Cloud Offloading Device Management Interface Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional device management systems are complex and costly, requiring additional components and resources for user interfaces, which increases the expense and complexity of managing devices.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based management system that offloads user interface functions from managed devices to a cloud service, allowing devices with limited computing resources to be managed and monitored remotely, reducing the need for local protocols and interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional device management systems implement web services or SNMP protocols directly on managed devices, then user management interface functionality is provided, but device complexity and cost increase due to additional components, software, and memory requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the web server and user interface functionality from the managed device and relocates it to a cloud-based server. The managed device only retains minimal communication functionality to exchange data with the cloud server, eliminating the need for complex local web servers, UI rendering engines, and associated software components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based server acts as an intermediary between the managed device and the user. Instead of users interacting directly with the managed device through local web interfaces, all management operations are routed through the cloud server, which handles web service protocols, UI rendering, and user authentication.
2Productivity
If managed devices implement full user interface and management capabilities locally, then direct control and reporting is enabled, but additional software and memory resources are required on each device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the user interface, web server, and management processing capabilities into a single cloud-based server that serves multiple managed devices. Instead of each device having its own complete management stack, these resources are consolidated in the cloud and shared across the entire device fleet.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based server provides universal management capabilities that can control and report on multiple different types of managed devices through a single platform. The server implements standardized protocols to work with various devices without requiring each device to have device-specific management software.
3Reliability
If devices are equipped with comprehensive management components and protocols, then robust management and control is achieved, but expense and complexity of managing devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the management interface and control plane in the cloud that mirrors the functionality of local management systems. The cloud server replicates web interface capabilities, authentication mechanisms, and control protocols, allowing devices to be managed remotely with the same robustness as local management without requiring the physical hardware and software on the devices themselves.
Data Source
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AI summary
A managed device is provided that includes a network interface, a controller, and a module to provide manageable operations of the device. The controller communicates with at least one of a cloud service or an agent to send an identifier and to receive a token from the cloud service or the agent. The controller validates the token and receives management information from the cloud service.