US7240106B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for remote discovery and configuration of a network device
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
•
Filing: 2001-04-25
•
Granted: 2007-07-03
•
Expires: 2021-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A technique for remotely configuring a computing device via a network. A device configuration system is provided to determine a network address of the computing device, to identify the computing device, and to facilitate network configuration of the computing device. The device configuration system also may include a remote interface and a remote device information system.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Cochran
- 👤 Billy S. Little
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/08; H04L41/085; H04L41/0853; H04L41/0876; H04L41/0883; H04L41/12; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/50; H04L41/0803; H04L41/0813; H04L41/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 101
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for configuring a computing device coupled to a network, comprising the acts of: actively electronically discovering a computing device coupled to a network; identifying the computing device, wherein identifying the computing device comprises initiating a sensory identification event to identify the computing device; and configuring network parameters of the computing device based on the identification.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for configuring a computing device coupled to a network, comprising the acts of: actively electronically discovering a computing device coupled to a network; identifying the computing device, wherein identifying the computing device comprises initiating a sensory identification event to identify the computing device; and configuring network parameters of the computing device based on the identification.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of actively electronically discovering the computing device comprises the act of monitoring network conmiunications.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the act of monitoring network communications comprises the act of discovering an address assignment for the computing device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the act of monitoring network communications comprises the act of detecting an address request from the computing device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the act of actively electronically discovering the computing device comprises the act of responding to the address request.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the act of responding to the address request comprises the acts of verifying a desired characteristic of the computing device and assigning a network address to the computing device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of actively electronically discovering the computing device comprises the act of scanning an address range of the network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the act of scanning the address range comprises the act of searching for devices having a desired identifier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of identifying the computing device comprises the act of discovering a desired device characteristic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the act of discovering the desired device characteristic comprises the act of discovering a device category.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the act of discovering the device category comprises the act of discovering a device source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the act of discovering the device source comprises the act of discovering a device manufacturer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the act of discovering the desired device characteristic comprises the act of discovering a device model.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises the act of communicating an identification signal from the computing device to a remote display via the network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises the act of communicating an identification signal from a remote interface to the computing device via the network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of configuring network parameters of the computing device comprises the act of remotely and automatically configuring the computing device using desired network parameters based on the identification of the computing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of configuring network parameters of the computing device comprises the act of remotely interacting with computing device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the act of remotely interacting with the computing device comprises the act of configuring network addresses for the computing device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the act of remotely interacting with the computing device comprises the act of initiating a remote configuration system for the computing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the act of initiating the remote configuration system comprises the act of transmitting a network address to the computing device based on the identification.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the act of transmitting the network address comprises the act of electronically directing the computing device to a web-based device configuration system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising the act of interacting with the computing device via a remote computing device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 , comprising the act of managing network addressing via the device configuration program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 , comprising the act of accessing a device configuration program via the remote computing device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 , comprising the act of displaying a list of devices electronically discovered.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25 , comprising the act of selecting a desired device and transmitting configuration information to the desired device via the network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising remotely configuring a plurality of the computing devices that have been electronically located and identified.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
An actively discovered network server configured by the method of claim 1 .
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is headless.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises enabling user interaction with the computing device to activate a unit identification indicator in a graphical user interface of a remote display.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein enabling user interaction with the computing device comprises providing a button on the computing device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of initiating a sensory identification event comprises permitting selection of the computing device via a graphical user interface to trigger sensory output from the computing device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the sensory output comprises light emission from the computing device.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for networking a desired device, comprising the acts of: electronically searching to identify the presence and location of a desired device on a network; triggering a sensory identification event to identify the desired device; and remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device via the network.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
48 words
A method for networking a desired device, comprising the acts of: electronically searching to identify the presence and location of a desired device on a network; triggering a sensory identification event to identify the desired device; and remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device via the network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of electronically discovering a network address for the desired device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of analyzing an address request communication from the desired device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of generating a response to the address request communication based on address control parameters.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the act of generating the response comprises the acts of: verifying an authorization criteria for configuring the desired device; and assigning a network address to the desired device having the authorization criteria verified.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of electronically searching the network for a desired identifier for the desired device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of electronically searching to identify the presence and location of the desired device comprises the act of discovering a desired device identifier.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the act of discovering the desired device identifier comprises the act of discovering a product identifier for the desired device.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device comprises the act of configuring a network address for the desired device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device comprises the act of initiating a remote configuration system having a device database adapted to facilitate configuration of the desired device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the act of initiating the remote configuration system comprises the act of transmitting a network address to the desired device to facilitate communication with the remote configuration system.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of remotely configuring operational parameters of the desired device comprises the act of electronically communicating with the desired device via a remote computing system.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 45 , comprising the act of executing a device configuration program via the remote computing system.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of triggering the sensory identification event comprises the act of transmitting an identification signal between the desired device and a remote interface via the network.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the desired device is headless.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of triggering a sensory identification event comprises enabling user interaction with the desired device to activate a unit identification indicator in a graphical user interface of a remote display.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the act of triggering a sensory identification event comprises permitting selection of the desired device via a graphical user interface to activate a light of the desired device.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
