Patent ID: 7814181

Claim:
A method of configuring a network element at a customer premise via a mobile data terminal, the method comprising: connecting the network element to the mobile data terminal; providing a secret to the network element by the mobile data terminal to establish a secure channel between the network element and the mobile data terminal responsive to analyzing the secret if the secret matches; providing a provisioning server network address/port provided to a network element by a mobile data terminal; controlling downloading of a configuration file to the network element from the provisioning server via the secure channel, wherein the configuration file is adapted to configure the network element for operation and comprises a network topology, addresses, and security parameters; wherein the mobile data terminal is distinct from the provisioning server; wherein the network element is selected form the group consisting of a router, switch, firewall, and gateway; wherein the network element is located at the customer premise; receiving transmission of a web page and an applet from the provisioning server at the mobile data terminal, the web page and the applet related to the network element upon authentication of the customer at the provisioning server; establishing a handshake between the applet and the network element; and receiving a serial number from the network element, the downloading of the configuration file responsive to the received serial number.