Mediation Apparatus for Firewall Command Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile device management systems are inadequate for managing devices that do not communicate directly with the management server.
Innovation Solution
A communication system comprising a first mediation apparatus and a second mediation apparatus, where the first mediation apparatus communicates with the management server via the internet and the second mediation apparatus communicates with devices through a local network, using a correlation database to facilitate command transmission and response handling across firewalls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If devices connect directly to the management server via Internet, then communication simplicity is improved, but device accessibility is worsened (devices behind firewalls cannot connect)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediation apparatus as an intermediary component between devices behind firewalls and the management server. The mediation apparatus receives commands from the management server via Internet, translates them into appropriate protocols, and forwards them to the target devices through the firewall. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling device accessibility without requiring direct Internet connectivity from the devices, thus maintaining communication simplicity while expanding adaptability to protected networks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mediation apparatuses are introduced to manage devices behind firewalls, then device accessibility is improved, but system complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device management system into distinct functional components: the management server handling high-level commands, the mediation apparatus handling protocol translation and firewall navigation, and the target devices executing commands. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving device accessibility while managing system complexity through modular design where each segment operates independently with well-defined interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The mediation apparatus serves as an intermediary that absorbs the complexity of firewall navigation and protocol translation, shielding the management server from these complexities. The mediator handles the intricate tasks of command translation, response forwarding, and maintaining correlation databases, thus improving device accessibility while containing system complexity within the mediation layer rather than propagating it throughout the entire system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If commands are relayed through mediation apparatuses, then device manageability is improved, but information loss is worsened (response transmission challenges)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the mediation apparatus receives execution results from target devices, translates them back into appropriate response formats, and forwards them to the management server. The correlation database maintains mapping relationships between device identifiers and mediation apparatus identifiers, ensuring accurate routing of feedback information. This feedback loop improves device manageability by enabling two-way communication while minimizing information loss through systematic response translation and forwarding.
Solution Approach 2:
The mediation apparatus creates and maintains a correlation database that copies and stores the mapping relationships between device identifiers and mediation apparatus identifiers. This copied information structure enables the mediation apparatus to efficiently lookup and translate commands and responses without losing information about the original device-apparatus relationships. The copying mechanism ensures that response transmission information is preserved and accurately routed back to the management server.
Data Source
AI summary
In a communication system, a first mediation apparatus includes a first control device. The first control device stores in a memory a correlation database correlating a mediation apparatus ID of the second mediation apparatus with a first device ID of a device. The first controller requests a management server to register the first device ID, and receives a first command from the management server. The first controller transmits a second command to the second mediation apparatus through the firewall by using a series of procedures. The second command includes second instruction information based on the second command. The first controller transmits a first response to the management server. The second mediation apparatus includes a second control device to initiate the series of procedures and transmits a third command based on the second command to the device, and transmits a second response as to the first mediation apparatus through the firewall.