager may also invoke the configuration validator 212 to ensure the configuration settings resulting from the removal of the service are correct.
Lastly, is the server interface may notify a packet sniffer 402 within the network 100 to update its filters such that future packets from the service are again detected.
Advantageously, our inventive network configuration manager performs end-to-end configuration management of a customer premise network to completely enable a new service. Our inventive configuration manager also Zo validates new network configurations to ensure these configurations do not conflict with or invalidate priorly enabled service configurations. In addition, our inventive configuration manager is vendor-neutral, utilizes existing configuration interfaces provided by vendor equipment, and resides external to the customer premise network. These advantages allow our system to configure diverse vendor zs equipment, to configure devices in the external public network, and to configure customer premise networks without requiring users to have to install additional management software and components.
The above-described embodiments of our invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in 3o the art without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.
Claims (18)
1. A system for configuring a network to enable a service, said system comprising:
a plurality of service templates, each template describing end-to-end network requirements needed to enable its corresponding service, a configuration generator that generates vendor-neutral device-configuration settings from the service template corresponding to the service to be enabled, a configuration validator for validating the network for the service, and an adaptor module that translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings generated by the configuration generator to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and that conveys the vendor-specific device-configuration settings to the network to enable the requested service.
a plurality of service templates, each template describing end-to-end network requirements needed to enable its corresponding service, a configuration generator that generates vendor-neutral device-configuration settings from the service template corresponding to the service to be enabled, a configuration validator for validating the network for the service, and an adaptor module that translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings generated by the configuration generator to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and that conveys the vendor-specific device-configuration settings to the network to enable the requested service.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system further comprises a web interface for accepting a request to configure the network to enable the service.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a packet monitor that, upon detecting an IP packet emanating from the network related to the service to be enabled, invokes the system to configure the network.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a server interface for accepting a request to configure the network from a server external to the network.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a network configuration directory that stores vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for all services priorly enabled for the network.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the configuration validator validates the network by determining if the service requirements as specified by the service templates are met by the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings generated by the configuration generator and by the service configuration settings for the network as specified by the network configuration directory.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the configuration validator attempts to correct the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings if the service requirements as specified by the service templates are not met.
8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of device templates, wherein a device template provides the capabilities of a particular vendor-device, and wherein the configuration validator validates the network by determining if devices that comprise the network can be configured for the service by comparing the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings generated by the configuration generator to the device templates for these devices.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the configuration generator also generates vendor-neutral device-configuration settings from the service template corresponding to a service to be disabled, and the adaptor module translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to be disabled to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and also conveys these device-configuration settings to the network for service disablement.
the configuration generator also generates vendor-neutral device-configuration settings from the service template corresponding to a service to be disabled, and the adaptor module translates the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to be disabled to vendor-specific device-configuration settings and also conveys these device-configuration settings to the network for service disablement.
10. A method for configuring a network to enable a service, said method comprising the steps of:
obtaining a service template from a plurality of service templates for the service to be enabled wherein each service template describes end-to-end network requirements needed to enable its corresponding service, using the obtained service template to generate vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to be enabled, validating the network for the service to be enabled, translating the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings to vendor-specific device-configuration settings, and communicating the vendor-specific device-configuration setting to the network to enable the service.
obtaining a service template from a plurality of service templates for the service to be enabled wherein each service template describes end-to-end network requirements needed to enable its corresponding service, using the obtained service template to generate vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to be enabled, validating the network for the service to be enabled, translating the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings to vendor-specific device-configuration settings, and communicating the vendor-specific device-configuration setting to the network to enable the service.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of receiving a request through a web interface to configure the network to enable the service.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of receiving a request to configure the network based upon a detected IP packet emanating from the network related to the service to be enabled.
13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of receiving a request to configure the network from a server external to the customer premise network wherein said system generates the request upon receiving an access from the network.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the obtained service template is received from the external server along with the configuration request.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein the network validation comprises the steps of:
obtaining vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for all services priorly enabled for the network, and determining if the service requirements as specified by the service templates are met by the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to be enabled and by the obtained device-configuration settings for all priorly enabled services.
obtaining vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for all services priorly enabled for the network, and determining if the service requirements as specified by the service templates are met by the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to be enabled and by the obtained device-configuration settings for all priorly enabled services.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of correcting the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings if the service requirements as specified by the service templates are not met.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the network validation comprises the steps of:
obtaining device templates from a plurality of device templates for each device that comprises the network, wherein a device template provides the capabilities of a particular vendor-device, and determining if the devices comprising the network can be configured for the service by comparing the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to the obtained device templates.
obtaining device templates from a plurality of device templates for each device that comprises the network, wherein a device template provides the capabilities of a particular vendor-device, and determining if the devices comprising the network can be configured for the service by comparing the vendor-neutral device-configuration settings for the service to the obtained device templates.
