On-Demand Management Session Initiation for Customer Premises Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing modem sessions at customer premises are resource-intensive and vulnerable to security breaches, as they often require persistent connections that can be exploited by malicious individuals.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for initiating management sessions with customer premises devices, involving detection of a management session initiation command, obtaining an identifier for participating in the session, and using an address server to determine and acquire appropriate management addresses, allowing for secure and efficient troubleshooting without persistent resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a persistent management session is maintained to enable continuous monitoring and troubleshooting, then the ability to troubleshoot modem issues remotely is improved, but resource consumption inside the modem and network resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements on-demand management sessions that are activated periodically or event-driven rather than continuously maintained. The CPE device can initiate management sessions when specific conditions are met (e.g., connectivity issues detected, scheduled maintenance windows), allowing continuous monitoring capability without constant resource consumption. This transforms the persistent connection model into a periodic activation model.
2Ease of operation
If a persistent management session is maintained to enable continuous monitoring, then remote troubleshooting capability is improved, but security vulnerabilities increase due to potential hacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary security measures including authentication protocols and authorization checks before establishing management sessions. The system verifies the identity and permissions of entities attempting to initiate management sessions, preventing unauthorized access before it can occur. This proactive security approach addresses potential hacking threats before they can exploit the management session mechanism.
3Measurement precision
If service technicians are dispatched to subscriber premises to verify Internet connectivity, then accurate problem assessment is improved, but operational costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the CPE device and network management system to perform self-diagnosis and self-assessment of connectivity issues through automated management sessions. The system can independently verify Internet connectivity, diagnose modem status, and assess network performance without requiring external technician intervention. This self-service capability eliminates unnecessary technician dispatches while maintaining accurate problem assessment through automated monitoring and testing protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method for execution at a customer premises device, comprising detecting receipt of a command indicative of an intent of a management entity to initiate a management session, the command being a management session initiation command. Responsive to detecting receipt of the management session initiation command, an identifier for participating in a management session with the management entity is obtained. Also, a method for execution at a management entity, comprising obtaining a management address for a customer device and determining whether the management address is indicative of a an address capable of supporting a management session or an address incapable of supporting a management session. If the management address is indicative of an address incapable of supporting a management session, a command is sent to the customer device, causing it to obtain a management address capable of supporting a management session.