Patent ID: 7660266
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for managing a plurality of network connecting appliances comprising: first and second servers which can be connected to said plurality of network connecting appliances via a network; a first database which is connected to said first server and stores relationship between an identifier of each of said plurality of network connecting appliances and the second server responsible for the network connecting appliance; a second database which is connected to said second server and stores configuration data to be provided for each of said plurality of network connecting appliances such that the configuration data can be retrieved by using an identifier of the network connecting appliance; and a third database which is connected to said second server and stores function data to be provided for each of said plurality of network connecting appliances such that the function data can be retrieved by using an identifier of the network connecting appliance, wherein (a) each of said plurality of network connecting appliances comprises: first storage means for storing first connection data required for connecting to said first server; means for automatically sending an identifier of the network connecting appliance to said first server by using said first connection data stored in said first storage means in response to power being turned on; means for sending an identifier of the network connecting appliance to said second server by using a received second connection data when second connection data required for connecting to said second server, which is responsible for the network connecting appliances is received from said first server; means for automatically configuring the network connecting appliance by using said configuration data when the configuration data is received from said second server; and means for implementing a virtual function included in said function data as a physical function in the network connecting appliance by using said function data when the function data is received from said second server; (b) said first server comprises: means for receiving an identifier from each of said plurality of network connecting appliances; means for acquiring the second connection data required for connecting to the second server responsible for a network connecting appliance identified by using the received identifier from said first database; and means for sending said acquired second connection data to the network connecting appliance that has sent the identifier, and (c) said second server comprises: means for receiving an identifier from each of said plurality of network connecting appliances; means for acquiring configuration data to be provided for a network connecting appliance identified by using the received identifier from said second database; means for acquiring function data to be provided for a network connecting appliance identified by using the received identifier from said third database; and means for sending configuration data acquired from said second database and function data acquired from said third database to the network connecting appliance that has sent the identifier, wherein said second server further comprises: a fourth database storing a functional module which can be provided for said plurality of network connecting appliances, specification updating interface means for updating a specification for defining a service to be implemented in a particular network connecting appliance in said plurality of network connecting appliances, and specification analyzing means for analyzing an updated new specification by using said specification updating interface means, acquiring all the functional modules for forming said new specification from said fourth database, and updating function data to be provided for the particular network connecting appliance stored in said third database by using the function data formed by the acquired functional modules.