# US 2008/0189781 A1 · Remote management of electronic devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189781 A1 - Document ID: US20080189781A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/670,604 - Filed: 2007-02-02 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc. - Inventors: Rabindra Pathak; Eric Thomas Olbricht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189781A1 ## CPC - H04L 41/00: Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks - H04L 41/28: Restricting access to network management systems or functions, e.g. using authorisation function to access network configuration - H04L 41/34: Signalling channels for network management communication - H04L 63/0272: {Virtual private networks} - H04L 63/029: {Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes} - H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network - H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols - H04L 63/168: {above the transport layer} - H04L 67/563: Data redirection of data network streams - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A system and method for remotely managing a device connected on an intranet may include opening a private and secure communication channel between a management gateway connected on the intranet behind a firewall and a remote management console connected to the internet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method for remotely managing a device connected on an intranet in real time and on demand, comprising: opening and maintaining a private and secure communication channel between a management gateway connected on the intranet behind a firewall and a remote management console connected to the internet; sending a first request message from the remote management console to the management gateway regarding management of the device; sending a second request message from the management gateway to the device regarding management of the device; receiving a first response message at the management gateway from the device regarding the response of the device to the second request message from the management gateway; sending a second response message from the management gateway to the remote management console regarding the response of the device to the second request message. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: preventing the remote management console from accessing any device or application on the intranet except the management gateway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said opening and maintaining a private and secure communication channel includes: Initiating an HTTPS connection from the management gateway to the remote management console and performing mutual authentication. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said opening and maintaining a private and secure communication channel includes: employing HTTPS polling to maintain a persistent HTTPS connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said device is a multifunction printing (MFP) device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said first request message includes a command for the MFP device to undertake one of the actions selected from the group consisting of a firmware upgrade, a device reboot, a front panel access, a feature cloning, a device cloning, a security dashboard, a status update; a click count, a driver distribution, a supply management, a preventive maintenance, job accounting, and browsing the embedded web page of the MFP device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said management gateway is a software application installed on a server connected to the intranet, and said remote management console is a software application installed on a server at a site remote from said intranet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending a communication request message from the remote management console to the management gateway using a second communication channel which is different from said private and secure communication channel; and wherein said opening and maintaining said private and secure communication channel is performed by said management gateway in response to said communication request message. ### Claim 9 A method for remotely managing a device connected on a user's intranet behind a user firewall, comprising: providing a management gateway software application on a server connected on the intranet and which provides management control of the device; providing a remote management console at a remote site; sending a communication request message from the remote management console to the management gateway; in response to the communication request message, using the management gateway to open a private and secure internet communication channel between the management gateway and the remote management console; sending a first management request message from the remote management console to the management gateway regarding management of the device; sending a second management request message from the management gateway to the device regarding management of the device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving a first response message at the management gateway from the device regarding the response of the device to the second request message from the management gateway; sending a second response message from the management gateway to the remote management console regarding the response of the device to the second request message. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said communication request message employs one of an IM (instant message), SMS (Simple Messaging Service) and MMS (Multi-media Messaging Service) protocol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said opening a private and secure internet communication channel comprises opening an HTTPS connection between the management gateway and the remote management console. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising sending HTTP polling messages from the management console to the remote management console to maintain the HTTPS connection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: preventing the remote management console from accessing any device or application on the intranet except the management gateway. ### Claim 15 A method for remotely managing a network of multifunction printing (MFP) devices connected on a user's intranet behind a user firewall, comprising: providing a management gateway software application connected on the intranet and which provides management control of the network of MFP devices; providing a remote management console at a remote site; sending a communication request message from the remote management console to the management gateway; in response to the communication request message, using the management gateway to open a secure virtual tunnel between the management gateway and the remote management console; sending a first management request message through the secure virtual tunnel from the remote management console to the management gateway regarding management of one of the MFP devices; sending a second management request message through the secure virtual tunnel from the management gateway to the one of the MFP devices regarding management of the one of the MFP devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a first response message at the management gateway from the one of the MFP devices regarding the response of the one or the MFP devices to the second request message from the management gateway; sending a second response message from the management gateway through the secure virtual tunnel to the remote management console regarding the response of the one of the MFP devices to the second request message. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said communication request message employs one of an IM (instant message), SMS (Simple Messaging Service) and MMS (Multi-media Messaging Service) protocol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said opening a secure virtual tunnel comprises initiating an HTTPS connection from the management gateway to the remote management console. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising sending HTTP polling messages from the management console to the remote management console to maintain the HTTPS connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: preventing the remote management console from accessing any device or application on the intranet except the management gateway. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said first management request message includes a command for the one of the MFP devices to undertake one of the actions selected from the group consisting of a firmware upgrade, a device reboot, a front panel access, a feature cloning, a device cloning, a security dashboard, a status update; a click count, a driver distribution, a supply management, a preventive maintenance, job accounting, and browsing an embedded web page of the one of the MFP device.