18. The method of claim 10 wherein the generated vendor-neutral device-configuration settings include a setting for a system external to the network, said method further comprising the steps of:
translating the external system, vendor-neutral device-configuration setting to an external system, vendor-specific device-configuration setting, and communicating the external system, vendor-specific device-configuration setting to the external system to enable the service.
translating the external system, vendor-neutral device-configuration setting to an external system, vendor-specific device-configuration setting, and communicating the external system, vendor-specific device-configuration setting to the external system to enable the service.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/047,255 US6766364B2 (en) | 2002-01-15 | 2002-01-15 | Template based configuration and validation of a network for enabling a requested service to be compatible with the previously enabled services |
US10/047,255 | 2002-01-15 | ||
PCT/US2003/000958 WO2003060743A1 (en) | 2002-01-15 | 2003-01-14 | Network configuration management |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2470704A1 CA2470704A1 (en) | 2003-07-24 |
CA2470704C true CA2470704C (en) | 2009-09-15 |
Family
ID=21947927
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002470704A Expired - Lifetime CA2470704C (en) | 2002-01-15 | 2003-01-14 | Network configuration management |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6766364B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1468371B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2005515549A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2470704C (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003060743A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (89)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20020188705A1 (en) * | 2001-06-11 | 2002-12-12 | Roland Bartussek | Method for configuring multiple user systems using a configuration device |
US7840663B1 (en) * | 2001-12-21 | 2010-11-23 | Mcafee, Inc. | Desktop security in peer-to-peer networks |
US7600003B1 (en) * | 2002-04-22 | 2009-10-06 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method and apparatus for dynamically configuring customer premises network equipment |
US7711847B2 (en) | 2002-04-26 | 2010-05-04 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | Managing users in a multi-user network game environment |
US8549114B2 (en) * | 2002-06-12 | 2013-10-01 | Bladelogic, Inc. | Method and system for model-based heterogeneous server configuration management |
JP2004032364A (en) * | 2002-06-26 | 2004-01-29 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Network system |
FR2843260B1 (en) * | 2002-07-31 | 2005-04-08 | Cit Alcatel | RULES NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INFERENCE ENGINE |
US8131802B2 (en) * | 2007-10-05 | 2012-03-06 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc | Systems and methods for seamless host migration |
US20040030709A1 (en) * | 2002-08-12 | 2004-02-12 | Gateway, Inc. | Personalized setup poster generation |
US7739359B1 (en) * | 2002-09-12 | 2010-06-15 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for secure cable modem provisioning |
US7185098B2 (en) * | 2002-09-30 | 2007-02-27 | Microsoft Corporation | Conferencing using flexible connection ports |
CN1711718A (en) * | 2002-11-13 | 2005-12-21 | 汤姆森许可贸易公司 | A router or bridge device comprising an installation application |
US7962581B2 (en) * | 2002-12-12 | 2011-06-14 | International Business Machines Corporation | Client device configuration with vendor association of configuration parameters |
US7437432B2 (en) * | 2002-12-12 | 2008-10-14 | International Business Machines Corporation | Client device configuration with configuration services providers |
US20040148439A1 (en) * | 2003-01-14 | 2004-07-29 | Motorola, Inc. | Apparatus and method for peer to peer network connectivty |
US20040139190A1 (en) * | 2003-01-15 | 2004-07-15 | Kreger Kevin Scott | A private http based system for diagnosis, control and monitoring of an imaging system controller |
US7398305B2 (en) * | 2003-02-06 | 2008-07-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Client device configuration with hooks |
US7457853B1 (en) * | 2003-07-03 | 2008-11-25 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method and apparatus for automatically configuring a network device |
US8065368B2 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2011-11-22 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Configuring templates for an application and network management system |
US7523212B2 (en) * | 2004-03-01 | 2009-04-21 | Microsoft Corporation | System and method for configuring a computer according to a detected network |
US20050265240A1 (en) * | 2004-05-05 | 2005-12-01 | Datalinx Corporation | Broadband network and application service testing method and apparatus |
