Device configuration and management development system

Abstract

A device configuration development system uses a common configuration and management database for the development of configuration and management data. A device management system for a set of devices is provided from the common and management data for the management and configuration of a set of devices. Each device in the set of devices is also provided with a subset of management and configuration data related to the device.

1 . A device information development system for developing and managing configuration and/or management information for devices, the system comprising:
 data storage means storing device data structured in accordance with a common model of parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the devices;   developer interface means for allowing a software developer to develop software for configuring and/or managing devices and to enter device data into the data storage means in accordance with the common model; and   software product building means for building a device configuration and/or management software product for configuring and/or managing at least one device, the software product builder being adapted to build the software product by reading data for at least one device from the data storage means structured in accordance with the common model for use by device management and control software to control a processing apparatus to configure and/or manage the devices using the data for the devices included in the product and to provide the data for a device to the device to allow local configuration and/or management at the device.   
   
   
       2 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the software product builder is adapted to build the software product by reading and including in the software product the software developed by the software developer, for loading onto devices for configuring and/or managing the devices. 
   
   
       3 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the devices comprise network devices and the common model is a model of parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the network devices. 
   
   
       4 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the devices are suitable for central remote management of the devices and local management of each device. 
   
   
       5 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the common model of parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the devices comprises a model of hardware characteristics, software characteristics and relationships therebetween. 
   
   
       6 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein said device data comprises configuration data and metadata, the metadata comprising management information for the configuration data and for the device. 
   
   
       7 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the device data includes interface data defining the configuration of a user interface to the device data. 
   
   
       8 . A device information development system according to  claim 7 , wherein the interface data defines the configuration of each element of a user interface related to the display and/or input of a configuration parameter and/or management parameter. 
   
   
       9 . A device information development system according to  claim 7 , wherein the interface data defines a management interface for configuring and/or managing the device and/or the device data. 
   
   
       10 . A device information development system according to  claim 7 , including user interface means for providing an interface to a user using the interface data. 
   
   
       11 . A device information development system according to  claim 10 , wherein the user interface means comprises a web server means for providing the user interface as a web page. 
   
   
       12 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the developer interface means is adapted to allow a developer to enter device data for a new device by copying device data for another device and modifying the device data. 
   
   
       13 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the developer interface means is adapted to generate code stubs for management functionality from the device data for combination with software provided by the software developer to control the device to develop the software for configuring and/or managing the devices. 
   
   
       14 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the database storage means comprises a relational database storage means. 
   
   
       15 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the common model is an object model comprised of hardware objects, software object, and interface objects linking the hardware and software objects. 
   
   
       16 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , including documentation storage means for storing documentation segments associated with respective parameters of the common model, and documentation input means to allow the input of documentation segments for association with respective parameters of the common model. 
   
   
       17 . A device information development system according to  claim 16 , including documentation generation means for generating documentation for a device by combining the stored document segments for parameters related to the configuration and/or management provided for the device. 
   
   
       18 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , wherein the common model includes a parameter to identify a configured device having configuration data for all configuration parameters, and a configuration profile for which some configuration data can be input to complete or modify the configuration data for a device. 
   
   
       19 . A device information development system according to  claim 18 , wherein the model includes a parameter to identify a configured device having some configuration data entered by a user and some configuration data provided from the partial configuration. 
   
   
       20 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , comprising a processing system, wherein the data storage means comprises a relational database, the developer interface means comprises a developer computer application implemented on the processing system, the software storage means comprises a storage device, and the software product building means comprises a software builder computer application implemented on the processing system. 
   
   
       21 . A device information development system according to  claim 1 , including software storage means storing device management and control software for configuring and/or managing a device, wherein said software product building means is adapted to build the software product to include the device management and control software. 
   
   
       22 . A device information development method for developing and/or managing configuration and/or management information for devices, the method comprising:
 providing a database storing device data structured in accordance with a common model of parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the devices;   entering device data into the database in accordance with the common model when a software developer develops software for configuring and/or managing devices; and   building a device configuration and/or management software product for use in the configuration and/or management of at least one device by including in the software product the data for a set of devices from the database store structured in accordance with the common model in the database for use by device management and control software to control a processing apparatus to configure and/or manage the devices using the data for at least one device included in the product and to provide the data for a device to the device to allow local configuration and/or management at the device.   
   
   
       23 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the software product building step includes in the software product the software developed by the software developer, for loading onto devices for configuring and/or managing the devices. 
   
   
       24 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the devices comprise network devices and the common model is a model of parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the network devices. 
   
   
       25 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the devices are suitable for central remote management of the devices and local management of each device. 
   
   
       26 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the common model of parameters related to the configuration and/or management of the devices comprises a model of hardware characteristics, software characteristics and relationships therebetween. 
   
   
       27 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein said device data comprises configuration data and metadata, the metadata comprising management information for the configuration data and for the device. 
   
