Patent Publication Number: US-9838256-B2

Title: Method and system for remote device management

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of, and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/507,098, filed on Oct. 6, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/512,242, filed on Jul. 30, 2009, which claims priority to both EP 08013735.9, filed in the European Patent Office on Jul. 31, 2008, and EP 08161850.6, filed in the European Patent Office on Aug. 5, 2008, all four of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for remote device management. Also, the present invention relates to a system for remote device management. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Digital communication is well established by virtue of the Internet protocol (IP) that allows an electronic device to communicate to other electronic devices over a potentially world-wide network. 
     In such a network, the electronic device (often referred to as Customer Premises equipment, CPE) is typically coupled to the wide area network (WAN) (e.g., over digital subscriber line DSL), either directly or via a local area network (LAN). 
     CPE may be any type of electronic device capable of digital communication. For example, it may be a personal computer, a gateway or router, an electronic appliance such as a set-top box, a television set, an IP based telephone, etc. 
     Many CPE devices allow remote management over the wide area network, which relates to auto-configuration and dynamic service provisioning, software management, status and performance monitoring and diagnostics. The DSL Home-Technical Working Group describes in  DSL Forum, TR -069  amendment  1 , the CPE WAN management protocol  (November 2006), an end-to-end architecture for remote device management. (Recently, DSL-Forum has been renamed to BroadBand-Forum). In this architecture, a CPE device in a local network connects to an auto-configuration server (ACS) that is capable of providing service level settings for services available to the CPE. 
     Typically, the ACS is dedicated either to a certain level of services (e.g. premium, best effort), a type of device (e.g. Home Gateway, Voice over IP telephone, Set TopBox) or a specific customer group (e.g. business or residential). For that reason, it is adversely required that each CPE must be preconfigured before installation at the location of the customer to specifically address the proper ACS in dependence of the combination of options above available to the customer. To address the proper ACS, it will be required to pre-program the CPE with either a specific IP address or a specific URL (uniform resource locator) for the dedicated ACS. Alternatively to pre-configuration of the CPE, configuration of the CPE may be done during installation either by service personnel or by the customer, but this may be time-consuming and/or may be sensitive to errors and mistakes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a method that overcomes or reduces the problems of the prior art. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for remote device management comprising in a network an auto-configuration server managing device, at least one database, and a plurality of auto-configuration servers; the auto-configuration server managing device and the at least one database being coupled in a communicative connection; the at least one database being arranged for holding information for identification of electronic devices; the auto-configuration server managing device being arranged for communication with a manageable electronic device over the network, the manageable electronic device capable of sending a request for configuration data, the auto-configuration server manager further being arranged for:
         receiving the request from the manageable electronic device for configuration data,   determining an identification of the manageable electronic device by comparing the request with the information for identification of electronic devices of the at least one database,   determining an auto-configuration server from the plurality of auto-configuration servers in accordance with the identification of the manageable electronic device.       

     Advantageously, the method allows to configure any type of manageable electronic device at any given location and within any level of service or group specification without pre-configuring a dedicated address for configuration. The method will determine which specific auto-configuration server (ACS) is available for a given manageable electronic device, which allows to reduce the complexity of pre-installation and installation of devices. Also, the method allows a simpler manner to set up dedicated auto-configuration servers, since the addresses of the auto-configuration servers only need to be maintained in a central database. 
     Also, the method allows a separation of access networks and the services provider via the possibility of rerouting as defined in the invention. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for remote device management of a manageable electronic device in a network, the network comprising an auto-configuration server managing device, at least one database, and a plurality of auto-configuration servers; the auto-configuration server managing device and the at least one database being coupled in a communicative connection; the at least one database being arranged for holding information for identification of electronic devices; the auto-configuration server managing device being arranged for communication with the manageable electronic device over the network, the manageable electronic device capable of sending a request for configuration data, wherein the method comprises:
         receiving the request;   determining an identification of the manageable electronic device using a comparison of the request with the information for identification of electronic devices of the at least one database,   determining an identification of an auto-configuration server from the plurality of auto-configuration servers in accordance with the identification of the manageable electronic device.       

     Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer system for remote device management, the computer comprising a processing unit and memory, the memory being connected to the processing unit, the computer being arranged in a network, the network comprising at least one database, and a plurality of auto-configuration servers; the computer and the at least one database being coupled in a communicative connection; the at least one database being arranged for holding information for identification of electronic devices; wherein the computer is arranged for communication with a manageable electronic device over the network and for
         receiving a request from the manageable electronic device for configuration data,   determining an identification of the manageable electronic device by comparing the request with the information for identification of electronic devices of the at least one database,   determining an identification of an auto-configuration server from the plurality of auto-configuration servers in accordance with the identification of the manageable electronic device.       

     Additionally, the present invention relates to a computer program on a computer-readable medium to be loaded by a computer, the computer comprising a processing unit and memory, the processing unit being connected to the memory; the computer being arranged in a network, the network comprising at least one database, and a plurality of auto-configuration servers; the computer and the at least one database being coupled in a communicative connection; the at least one database being arranged for holding information for identification of electronic devices; wherein the computer is arranged for communication with a manageable electronic device over the network, the manageable electronic device capable of sending a request for configuration data, and wherein the computer program product after being loaded allows the processing unit to carry out:
         receiving the request from the manageable electronic device for configuration data,   determining an identification of the manageable electronic device by comparing the request with the information for identification of electronic devices of the at least one database,   determining an identification of an auto-configuration server from the plurality of auto-configuration servers in accordance with the identification of the manageable electronic device.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows an end-to-end architecture for remote device management from the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows an architecture for remote device management in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3 a , 3 b    show a flow diagram in accordance with a respective embodiment of a method of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  schematically shows a signal flow in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  shows a further signal flow in accordance with an embodiment, and 
         FIG. 6  shows an auto-configuration server manager in an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows an end-to-end architecture for remote device management from the prior art. 
     The end-to-end architecture relates to a network arrangement for remote device management. A local area network LAN is coupled to a wide area network WAN through an interfacing device  1  which is typically a manageable electronic device. The local network LAN may comprises one or more electronic devices  2 ,  3 ,  4  which are in a communicative connection with the interfacing device  1 . One or more of the electronic devices  2 ,  3 ,  4  may also be a manageable electronic device. 
     The local area network LAN may be a home network or an office network, i.e., a network located at a specific geographic location. Also, the local area network LAN may be a logical network which is distributed over a number of geographic locations. 
     The wide area network WAN provides connectivity to a plurality of interfacing devices in a wide area. For example, the wide area network is the global network arrangement known as the Internet. 
     In the local area network LAN and the wide area network WAN, electronic devices are arranged to have an address for identification on the respective network (i.e., communication is address based). A well known address scheme is the Internet Protocol address system that provides a so-called IP address to each electronic device coupled to the network. The methods for an electronic device to obtain an IP address for identification are known in the art. 
     Coupled to the wide area network are at least a first auto-configuration server ACS 1 , which comprises configuration data for a particular manageable electronic device, for example, the interfacing device  1  in the local area network LAN. A second auto-configuration server ACS 2  is shown which comprises configuration data for another particular manageable electronic device, for example the manageable electronic device  2  in the local area network LAN. 
     Configuration data for the auto-configuration server ACS 1  or ACS 2  is delivered from some provisioning systems (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ; P 4 , P 5 , P 6 ), which may relate to equipment specific, service level specific and/or customer specific configuration data. 
     Both the first and second auto-configuration servers ACS 1 , ACS 2  connect over the wide area network WAN to the local area network LAN (schematically shown by a respective dashed arrow-line) through the interfacing device  1 , which may be a so-called router. 
     In the method from the prior art, a manageable electronic device requires configuration data from a dedicated auto-configuration server, for example, as an initialization of the level of service available to the manageable electronic device after installation or as an update during operation. In that event the manageable electronic device needs to request configuration data from the specific auto-configuration server dedicated to the level of service or to the type of the manageable electronic device. As a consequence a specific (IP) address or URL must be ‘known’ to the manageable electronic device before contacting the auto-configuration server. The request will be handled in a well-known manner. The manageable electronic device sends a request to the address of the auto-configuration server. The auto-configuration server sends a reply to the manageable electronic device, in which the reply contains the requested data. In this case, the specific address or URL must be pre-configured for the device before installation at the local area network, which may depend on one or more parameters chosen from at least the level of service; the type of the device; the type of access network and/or a customer specific parameter. As a result, pre-configuration can be complex. 
       FIG. 2  schematically shows an architecture for remote device management in accordance with an embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 2  entities with the same reference number as shown in the preceding figure refer to corresponding entities. 
