Secondary Communication Channel Management for Device Impediments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprises face challenges in monitoring and managing computing devices that cannot communicate effectively due to impediments in primary communication channels, which hinders compliance rule enforcement and security measures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a management component in client devices that utilizes secondary communication channels, such as SMS or peer-to-peer channels, to report events and receive commands from a management service, ensuring continuous compliance monitoring and security even when primary channels are unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enterprises use primary communication channels (data communication channels) for device management and monitoring, then communication efficiency and data transfer capability are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to communication failures when primary channels are impaired or blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary communication channel (SMS channel) as an intermediary backup when the primary data communication channel fails. The management service detects communication failures and automatically switches to using SMS messages for device management commands and status reports, ensuring continuous operation through an alternative communication path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the communication parameter (channel selection) based on the operational status of the primary channel. When the data communication channel is impaired, the system transitions from using data-based protocols to SMS-based protocols, altering the communication mode to maintain device management functionality.
2Reliability
If enterprises implement comprehensive device monitoring and compliance enforcement, then security and policy adherence are improved, but the system becomes unable to monitor devices that lose communication connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
SMS messages serve as an intermediary communication medium to transmit device status information and compliance data when primary data channels are unavailable. The management service uses SMS to receive device status reports and send compliance enforcement commands, preventing information loss during communication failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares backup communication capabilities by implementing SMS functionality in advance, so that when primary communication channels fail, the device can immediately switch to the pre-configured secondary channel without interruption in monitoring or compliance enforcement.
3Device complexity
If enterprises rely on a single primary communication channel for device management, then system simplicity is maintained, but communication failures can occur when the primary channel is blocked or impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The device management system incorporates multi-functionality by supporting both primary data communication channels and secondary SMS channels. The same management service and device components can operate through either channel type, making the system universal and adaptable to different communication conditions without requiring separate specialized systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are examples of managing devices through secondary communication channels. In some examples, a management component detects an impediment with a data communication channel for a device. The data communication channel can be a primary communication channel through which the device communicates with a management service. The management component detects an event associated with the device to report to the management service. The management component generates a message specifying the event, and the management component transmits the message to the management service through the secondary communication channel.