   
       28 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the device data includes interface data defining the configuration of a user interface to the device data. 
   
   
       29 . A device information development method according to  claim 28 , wherein the interface data defines the configuration of each element of a user interface related to the display and/or input of a configuration parameter and/or management parameter. 
   
   
       30 . A device information development method according to  claim 28 , wherein the interface data defines a management interface for configuring and/or managing the device and/or the device data. 
   
   
       31 . A device information development method according to  claim 28 , including generating an interface to a user using the interface data. 
   
   
       32 . A device information development method according to  claim 31 , wherein the user interface is generated as a web page. 
   
   
       33 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein device data for a new device is entered by copying device data for another device and modifying the device data. 
   
   
       34 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , including generate code stubs for management functionality from the device data for combination with software provided by the software developer to control the device to develop the software for configuring and/or managing the devices. 
   
   
       35 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the database comprises a relational database. 
   
   
       36 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the common model is an object model comprised of hardware objects, software object, and interface objects linking the hardware and software objects. 
   
   
       37 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , including inputting and storing documentation segments associated with respective parameters of the common model. 
   
   
       38 . A device information development method according to  claim 37 , including generating documentation for a device by combining the stored document segments for parameters related to the configuration and management provided for the device. 
   
   
       39 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein the common model includes a parameter to identify a configured device having configuration data for all configuration parameters, and a configuration profile for which some configuration data can be entered to complete or modify the configuration data for a device. 
   
   
       40 . A device information development method according to  claim 39 , wherein the common model includes a parameter to identify a configured device having some configuration data entered by a user and some configuration data provided from the partial configuration. 
   
   
       41 . A device information development method according to  claim 22 , wherein device management and control software is built into the device configuration and/or management software product. 
   
   
       42 . A system for managing devices comprising:
 data storage means for storing management data for each device for managing and the device, the management data being structured in accordance with a common model of parameters related to the functioning and management of the devices;   communication means for communicating with the devices, each device having a copy of the management data for a respective device stored therein to provide for local management; and   device management means for controlling the communication means to send and receive data to and from the devices to provide receipt of management data from the devices.   
   
   
       43 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the device management means is adapted to send the copy of the management data to the devices. 
   
   
       44 . A system according to  claim 42 , including code module storage means for storing code modules for controlling devices, wherein each device can store therein a code module for controlling the device using the management data, and the device management means is adapted to send code modules from the code module storage means to the devices. 
   
   
       45 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein a code module is common for each type of device. 
   
   
       46 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the management data includes configuration data associated therewith, the management data comprising data defining a specific configuration instance, and the management data comprising metadata for the data defining management parameters for configured devices. 
   
   
       47 . A system according to  claim 46 , wherein the configuration data can define a configuration profile for which some user definable configuration data can be entered or modified, including user input means to allow a user to select a configuration profile and enter or modify the user definable configuration data to generate configuration data for a specific device instance for storage in the database storage means. 
   
   
       48 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the common model comprises a hardware model, a software model and relationships therebetween. 
   
   
       49 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the management data includes data defining a management interface to provide access to management data for a device. 
   
   
       50 . A system according to  claim 42 , wherein the communication means is arranged to provide a hypertext transfer protocol interface. 
   
   
       51 . A system according to  claim 42 , including a programmable processor, wherein the data storage means comprises a relational database, the communication means comprises a communications port, and the device management and control means comprises an application for implementation by the programmable processor. 
   
   
       52 . A method of managing devices comprising:
 storing management data for each device for managing the device, the management data being structured in accordance with a common model of parameters related to the management of the devices;   communicating with the devices, each device having a copy of the management data for a respective device stored therein to provide for local management; and   controlling the communication with the devices to send and receive data to and from the devices to provide for receipt of management data from the devices.   
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the copy of the management data is sent to the devices. 
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 52 , including storing code modules for controlling devices, wherein each device can store therein a code module for controlling the device using the management data, and code modules are sent to the devices. 
   
   
       55 . A method according to  claim 54 , wherein a code module is common for each type of device. 
   
   
       56 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the management data has configuration data associated therewith, the configuration data comprising data defining a specific configuration instance, and the management data comprising metadata for the data defining management parameters for configured devices. 
   
   
       57 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the configuration data can define a configuration profile for which some user definable configuration data can be entered or modified, the method including receiving a user selection of a configuration profile and entry or modification of the user definable configuration data to generate configuration data for a specific device instance for storage in the database storage means. 
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the common model comprises a hardware model, a software model and relationships therebetween. 
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the management data includes data defining a management interface to provide access to management data for a device. 
   
   
       60 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the communication with the devices is by hypertext transfer protocol. 
   