     Within the wide area network WAN, the architecture comprises a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM), a domain name server DNS, an auto-configuration server manager  25 , databases  26 ,  27 ,  28 , a plurality of auto-configuration servers ACS 1 , ACS 2 , ACS 3 . 
     The DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) is communicatively coupled to the domain name server DNS. The domain name server DNS is communicatively coupled to the auto-configuration server manager  25 . 
     The auto-configuration server manager  25  is arranged for controlling access to the auto-configuration servers ACS 1 , ACS 2 , ACS 3  as is indicated by the dotted lines. an embodiment of the auto-configuration server manager  25  is described below with reference to  FIG. 6 . The access control function (of the auto-configuration server manager  25 ) will be described below in more detail. 
     The auto-configuration server manager  25  is communicatively coupled to databases  26 ,  27 ,  28  for receiving information signals  26 A,  27 A,  28 A. The databases may be located in one or more database servers, which may be located remotely from one another, as is known to persons skilled in the Art. The databases  26 ,  27 ,  28  and information signals  26 A,  27 A,  28 A will be described below in more detail. 
     In an embodiment, the architecture further comprises a SADM (Service Activation Device Manager) which provides an interface to service providers such as ISP, CPE manufacturers for accessing the auto-configuration servers ACS 1 , ACS 2 , ACS 3  in a uniform manner. 
     The interfacing device  1 , such as a router, connects the local area network LAN to the wide area network WAN over a connection device  15 . In many occasions, the connection will be implemented using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, but in the present invention other alternative signal carriers capable of IP based communication such as optical fiber (e.g., fiber to the home, fiber to the curb), cable TV network(s), powerline or radio loops (e.g. UMTS) are considered applicable. In case of DSL technology, the interfacing device  1  is coupled to the DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM), which establishes a connection between the interfacing device  1  (and the local network LAN) and a WAN network switch (not shown). 
     In the wide area network WAN the domain name server DNS is arranged for resolving domain name requests from the (manageable) electronic devices in the local network LAN (or any electronic device in the wide area network). 
       FIG. 3 a    shows a flow diagram  100  in accordance with an embodiment of a method of the present invention. 
     A manageable electronic device in the local area network LAN requires configuration data from a dedicated auto-configuration server, for example the interfacing device  1  requires configuration data for auto-configuration server ACS 1 . 
     In the present invention an (IP) address or URL is provided in a memory of the manageable electronic device  1  as default address for the auto-configuration server ACS 1 , which default (IP) address or URL actually points to the auto-configuration server manager  25 . 
     The requesting manageable electronic device  1  sends its request to the wide area network WAN. In case the request comprises the IP address of the auto-configuration server manager, the DSLAM transmits the request to the network switch (not shown) that will relay the request to the auto-configuration server manager (as known in the art). In the alternative case that the request comprises an URL, the DSLAM transmits the request to the domain name server DNS which resolves the address of the request into an IP address. Based on the IP address the request can be relayed by the network switch. Alternatively, the in IRNA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) defined port for device management applications may be used to intercept the request independent of the IP address the request is issued on. 
     In a first action  101 , the auto-configuration server manager receives the request from the manageable electronic device  1 . Typically, the request comprises the IP address of the manageable electronic device  1  and information on the type or function of the manageable electronic device  1 . Optionally, the request may comprise information on the manufacturer or supplier of the manageable electronic device. 
     In a second action  102 , the auto-configuration server manager  25  compares the received IP address of the manageable electronic device with a first database  26  (or IP address database) that comprises IP address information on IP addresses that are valid for allowing access to (the service of) the auto-configuration server manager  25 . It can either do this directly or via a set of additional translations using the identification of the access line (or SIM card in case of wireless access), for linking a communication line to a customer. 
     Next, in action  103 , the auto-configuration server manager  25  checks (indicated by information signal  26 A) if the received IP address is a valid address in the first database  26 . If the match is successful, the method continues in action  104 , else the method continues in action  108 , that terminates the method. 
     In action  108 , the auto-configuration server manager  25  may optionally transmit a message to the requesting manageable electronic device that no server is available. After action  108 , the method ends in action  107 . 
     In action  104 , the auto-configuration server manager  25  resolves (by information signal  27 A) an identity of the service provider ISPID from the IP address by means of a second database  27  which comprises information that associates the identity of the service provider ISPID with the IP address of the manageable electronic device. 
