MILARRS Add-on Module for Legacy Device Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of networked devices, including legacy devices without native management capabilities, creates challenges for IT administrators in managing heterogeneous systems, leading to high costs and complexity due to the lack of standardized management solutions and the need for expensive upgrades or additional software.
Innovation Solution
An add-on module providing extrinsic MILARRS (Monitoring, Inventory, Logging, Alerting, Recovering, Reporting, and Securing) functionality through a state agent and product agent that communicates with devices using serial interfaces, enabling remote management and conversion of device data into a homogeneous management format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If legacy devices without native management capabilities are included in the network, then device coverage is improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network management system as an intermediary that bridges legacy devices without native management capabilities and modern network management infrastructure. The system uses serial interface communication to extract device state information and translates it into standardized network management formats, enabling management of legacy devices like projectors and medical equipment without requiring modifications to the devices themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical/physical management interfaces with a software-based information extraction and translation system. Instead of requiring legacy devices to have built-in network management hardware, the system uses serial communication protocols and data parsing to retrieve device state information, substituting physical management interfaces with software abstraction layers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple management standards (SNMP, IPMI, DCML, WMX) are implemented to manage diverse devices, then device compatibility is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal network management system that can handle multiple device types and communication protocols through a single integrated platform. The system uses a standardized serial interface for device communication and translates various device-specific protocols into a unified internal representation, eliminating the need for separate management systems for different device categories.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from implementing multiple management standards simultaneously to using a single standardized internal representation that can accommodate various external protocols. The system transforms diverse device data formats into a consistent internal model, allowing the same management software to interface with devices using different native protocols without requiring multiple specialized management systems.
3Ease of operation
If management functionality is built into devices at design time, then management capability is improved, but development cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts management functionality from the device design phase and places it in the network management system. Instead of requiring device manufacturers to build management capabilities into their products, the system extracts essential management functions (state monitoring, data extraction, information translation) and implements them separately in the network management infrastructure, allowing devices to be manufactured without management hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive serial interface communication and software-based data parsing instead of expensive built-in management hardware in devices. The management functionality is implemented as software that can be deployed without physical modifications to devices, reducing both development cost and hardware complexity while maintaining full management capability.
4Quantity of substance
If existing management protocols (SNMP, IPMI) are used, then data transport capability is improved, but autonomous management ability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments management functionality into distinct components: data extraction (using serial interfaces), data translation (converting to standardized formats), and management execution (autonomous actions). This segmentation allows the system to handle both data transport and autonomous management by separating these functions, enabling protocols to focus on data communication while management logic provides autonomous decision-making and execution capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An add-on module provides extrinsic management functionality to legacy and other devices. Contemplated modules include: (a) a state agent that provides at least one of the MILARRS function, and (b) a product agent that communicates with the device using at least one serial interface. Implementations are contemplated for both legacy devices that natively provide less than complete MILARRS functionality, and newly developed devices for which the developer desires a ready-made implementation of MILARRS functionality.