   
       61 . A centrally managed device comprising:
 storage means for storing data for the device structured in accordance with a common model of parameters related to the functioning and management of devices managed by a central management system;   communication means for communicating with the central management system; and   control means for controlling the device according to the stored data and for controlling the communication means to send management data to the central management system.   
   
   
       62 . A centrally managed device according to  claim 61 , wherein the stored data includes configuration data for use by the control means for controlling the device and the control means is adapted to control the communications means to receive the configuration data from the central management system. 
   
   
       63 . A centrally managed device according to  claim 61 , including code storage means for storing a code module, wherein the control means comprises a programmable processing means programmed by the stored code module to control the device according to the stored data. 
   
   
       64 . A centrally managed device according to  claim 63 , wherein the communication means is adapted to receive the code module from the central management system and to store the received code module in the code storage means. 
   
   
       65 . A centrally managed device according to  claim 61 , wherein the communication means includes user interface means for providing management data output to a user 
   
   
       66 . A centrally managed device according to  claim 61 , wherein the communication means includes a web server for communication using the hypertext transfer protocol. 
   
   
       67 . A method of controlling a centrally managed device comprising:
 storing data for the device structured in accordance with a common model of parameters related to the functioning and management of devices managed by a central management system; and   controlling the device according to the stored data and sending management data to the central management system.   
   
   
       68 . A method according to  claim 67 , including receiving configuration data from the central management system and storing the configuration data for use in controlling the device. 
   
   
       69 . A method according to  claim 67 , including storing a code module, wherein a programmable processing means is programmed by the stored code module to control the device according to the stored data. 
   
   
       70 . A method according to  claim 67 , wherein the code module is received from the central management system. 
   
   
       71 . A method according to  claim 67 , including providing a user interface for providing management data output to a user 
   
   
       72 . A method according to  claim 67 , wherein a web server provides for communication to the central management system using the hypertext transfer protocol. 
   
   
       73 . A device documentation generation system comprising:
 storage means for storing meta data for each of a plurality of parameters defining the characteristics of a plurality of devices, the meta data being stored in accordance with a common data model for the devices;   documentation input means for inputting documentation segments associated with meta data for respective parameters; and   document generation means for generating documentation for a device by combining document segments associated with meta data for parameters defining characteristics of the device.   
   
   
       74 . A device documentation generation system according to  claim 73 , wherein the parameters comprise configuration data and the meta data comprises management data. 
   
   
       75 . A device documentation generation system according to  claim 73 , wherein the document generation means is adapted to generate the documentation by incorporating the meta data into the documentation segments. 
   
   
       76 . A device documentation generation system according to  claim 73 , including documentation storage means for storing input documentation segments, wherein the meta data includes an indication of the language of the documentation to be generated for a device, the stored documentation segments comprise a documentation segment in more that one language for meta data for a parameter, and the document generation means is adapted to generate the documentation for a device using the documentation segments in the language indicated by the indication in the meta data for the device. 
   
   
       77 . A device documentation generation method comprising:
 storing meta data for each of a plurality of parameters defining the characteristics of a plurality of devices, the meta data being stored in accordance with a common data model for the devices;   receiving documentation segments associated with meta data for respective parameters; and   generating documentation for a device by combining document segments associated with meta data for parameters defining characteristics of the device.   
   
   
       78 . A device documentation generation method according to  claim 77 , wherein the parameters comprise configuration data and the meta data comprises management data. 
   
   
       79 . A device documentation generation method according to  claim 77 , wherein the documentation is generated by incorporating the meta data into the documentation segments. 
   
   
       80 . A device documentation generation method according to  claim 77 , including storing input documentation segments, wherein the meta data includes an indication of the language of the documentation to be generated for a device, the stored documentation segments comprise a documentation segment in more that one language for meta data for a parameter, and the documentation is generated for a device using the documentation segments in the language indicated by the indication in the meta data for the device. 
   
   
       81 . A device documentation generation system comprising:
 a storage device storing meta data for each of a plurality of parameters defining the characteristics of a plurality of devices, the meta data being stored in accordance with a common data model for the devices;   a program memory storing processor readable code; and   a processor for reading and implementing the code in the programme memory;   wherein the code stored in the program memory comprises code for controlling the processor to:   receive documentation segments associated with meta data for respective parameters; and   generate documentation for a device by combining document segments associated with meta data for parameters defining characteristics of the device.   
   
   
       82 . A device documentation generation system according to  claim 81 , wherein the parameters comprise configuration data and the meta data comprises management data. 
   
   
       83 . A device documentation generation system according to  claim 81 , wherein the code stored in the program memory includes code for controlling the processor to generate the documentation by incorporating the meta data into the documentation segments. 
   
   
       84 . A device documentation generation system according to  claim 81 , including a documentation storage device for storing received documentation segments, wherein the meta data includes an indication of the language of the documentation to be generated for a device, the stored documentation segments comprise a documentation segment in more that one language for meta data for a parameter, and the code stored in the program memory includes code for controlling the processor to generate the documentation for a device using the documentation segments in the language indicated by the indication in the meta data for the device. 
   