JP4465353B2 (en) * | 2004-06-07 | 2010-05-19 | 日本電信電話株式会社 | Home network setting method, home gateway device, home gateway program, recording medium |
US7660882B2 (en) * | 2004-06-10 | 2010-02-09 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Deploying network element management system provisioning services |
FI20040978A0 (en) * | 2004-07-13 | 2004-07-13 | Nokia Corp | System, Method, Web Objects, and Computer Programs to Manage Dynamic Host Configuration Policy Frame Configuration |
US8751652B2 (en) * | 2004-09-15 | 2014-06-10 | Nokia Corporation | Service specific subscriber priority |
US20060294584A1 (en) * | 2005-06-22 | 2006-12-28 | Netdevices, Inc. | Auto-Configuration of Network Services Required to Support Operation of Dependent Network Services |
US7603445B1 (en) * | 2004-11-10 | 2009-10-13 | Juniper Networks, Inc. | Managing and changing device settings |
CN100403690C (en) | 2005-04-30 | 2008-07-16 | 华为技术有限公司 | Method and its system for managing user stationed equipment configuration |
JP2007047845A (en) * | 2005-07-11 | 2007-02-22 | Fujitsu Ltd | Autonomous control device, autonomous control method, and autonomous control program |
GB2431067B (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2008-05-07 | Cramer Systems Ltd | Telecommunications service management |
SG131808A1 (en) * | 2005-11-02 | 2007-05-28 | Nanyang Polytechnic | Method and system for implementing and managing vendor neutral network systems |
GB2432992B (en) * | 2005-11-18 | 2008-09-10 | Cramer Systems Ltd | Network planning |
CN100512116C (en) * | 2005-11-24 | 2009-07-08 | 华为技术有限公司 | Network apparatus remote loading system and method |
GB2433675B (en) * | 2005-12-22 | 2008-05-07 | Cramer Systems Ltd | Communications circuit design |
FR2896364B1 (en) * | 2006-01-19 | 2008-06-27 | Activnetworks Soc Par Actions | METHOD OF DEPLOYING INTERCEPTIONAL APPLICATIONS ON AN EXISTING NETWORK |
US8121029B2 (en) * | 2006-02-06 | 2012-02-21 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods and systems for providing supported DSL communications features as selections |
GB2435362B (en) | 2006-02-20 | 2008-11-26 | Cramer Systems Ltd | Method of configuring devices in a telecommunications network |
US20070223523A1 (en) * | 2006-03-27 | 2007-09-27 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus for customization of network services and applications |
FI120480B (en) * | 2006-05-15 | 2009-10-30 | Software Cellular Network Ltd | A method and system for configuring a user equipment |
US20090054048A1 (en) * | 2006-08-03 | 2009-02-26 | Wilfred Tobben | Apparatus and Method for Configuration of Telecommunication Terminals |
US20080046435A1 (en) * | 2006-08-18 | 2008-02-21 | Microsoft Corporation | Service discovery and automatic configuration |
US20080114863A1 (en) * | 2006-11-15 | 2008-05-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method of configuring network infrastructure using functional building blocks |
US8751625B2 (en) * | 2006-12-04 | 2014-06-10 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Notification apparatus and notification method |
CN101001241B (en) * | 2006-12-31 | 2011-04-20 | 华为技术有限公司 | Method, system and access equipment for implementing CPE working mode self-adaption |
US8997091B1 (en) * | 2007-01-31 | 2015-03-31 | Emc Corporation | Techniques for compliance testing |
CN101247258B (en) | 2007-02-12 | 2011-02-09 | 华为技术有限公司 | Service distribution method and system |
US8561058B2 (en) * | 2007-06-20 | 2013-10-15 | Red Hat, Inc. | Methods and systems for dynamically generating installation configuration files for software |
US8464247B2 (en) | 2007-06-21 | 2013-06-11 | Red Hat, Inc. | Methods and systems for dynamically generating installation configuration files for software |
CN101150460A (en) * | 2007-11-14 | 2008-03-26 | 华为技术有限公司 | Method and system for automatic debugging and testing of network devices |
EP2215775A1 (en) * | 2007-11-21 | 2010-08-11 | Motive, Incorporated | System and method for identifying and calling a function of a service |
EP2223538B1 (en) * | 2007-12-17 | 2016-03-23 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) | Method and arrangement for network qos |
US8775577B1 (en) | 2007-12-18 | 2014-07-08 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | System and method for configuration management service |
US20090216864A1 (en) * | 2008-02-27 | 2009-08-27 | Nokia Corporation | Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products, for automatically finding configuration settings for services |
US7747712B2 (en) | 2008-06-12 | 2010-06-29 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson | Managed node initial operational state |
US8819201B2 (en) * | 2008-08-07 | 2014-08-26 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Method and apparatus for providing routing and access control filters |
US8281302B2 (en) * | 2008-08-26 | 2012-10-02 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Method and apparatus for dynamically instantiating services using a service insertion architecture |
