Apparatus and accompanying methods for providing, through a centralized server site, an integrated virtual office environment, remotely accessible via a network-connected web browser, with remote network monitoring and management capabilities

A method for use in apparatus which interacts with and is communicatively connected to a device for remotely configuring itself to the device through a wide area network connection between the apparatus and an administrative web site, the apparatus having a processor and a memory, connected to the processor, for storing computer executable instructions therein, wherein the method comprises the steps, performed by the processor in response to execution of the stored instructions, of:

• detecting whether only a default profile for the device is then stored within the memory;
• if only the default profile is so stored, establishing a first secured network connection, through the WAN, to the administrative web site using specific predefined login parameters stored within the apparatus and valid for the administrative web site but unrelated to a customer of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus identifies itself, through a unique identifier associated therewith, to the administrative web site so as to invoke a management session, over the WAN, with the administrative web site;
• once the management session has been established, obtaining customer-specific login parameters associated with an account for accessing the WAN by the customer who is to use the apparatus in conjunction with the device;
• after receiving the customer-specific login parameters, tearing down the first secured connection and establishing a second secured network connection, through the WAN but over a network modality different from the first secured network connection, to the administrative web site and then, using the customer-specific login parameters, re-establishing the management session with the administrative web site;
• once the management session has been re-established, downloading a profile, from the administrative web site, that characterizes the device;
• and
• in response to the profile, configuring constituent components of the apparatus so as to conform operation of the apparatus to corresponding characteristics of the device as defined in the profile such that the apparatus can properly interact with the device.