Internet protocol appliance manager

A system for allowing remote access to an IP endpoint device on a communications network, the system comprising:

• a communications server adapted to manage communications functions of a selected IP endpoint via a signal channel media processor and a private network, the communications server comprising:
• a remote communications application residing on the communications server adapted to communicate with a remote diagnostic system via a public network, the remote communications application adapted to receive a query for the IP endpoint from the remote diagnostic system and to provide a response to the query received from the IP endpoint to the remote diagnostic system;
• and
• an appliance manager application residing on the communications server adapted to:
• send a first message addressed to a control port of the signal channel media processor, the first message comprising a command requesting the performance of a selected telecommunications function at the IP endpoint;
• tunnel the command to the IP endpoint via a tunneling port of the signal channel media processor;
• and
• receive a response from the IP endpoint via the signal channel media processor,
• wherein the communications server is adapted to be isolated from the private network via the signal channel media processor, and the application manager application is adapted to allow limited communication between the communications server and the IP endpoint via the signal channel media processor.

A system for allowing remote access to an IP endpoint device on a communications network, the system comprising:

• a communications server for managing telecommunications functions of a selected IP endpoint via a bearer channel media processor and a private network, the communications server means comprising:
• a remote communications application for communicating with a remote diagnostic system via a public network by receiving a query for the IP endpoint from the remote communications system and providing a response to the query received from the IP endpoint;
• and
• an appliance manager for:
• reading a IP endpoint identifier from the query received by the remote communications;
• comparing the IP endpoint identifier to a table of endpoint identifiers in accessible via the private network;
• if the IP endpoint identifier is in the table, tunneling the query to the IP endpoint via a tunnel port of the bearer channel media processor;
• receiving a response from the IP endpoint via a second port of the bearer channel media processor, wherein the communications server is adapted to be isolated from the private network via the bearer channel media processor, and the appliance manager allows limited communication between the communications server and the IP endpoint;
• and
• if the IP endpoint identifier is not in the table, blocking the query from being sent to any IP endpoint.