Autonomous network device configuration method

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of configuring one or more target network devices for operation, that further comprises the steps of creating an object for deployment to a predetermined target network device, the object having configuration data for configuring the target network device, and at least one of identification data identifying the object, an autonomous encapsulated agent for executing necessary steps for installing the configuration data, identification data identifying the predetermined target network device, and authentication data for authenticating at least one of the predetermined target network device identification data and object identification data, transporting the object to the predetermined target network device, and the autonomous encapsulated agent begins an on-site process of installing the configuration data in the predetermined target network device.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for creating an object to configure a target device, said apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing machine readable instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
 create an object for deployment to a target network device, said object having identification data identifying said object; 
 insert configuration data in the object, said configuration data to configure said target network device; 
 insert an autonomous encapsulated agent in said object, wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is to autonomously install the configuration data into the target network device; 
 insert identification data identifying said target network device in said object; and 
   insert authentication data in said object authenticating at least one of said target network device identification data and object identification data.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the machine readable instructions are further to cause the processor to transport the object having the inserted configuration data, autonomous encapsulated agent, target network device identification data, and object identification data to the target network device. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to trigger execution of code embedded in the configuration file to expose a programmatic interface to the target network device. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein, following installation of the autonomous encapsulated agent in the target network device, the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 authenticate the identification of said target network device;   install said configuration data in said target network device; and   abort an on-site installing process of the configuration data in response to a failure in the authentication of the target network device identification.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 destroy the configuration data subsequent to the on-site installing process being completed or aborted.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 destroy the configuration data in response to the on-site installing process not completing within a first predetermined time period.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the machine readable instructions are further to cause the processor to:
 transfer the object to an intermediate device that is to transfer the object to the predetermined target network.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the intermediate device comprises one of a laptop computer, a notebook computer, and a personal digital assistant device. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the target network device comprises one of a computer, server, router, network switch, node, gateway, printer, scanner, and multi-function device. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus to create an object to configure a target network device for operation, said apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing machine readable instructions that when executed cause the processor to:
 create an object for deployment to a target network device, said object having configuration data to configure the target network device, an autonomous encapsulated agent to autonomously install the configuration data into the target network device, and at least one of identification data identifying said object, identification data identifying said predetermined target network device, and authentication data for authenticating at least one of said predetermined target network device identification data and object identification data. 
   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the machine readable instructions are further to cause the processor to transport the object to the target network device. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to trigger execution of code embedded in the configuration file to expose a programmatic interface to the target network device. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein, following installation of the autonomous encapsulated agent in the target network device, the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 authenticate the identification of said target network device;   install said configuration data in said target network device; and   abort an on-site installing process of the configuration data in response to a failure in the authentication of the target network device identification.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 destroy the configuration data subsequent to the on-site installing process being completed or aborted.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 destroy the configuration data in response to the on-site installing process not completing within a first predetermined time period.   
     
     
         32 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium on which is stored machine readable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to:
 create an object for deployment to a target network device, said object having identification data identifying said object;   insert configuration data in the object, wherein the configuration data is to configure said target network device;   insert an autonomous encapsulated agent in said object, wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is to autonomously install the configuration data into the target network device;   insert identification data identifying said target network device in said object; and   insert authentication data in said object authenticating at least one of said target network device identification data and object identification data.   
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 32 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to trigger execution of code embedded in the configuration file to expose a programmatic interface to the target network device. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 32 , wherein following installation of the autonomous encapsulated agent in the target network device, the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 authenticate the identification of said target network device;   install said configuration data in said target network device; and   abort an on-site installing process of the configuration data in response to a failure in the authentication of the target network device identification.   
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 34 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 destroy the configuration data subsequent to the on-site installing process being completed or aborted.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 35 , wherein the autonomous encapsulated agent is further to:
 destroy the configuration data in response to the on-site installing process not completing within a first predetermined time period.