     In a next action  105 , the auto-configuration server manager  25  resolves (by information signal  28 A) an IP address ACSID of the dedicated auto-configuration server from at least one of the identity of the service provider ISPID and the received IP address of the manageable electronic device  1  by means of a third database  28  which comprises information that associates the IP address of the dedicated auto-configuration server with at least one of the identity of the service provider ISPID and the IP address of the manageable electronic device. Advantageously, as a function of at least one of the identity of the service provider ISPID and the IP address of the manageable electronic device the auto-configuration server manager  25  is capable of selecting an identity ACSID for the dedicated auto-configuration server in relation to a pre-determined level of service. Typically, the identity ACSID comprises an IP address or an URL for the respective auto-configuration server ACS 1 ; ACS 2 ; ACS 3 . 
     Then in a further action  106 , the auto-configuration server manager  25  transmits the identity ACSID of the dedicated auto-configuration server to the manageable electronic device  1  that made the request. For example, the transmission may use a redirection mechanism which comprises instructions for the manageable electronic device  1  to re-transmit the request to the dedicated auto-configuration server identified by ACSID. In an embodiment, the redirection mechanism is based on the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) redirect function. 
     In action  107 , the method ends. 
     In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 b   , an alternative action  106   a  (as alternative to action  106 ) provides that the auto-configuration server manager  25  functions as an intermediate and relays the request from the requesting manageable electronic device  1  to the dedicated auto-configuration server as identified by ACSID, receives the reply from the dedicated auto-configuration server and transmits that reply to the manageable electronic device  1 . 
     The information of the first, second and third databases  26 ,  27 ,  28  may be provided by a service provider of the DSL network and/or DSLAM. 
       FIG. 4  schematically shows a signal flow in accordance with an embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 4  the manageable electronic device is represented by a line CPE, the auto-configuration server manager  25  by a second line AM and the dedicated auto-configuration server by a third line ACS 1 . Time t is represented in the downward direction. 
     At a time t 0 , the manageable electronic device CPE;  1  sends a first message M 1  to the default IP address or URL provided in the memory of the manageable electronic device  1  as address for a dedicated auto-configuration server, which default (IP) address or URL points to the auto-configuration server manager  25 . The first message comprises the request for configuration data from the dedicated auto-configuration server. Further the first message M 1  comprises at least the IP address (or URL) of the manageable electronic device as identification on the wide area network WAN, an identification of the type or function of the manageable electronic device and optionally additional identification, for example the identity of the supplier/manufacturer of the device. 
     The first message M 1  is received by the auto-configuration server manager  25 . The auto-configuration server manager  25  carries out the actions  101 - 107  of the method as described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , and sends a second message M 2  to the manageable electronic device CPE;  1 . 
     The second message M 2  comprises the reply which may be negative (after action  108 ) or confirmative (after action  106 ). In case the second message M 2  is confirmative, the second message M 2  comprises an IP address or URL for the dedicated auto-configuration server identified by ACSID. 
     Next, the manageable electronic device CPE;  1  re-transmits a third message M 3  to the IP address or URL associated with the dedicated auto-configuration server ACS 1  identified by ACSID. The third message M 3  comprises at least the request for configuration data from the dedicated auto-configuration server identified by ACSID. 
     The dedicated auto-configuration server ACS 1  receives the third message M 3  and transmits in response a fourth message M 4  to the manageable electronic device CPE;  1 . The fourth message M 4  comprises the configuration data requested by the manageable electronic device. The manageable electronic device receives the fourth message and uses the configuration data within the fourth message for any configuration purposes as described above. 
       FIG. 5  shows a further signal flow in accordance with an alternative embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 5  the manageable electronic device is represented by a line CPE, the auto-configuration server manager  25  by a second line AM and the dedicated auto-configuration server by a third line ACS 1 . Time t is represented in the downward direction. 
     At a time t 0 , the manageable electronic device CPE;  1  sends a first message M 1  to the default IP address or URL provided in the memory of the manageable electronic device  1  as address for a dedicated auto-configuration server, which (IP) address or URL points to the auto-configuration server manager  25 . The first message comprises a request for configuration data from the dedicated auto-configuration server. Further the first message M 1  comprises at least the IP address (or URL) of the manageable electronic device as identification on the wide area network, an identification of the type or function of the manageable electronic device and optionally additional identification, for example the identity of the supplier/manufacturer of the device. 
