Patent ID: 7543049
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for discovering a device on a computer network, the method comprising: providing key data to be sent with an initiation message, wherein the initiation message comprises an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request message, and wherein the ICMP echo request message uses a variable packet size option to embed the key data; sending the initiation message by an origination device on a computer network to an undiscovered destination device on the computer network, wherein the initiation message includes the key data, and wherein the undiscovered destination device comprises an electronic or computing device that the origination device has not sent electronic communications to; receiving the initiation message by the undiscovered destination device; obtaining the key data by the undiscovered destination device from the initiation message and providing key reply data based on the key data; and sending an initiation reply by the undiscovered device to the origination device on the computer network, wherein the initiation reply includes the key reply data, wherein the initiation reply comprises an ICMP echo reply message, wherein the ICMP echo reply message embeds the key reply data, wherein a key reply data size is the same as a key data size, wherein the key reply data is different from the key data, wherein the key data comprises a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) message, and wherein the SNMP message comprises one or more SNMP get strings.