FR2948248B1 (en) * | 2009-07-16 | 2011-08-19 | Univ Paris Curie | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STOLEN DEPLOYMENT AND ON REQUEST AT LEAST ONE VIRTUAL NETWORK. |
US8639113B2 (en) * | 2009-08-12 | 2014-01-28 | International Business Machines Corporation | Network protection switching |
US8488960B2 (en) * | 2009-08-12 | 2013-07-16 | International Business Machines Corporation | Synchronizing events on a communications network using a virtual command interface |
US8396952B2 (en) * | 2009-08-12 | 2013-03-12 | International Business Machines Corporation | Provisioning and commissioning a communications network with a virtual network operations center and interface |
US8504660B2 (en) * | 2009-08-12 | 2013-08-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Validation of the configuration of a data communications network using a virtual network operations center |
CN102123040A (en) * | 2010-01-08 | 2011-07-13 | 华为技术有限公司 | Method and device for configuring data |
US8627309B2 (en) * | 2010-02-25 | 2014-01-07 | Microsoft Corporation | Automated deployment and servicing of distributed applications |
US20110302652A1 (en) | 2010-06-07 | 2011-12-08 | Novell, Inc. | System and method for detecting real-time security threats in a network datacenter |
US9178766B2 (en) | 2010-06-28 | 2015-11-03 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Provisioning multiple network resources |
US20120105637A1 (en) * | 2010-11-03 | 2012-05-03 | Broadcom Corporation | Multi-Level Video Processing Within A Vehicular Communication Network |
US9253630B2 (en) | 2011-06-02 | 2016-02-02 | Truphone Limited | Identity management for mobile devices |
DE102011107321A1 (en) | 2011-07-06 | 2013-01-10 | Abb Ag | System and method for parameterizing field devices of an automation or control system |
US8667261B2 (en) * | 2011-07-27 | 2014-03-04 | General Electric Company | Systems, methods, and apparatus for utility meter configuration |
US9603006B2 (en) | 2011-09-19 | 2017-03-21 | Truphone Limited | Managing mobile device identities |
US9015306B2 (en) | 2011-12-15 | 2015-04-21 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Mapping protocol endpoints to networked devices and applications based on capabilities |
US8990390B2 (en) * | 2011-12-12 | 2015-03-24 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Remote monitoring and controlling of network utilization |
US10089152B1 (en) | 2012-03-19 | 2018-10-02 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Using scripts to bootstrap applications with metadata from a template |
US8949930B1 (en) | 2012-03-19 | 2015-02-03 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Template representation of security resources |
US8825817B1 (en) * | 2012-03-19 | 2014-09-02 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Using a template to update a stack of resources |
EP2875609B1 (en) | 2012-07-20 | 2019-03-20 | ABB Schweiz AG | Configuration management device, configuration interface device and method for vendor-independent network device configuration |
US9137740B2 (en) | 2012-09-10 | 2015-09-15 | Spectrum Bridge, Inc. | System and method for providing network access to electronic devices using bandwidth provisioning |
US9058219B2 (en) | 2012-11-02 | 2015-06-16 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Custom resources in a resource stack |
US9152534B2 (en) | 2012-11-16 | 2015-10-06 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited | System and method for validating configuration settings |
CN103269282A (en) * | 2013-04-25 | 2013-08-28 | 杭州华三通信技术有限公司 | Method and device for automatically deploying network configuration |
US10142173B2 (en) | 2013-04-29 | 2018-11-27 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | Automated creation of private virtual networks in a service provider network |
JP6289095B2 (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2018-03-07 | キヤノン株式会社 | Management system, control method in management system, and program thereof |
JP6273179B2 (en) * | 2014-08-15 | 2018-01-31 | エヌ・ティ・ティ・コムウェア株式会社 | Orchestration system, method, and program |
US9565185B2 (en) * | 2014-11-24 | 2017-02-07 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Facilitation of seamless security data transfer for wireless network devices |
US10805153B2 (en) * | 2018-01-31 | 2020-10-13 | Salesforce.Com, Inc. | Provisioning network devices using a vendor-neutral platform |
US11316738B2 (en) * | 2019-08-19 | 2022-04-26 | Juniper Networks, Inc. | Vendor agnostic profile-based modeling of service access endpoints in a multitenant environment |
CN112737805B (en) * | 2019-10-28 | 2024-04-12 | 华为技术有限公司 | Configuration method, related device and system |
US11184237B2 (en) * | 2020-01-16 | 2021-11-23 | Vmware, Inc. | On-demand topology creation and service provisioning |
US11743121B1 (en) * | 2022-06-17 | 2023-08-29 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Method and system for collection of vendor-agnostic state and configuration information from network devices |