87 words
A system of configuring a second computing device via a first computing device, wherein the first and second computing devices are communicatively coupled via a network, the system comprising: a device configuration assembly accessible by the first computing device, comprising: a device discovery assembly adapted for actively discovering the second computing device on the network and further adapted to facilitate identification of the second device via a sensory identification event; and a device setup assembly adapted for initiating configuration of the second computing device via the network.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
87 words
A system of configuring a second computing device via a first computing device, wherein the first and second computing devices are communicatively coupled via a network, the system comprising: a device configuration assembly accessible by the first computing device, comprising: a device discovery assembly adapted for actively discovering the second computing device on the network and further adapted to facilitate identification of the second device via a sensory identification event; and a device setup assembly adapted for initiating configuration of the second computing device via the network.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the first computing device comprises a display and an input device.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the second computing device comprises a network device.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 53 , wherein the network device comprises a cache server.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 53 , wherein the network device comprises a file server.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 53 , wherein the network device comprises an application server.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 53 , wherein the network device comprises a web server.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device configuration assembly is disposed on the first computing device.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a network addressing assembly.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 60 , wherein the network addressing assembly comprises a network address management server coupled to the network.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 60 , wherein the network addressing assembly comprises a network addressing module adapted for internally managing network addresses of devices coupled to the network.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 60 , wherein the network addressing assembly comprises a dynamic address assignment module.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device configuration assembly comprises a user interface.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises an address request monitor adapted to discover an address request from the second computing device.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 65 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises an address assignment module adapted to assign a network address to the second computing device in response to the address request.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises an address assignment monitor adapted to discover an address assignment to the second computing device.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a device identification module adapted to discover device information of the second computing device and to identify the second computing device based on the device information.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a device locator module adapted for communicating an identification signal between the device locator module and an identification assembly coupled to the second computing device.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 69 , wherein the identification assembly comprises a physical triggering mechanism configured to activate a unit identification indicator in a graphical user interface.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 70 , wherein physical triggering mechanism comprises a button.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 69 , wherein the identification assembly comprises a sensory output mechanism configured to emit sensory output upon selection of the second computing device via a graphical user interface.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 72 , wherein the sensory output mechanism comprises a light.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises a device search module adapted to search the network for the second computing device based on desired parameters.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 70 , wherein the desired parameters comprise a desired network address range.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device setup assembly comprises a device configuration module adapted to configure operational parameters of the second computing device.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 76 , where the device configuration module comprises a remote configuration module coupled to the network, the remote configuration module comprising device specifications.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device discovery assembly comprises means for discovering the second computing device.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the device setup assembly comprises means for configuring the second computing device.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 51 , wherein the second device is headless.
Claim 84
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for remotely configuring a networked computing device, comprising: a network analysis module adapted to determine a network address of a desired device coupled to a network; a device identification module adapted to search for and identify the presence of the desired device based on desired parameters and to facilitate identification of the desired device via a sensory identification event; and a device configuration module adapted to configure the desired device via the network.
Claim 85
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for remotely configuring a networked computing device, comprising: a network analysis module adapted to determine a network address of a desired device coupled to a network; a device identification module adapted to search for and identify the presence of the desired device based on desired parameters and to facilitate identification of the desired device via a sensory identification event; and a device configuration module adapted to configure the desired device via the network.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the desired device comprises a network appliance.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the desired device comprises a web server.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the network analysis module comprises a network analysis program disposed on a memory device and accessible by a computing device coupled to the network.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the network analysis module comprises a network communication monitor adapted to detect a network transmission associated with the desired device.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the network analysis module comprises an address assignment monitor adapted to detect an address assignment associated with the desired device.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the network analysis module comprises a network scanner module adapted to search an address range of the network for the desired device.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the device identification module comprises a device type identifier module adapted to discover a desired type of the desired device based on the desired parameters.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the device identification module comprises a device locator module adapted to identify the desired device via an identifier signal communicated between the desired device and the device locator module.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 81 , comprising a network address assignment module adapted to assign the network address to the desired device.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 81 , comprising a network address management server having the network analysis module.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the device configuration module comprises a network configuration module adapted to configure network parameters for the desired device.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 81 , where the network configuration module comprises a communication module adapted to initiate remote configuration of desired device.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the desired device is headless.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the device identification module comprises a device locator module adapted to activate a unit identification indicator of a graphical user interface upon receipt of an identification signal from the desired device.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 81 , wherein the device identification module comprises a device locator module adapted to trigger a sensory output event from the desired device upon selection of the desired device from a graphical user interface.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-07-02 | 2011-01-01 | 2011-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-07-02 | 2015-01-01 | 2015-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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