   
       85 . A device configuration development system for developing control code for devices, the system comprising:
 a code store storing a library of code stubs for providing device management functions;   a data store for storing meta data on device configuration parameters, the meta data comprising management information for the device configuration parameters;   an input device for inputting the meta data to the data store; and   code stub determining means for determining code stubs for a device to provide the management functionality defined in the input meta data using the library of code stubs in the code store.   
   
   
       86 . A device configuration development system according to  claim 85 , including code development means for allowing a developer to develop code for controlling a device and for receiving and integrating the determined code stubs to provide code for the device which provides management functionality as defined by the stored meta data. 
   
   
       87 . A device configuration development method for developing control code for devices, the method comprising:
 storing a library of code stubs for providing device management functions;   inputting and storing meta data on device configuration parameters, the meta data comprising management information for the device configuration parameters; and   determining code stubs for a device to provide the management functionality defined in the input meta data using the library of code stubs.   
   
   
       88 . A device configuration development method according to  claim 87 , including developing code for controlling a device and integrating the determined code stubs to provide code for the device which provides management functionality as defined by the stored meta data. 
   
   
       89 . A device management system for providing information defining a management interface for devices to provide for local and central management, the system comprising:
 data storage means storing device data structured in accordance with a common model for the management of the devices;   input means for inputting information defining a management interface for devices for storage in the device data; and   output means for outputting the device data as a set of device data to provide a management interface for the central management of the set of devices, and as device data for each device to provide the same management interface for the local management of each device.   
   
   
       90 . A device configuration development method for developing and managing configuration and management information for devices, the method comprising:
 storing device data structured in accordance with a common model of parameters related to the configuration and management of the devices;   inputting information defining a management interface for devices for storage in the device data; and   outputting the device data as a set of device data to provide a management interface for the central management of the set of devices, and as device data for each device to provide the same management interface for the local management of each device.   
   
   
       91 . A device management system for providing information defining a management interface for devices to provide for local and central management, the system comprising:
 a data store storing device data structured in accordance with a common model for the management of the devices;   a code memory storing processor readable code;   a processor for reading and implementing the code;   wherein the code comprises code for controlling the processor to:   input information defining a management interface for devices for storage in the device data; and   output the device data as a set of device data to provide a management interface for the central management of the set of devices, and as device data for each device to provide the same management interface for the local management of each device.   
   
   
       92 . A device configuration development system for developing and managing configuration and management information for devices, the system comprising:
 means for defining the required functionality of devices;   means for entering desired attributes for management of the devices; and   means for storing the entered attributes as a central database for central management of the devices and as a set of data in the devices for local management of the devices.   
   
   
       93 . A device configuration development method for developing and managing configuration and management information for devices, the method comprising:
 defining the required functionality of devices;   entering desired attributes for management of the devices; and   storing the entered attributes as a central database for central management of the devices and as a set of data in the devices for local management of the devices.   
   
   
       94 . A device configuration development system for developing and managing configuration and management information for devices, the system comprising:
 a memory device storing processor readable code;   a processor for reading and implementing the code in the memory device;   wherein the code stored in the memory device comprises code for controlling the processor to:   define the required functionality of devices;   enter desired attributes for management of the devices; and   store the entered attributes as a central database for central management of the devices and as a set of data in the devices for local management of the devices.   
   
   
       95 . A device documentation generation system comprising:
 storage means for storing meta data for each of a plurality of parameters defining the characteristics of a plurality of devices, the meta data being stored in accordance with a common data model for the devices;   documentation input means for inputting documentation associated with meta data for respective parameters; and   document generation means for generating documentation for a device by incorporating meta data for parameters defining characteristics of the device into the documentation.   
   
   
       96 . A device documentation generation system according to  claim 95 , wherein the documentation input means is adapted for inputting document segments associated with parameters defining characteristics of the device, and the documentation generation means is adapted to generate the documentation by combining document segments associated with meta data for parameters defining characteristics of the device. 
   
   
       97 . A device documentation generation method comprising:
 storing meta data for each of a plurality of parameters defining the characteristics of a plurality of devices, the meta data being stored in accordance with a common data model for the devices;   inputting documentation associated with meta data for respective parameters; and   generating documentation for a device by incorporating meta data for parameters defining characteristics of the device into the documentation.   
   
   
       98 . A device documentation generation method according to  claim 97 , wherein the input documentation comprises document segments associated with parameters defining characteristics of the device, and the documentation is generated by combining document segments associated with meta data for parameters defining characteristics of the device. 
   
   
       99 . A carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a computer to carry out the method of any one of  claims 20 ,  22 ,  52 ,  67 ,  77 ,  87 ,  90 ,  93 , or  97 .