     The first message M 1  is received by the auto-configuration server manager  25 . The auto-configuration server manager  25  carries out the actions  101 - 105  of the method as described above to identify the dedicated auto-configuration server and subsequently the alternative action  106   a , in which the auto-configuration server manager  25  functions as an intermediate and relays a first relayed message M 5  to the dedicated auto-configuration server as identified by ACSID if the first message M 1  contains a valid request. The first relayed message M 5  comprises at least the request from the requesting manageable electronic device  1 . 
     It is noted that if the first message M 1  contains an invalid request, the auto-configuration server manager  25  may transmit a negative reply to the manageable electronic device in a similar manner as described with reference to  FIG. 3 a    and cancels further execution of the actions of the method. 
     Next, the dedicated auto-configuration server ACS 1  identified by ACSID receives the first relayed message M 5 . In response, the dedicated auto-configuration server ACS 1  transmits a reply M 6  to the first relayed message to the auto-configuration server manager  25 . 
     The reply M 6  to the first relayed message M 5  comprises the configuration data requested by the manageable electronic device. 
     The auto-configuration server manager  25  receives the reply from the dedicated auto-configuration server ACS 1  and relays that reply M 6  to the manageable electronic device  1  as a second relayed message M 7 . 
     The second relayed message M 7  comprises the configuration data requested by the manageable electronic device. The manageable electronic device receives the second relayed message and uses the configuration data within the second relayed message for any configuration purposes as described above. 
     It is noted that in a similar manner as described here for the interfacing device  1 , a manageable electronic device  2 ;  3 ;  4  residing in the local network LAN can be provided with configuration data. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that any manageable electronic device residing the local network LAN can have access to any electronic device in the wide area network WAN through interfacing device  1 , for example through the concept of network address translation (NAT). 
       FIG. 6  shows an auto-configuration server manager in an embodiment of the invention. 
     The auto-configuration server manager  25  may be implemented as a computer system  8 . The computer system  8  comprises host processor  121  with peripherals. The host processor  121  is connected to memory units  118 ,  119 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  which are arranged for storing instructions and data, one or more reading units  130  (to read, e.g., floppy disks  117 , CD ROM&#39;s  120 , DVD&#39;s, portable memory card devices, etc.), a keyboard  126  and a mouse  127  as input devices, and as output devices, a monitor  128  and a printer  129 . Other input devices as well as other output devices may be provided. 
     Further, a network I/O device  132  is provided for a connection to the network WAN. Other components of the computer system may be arranged on the network WAN. 
     The memory units shown comprise RAM  122 , (E)EPROM  123 , ROM  124 , tape unit  119 , and hard disk  118 . However, it should be understood that there may be provided more and/or other memory units known to persons skilled in the art. Moreover, one or more of them may be physically located remote from the processor  121 , if required. 
     The host processor  121  is shown as one box, however, it may comprise several processing units functioning in parallel or controlled by one main processor, that may be located remotely from one another, possibly distributed over the wide area network WAN, as is known to persons skilled in the art. 
     The host processor  121  comprises functionality either in hardware or software components to carry out respective functions for the implementation of the method of the present invention. 
     Skilled persons will appreciate that the functionality of the present invention may be accomplished by a combination of hardware and software components. Hardware components, either analogue or digital, may be present within the host processor  121  or may be present as separate circuits which are interfaced with the host processor  121 . Further it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that software components that are executable by the host processor may be present in a memory region of the host processor  121 . 
     The computer system  8  shown in  FIG. 6  is arranged for performing computations in accordance with the method of the present invention. The present invention relates also to a computer program on a computer readable medium, which computer program implements the method of the present invention. The computer system  8  is capable of executing the computer program (or corresponding program code or instructions) to carry out the method of the present invention after loading the computer program from the computer readable medium into the computer system. 
     It is noted that the present invention is not limited to providing configuration data to a manageable electronic device for a certain level of service, but the present invention may also be used for support provided by manufacturers of electronic equipment over the wide area network. For example, the present invention may be used as a service for networkable consumer electronics to provide software upgrades or diagnostics through a default configuration address (that may be valid in any location of the global Internet). In this case the request in the first message M 1  additionally comprises an identification of the supplier and/or an identification of the type of product. In this embodiment, the auto-configuration server manager  25  is capable to determine the auto-configuration server associated with the manageable electronic device based on at least one of the identification of the supplier and the identification of the type of product. 
     It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that other alternative and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceived and reduced to practice without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the invention being limited only by the appended claims.