Patent ID: 7058711

Claim:
A method for remotely managing a network, comprising: providing a first client network comprising a first client network management system; providing a second client network comprising a second client network management system; providing a service provider network management system, wherein said service provider network management system is provided with an address of said first client network management system and an address of said second client network management system; providing a communication link between said first client network management system and said service provider network management system; providing a communication link between said second client network management system and said service provider network management system; in response to said first client network management system initiating a communication addressed to said service provider network management system, wherein said service provider network management system cannot initiate communications with said first client network, wherein communications from said service provider network management system to said first client network management system are only completed as part of a response to a communication initiated by said first client network management system, and wherein said communication addressed to said service provider network management system is formatted according to an Internet protocol; the step of: establishing at least a first virtual network management system on said service provider network management system, wherein said first virtual network management system comprises a database that mirrors said first client network management system, and wherein a technician using said service provider network management system can manage said first client network without having real time access to said first client network; and in response to said second client network management system initiating a communication addressed to said service provider network management system, wherein said service provider network management system cannot initiate communications with said second client network, wherein communications from said service provider network management system to said second client network management system are only completed as part of a response to a communication initiated by said second client network management system, and wherein said communication addressed to said service provider network management system is formatted according to an Internet protocol; the step of: establishing at least a second virtual network management system on said service provider network management system, wherein said second virtual network management system comprises a database that mirrors said second client network management system, and wherein a technician using said service provider network management system can manage said second client network without having real time access to said second client network.