Patent ID: 7496685

Claim:
A method for managing a device within a private network using a management device external to the private network, the method comprising: receiving a message at the management device including device information, a first network address, and a second network address to identify the device as a source of the message; extracting the first network address and the device information from the received message; associating the device information with the device using the first network address; associating the first network address, used to uniquely identify the device within the private network, with the second network address used to uniquely identify the device externally of the private network; associating a third network address, used to uniquely identify the management device within a second private network, with a fourth network address used to uniquely identify the management device externally of the second private network and the private network including the device; establishing an information exchange path between the device and the management device; and providing for management of the device via use of the first network address at the management device, wherein the management device is included within the second private network, and wherein problems or faults associated with the device are identified at the management device using the first network address of the device.