Patent ID: 8176137
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing a remote data processing system via a communications network, the method comprising: communicating with a remote data processing system associated with a trading partner on a technical parameter of the remote data processing system, wherein the technical parameter includes information related to operation characteristics of any combination of the remote data processing system, the communications network and a base data processing system in communication with the remote data processing system via the communications network, wherein the technical parameter is selected from the group consisting of: hardware configuration of the remote data processing system, hardware configuration of the base data processing system, software configuration of the remote data processing system, software configuration of the base data processing system, an installed version of a remote software module, an installed version of a base software module, an installed type of remote software module, an installed type of base software module, operational status data, performance metric data on performance of the remote data processing system, and performance metric data on performance of the base data processing system; receiving a report message on the technical parameter via the communications network; interpreting the report message by extracting the technical parameter from the report message, then evaluating the technical parameter that was extracted to determine evaluation information about whether and how the technical parameter is relevant to any one or more of operational status, maintenance, revision, and upgrading of any one or more of the remote data processing system, the communications network and the base data processing system; presenting the evaluation information of the report message on a user interface for review; and coordinating management of the technical parameter for the trading partner by allowing user modification of software features of the remote data processing system without requiring a technician to be at the location of the remote data processing system.