Patent ID: 6662222
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a computer system including a plurality of managed devices and a system management apparatus for managing at least one device data item of each of said managed devices, wherein said managed devices and said system management apparatus communicate with each other via a network, each of said managed devices having a unique device data item and a keyword data item assigned thereto, and each of said managed devices being responsive to a scanning operation via said network for returning said assigned device data item and keyword data item, said system comprising:system management apparatus comprising: an information handler for handling a plurality of information data items in an information database, each information data item having a keyword data item correlated to said keyword data item associated with each of said managed devices; a device database for storing said device data items of said managed devices respectively, and for storing said keyword data items in association with said device data items respectively; device change detecting means for issuing system scanning commands to each of said managed devices, said device change detecting means being responsive to a system scanning response comprising said device data item and said keyword data item returned from each of said managed devices, for detecting at least one change including change to said devices and change to said device data items; first device database updating means for updating stored device data items and keyword data items, consistent with said detected device change; and second device updating means for automatically issuing system update commands comprising keyword data and updated device data items to said managed devices based on changes to said information database; wherein said information handler automatically interrogates said information database to determine whether said information data items require automatic updating in response to changes to said device data items; and managed devices comprising: device database means for storing device data items and associated keyword data items; and device database control means for updating device data items in response to received system update commands and for generating system scanning responses directly in response to system scanning commands.