Patent ID: 9178859
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: querying a piece of network-connected equipment for a plurality of attribute values characterizing the equipment, the plurality of attribute values including first component-specific information identifying components of the equipment, and first location-specific information identifying a present location of the equipment; receiving, in response to the querying, information about the piece of network-connected equipment, wherein the information includes the plurality of attribute values characterizing the equipment; comparing the attribute values to stored values, the stored values including second component-specific information identifying authentic components of the equipment, and second location-specific information identifying a location of where the equipment was known to be installed; when one or more of the attribute values corresponding to the first location-specific information are determined not to match the stored values corresponding to the second location-specific information, from the comparing, designating the equipment as non-authentic equipment; when one or more of the attribute values corresponding to the first component-specific information are determined not to match the stored values corresponding to the second component-specific information, from the comparing, designating the equipment as non-authentic equipment, wherein the comparing comprises verifying for the first component-specific information that the piece of network-connected equipment, when repaired, was repaired in an authorized repair facility; and querying the non-authentic equipment for a corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) address and host name, and utilizing the IP address and the host name to determine the location of the non-authentic equipment targeted for replacement.