Family Cites Families (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5838918A (en) | 1993-12-13 | 1998-11-17 | International Business Machines Corporation | Distributing system configuration information from a manager machine to subscribed endpoint machines in a distrubuted computing environment |
US5872928A (en) | 1995-02-24 | 1999-02-16 | Cabletron Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for defining and enforcing policies for configuration management in communications networks |
US6131095A (en) * | 1996-12-11 | 2000-10-10 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Method of accessing a target entity over a communications network |
US6308206B1 (en) | 1997-09-17 | 2001-10-23 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Internet enabled computer system management |
US6317438B1 (en) * | 1998-04-14 | 2001-11-13 | Harold Herman Trebes, Jr. | System and method for providing peer-oriented control of telecommunications services |
CN1334939A (en) * | 1998-10-20 | 2002-02-06 | 阿贾伊·蒂欧 | Method and apparatus for providing real-time cell processing services in intelligent network |
US6466972B1 (en) | 1999-03-31 | 2002-10-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Server based configuration of network computers via machine classes |
EP2357570A1 (en) * | 1999-10-22 | 2011-08-17 | Nomadix, Inc. | System and method for network access without reconfiguration |
DE10001077A1 (en) * | 2000-01-13 | 2001-07-19 | Alcatel Sa | Method, service switching center, service control node, internet gateway, program module and internet terminal for establishing a call connection between a telephone network terminal and an internet terminal |
US7181766B2 (en) * | 2000-04-12 | 2007-02-20 | Corente, Inc. | Methods and system for providing network services using at least one processor interfacing a base network |
US7150037B2 (en) * | 2001-03-21 | 2006-12-12 | Intelliden, Inc. | Network configuration manager |
US20020161888A1 (en) * | 2001-04-30 | 2002-10-31 | Mcguire Jacob | Template-based system for automated deployment and management of network devices |
JP2002368743A (en) * | 2001-06-05 | 2002-12-20 | Iiga Co Ltd | Network design support system |
US8010702B2 (en) * | 2001-06-14 | 2011-08-30 | Nokia Corporation | Feature-based device description and content annotation |
US20030097427A1 (en) * | 2001-11-21 | 2003-05-22 | Parry Travis J. | Multiple device configuration and upgrade for imaging devices |
-
2002
- 2002-01-15 US US10/047,255 patent/US6766364B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2003
- 2003-01-14 CA CA002470704A patent/CA2470704C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-01-14 EP EP03702088A patent/EP1468371B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2003-01-14 JP JP2003560769A patent/JP2005515549A/en active Pending
- 2003-01-14 WO PCT/US2003/000958 patent/WO2003060743A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20030135596A1 (en) | 2003-07-17 |
EP1468371B1 (en) | 2011-10-12 |
WO2003060743A1 (en) | 2003-07-24 |
US6766364B2 (en) | 2004-07-20 |
EP1468371A1 (en) | 2004-10-20 |
EP1468371A4 (en) | 2006-07-19 |
CA2470704A1 (en) | 2003-07-24 |
JP2005515549A (en) | 2005-05-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2470704C (en) | Network configuration management | |
US7565418B2 (en) | Network device setup utility | |
JP5318111B2 (en) | Various methods and apparatus for a central management station for automatically distributing configuration information to remote devices | |
EP2096793B1 (en) | Systems and methods for automatic configuration of customer premises equipment | |
US20070130286A1 (en) | Network device management | |
US10855734B2 (en) | Remote management of devices | |
JP6293050B2 (en) | Remote device management | |
Cisco | Release Notes for the Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Version 5.2(3) | |
Cisco | Appendix A: Advanced Quick Reference | |
Cisco | Release Notes for the Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Version 5.2(2) | |
Cisco | Setting Up Devices in the VPN Solutions Center Software | |
Cisco | App A: Advanced Quick Reference | |
Cisco | Release Notes for the Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Version 5.2(4) | |
Cisco | Advanced Configurations | |
Cisco | Configuring SLIP and PPP | |
Cisco | Advanced Configurations | |
Cisco | Release Notes for the Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Version 5.2(1) | |
Cisco | Setting Up Devices for the VPN Solutions Center IPsec Environment | |
Cisco | 2 - Preconfiguration and Setup | |
Cisco | Configuring Virtual Private Networks | |
Cisco | Release Notes for Cisco VPN 3000 Series Concentrator, Release 3.6.1 | |
Cisco | Cisco uBR905 - Cisco IOS Release 12.2(2)XA | |
Cisco | Configuring for Network Mgmt Functionality | |
Cisco | Configuring Cisco Transaction Connection | |
Cisco | IPM FAQ |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request | ||
MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20230116 |