Patent ID: 7886340
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for controlling access to management applications on devices in a communication network and securely conveying device management traffic to and from said management applications in a distributed computer network including one or more management information communication partners, one or more devices, and one or more communication networks, said apparatus comprising: one or more processor; a memory element; one or more management connection means; one or more in-band connection means; and one or more out-of-band connection means; said management information communication partners selected from the group comprising: said management connection means configured for operatively coupling with managed devices thereby enabling the conveyance of said device management traffic to and from said managed devices; said managed devices selected from the group comprising one or more of said devices in the distributed computer network; said in-band connection means configured for operatively coupling with one or more of said communication networks thereby enabling the conveyance of said device management traffic to and from said management information communication partners; said out-of-band connection means configured for operatively coupling with one or more of said communication networks thereby enabling the conveyance of said device management traffic to and from said management information communication partners; wherein said apparatus is configured for conveying said device management traffic between one or more of said management information communication partners and one or more of said managed devices; wherein said device management traffic is conveyed between said management applications and said management information communications partners utilizing either one or more of said in-band connection means or one or more of said out-of-band connection means; wherein one or more of said in-band connection means comprises the primary means for conveying said device management traffic and one or more of said out-of-band connection means comprises the secondary means for conveying said device management traffic; wherein, when one or more of said primary means for conveying said device management traffic is available, said primary means is utilized for conveying said device management traffic, and wherein one or more of said secondary means for conveying said device management traffic is utilized for conveying said device management traffic when said one or more primary means for conveying said device management traffic is not available for conveying said device management traffic.