Patent ID: 7418513
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing devices within a distributed data processing system, the method comprising: configuring a set of priorities for a set of communication protocols, wherein a user interactively assigns a priority in the set of priorities to a communication protocol in the set of communication protocols, establishing a scheme; receiving a request for a requested action at a requested target device within the distributed data processing system, wherein completion of the requested action depends upon communication protocol operations on each of a set of multiple devices along a logical route through the distributed data processing system to the requested target device, wherein the logical route defines a path between two endpoints connected to a gateway; identifying a set of multiple supported protocols that are common to the set of multiple devices along the logical route; determining a set of multiple allowable supported protocols in the set of multiple supported protocols based on the requested the action, wherein the set of multiple allowable supported protocols is a subset of the set of multiple supported protocols, and wherein each protocol in the set of multiple allowable supported protocols is usable to complete the requested action; in response to a determination of the set of multiple allowable supported protocols, selecting an allowable supported protocol for the requested action from the set of multiple allowable supported protocols, wherein selecting the allowable supported protocol for the requested action from the set of multiple allowable supported protocols comprises; granting the request for the requested action in accordance with the selected allowable supported protocol.