The present invention discloses improved systems and methods for multisite management of computer server systems and in particular converged communication systems based on a decentralized architecture. Certain and various aspects relating to atomic error handling, transaction-based authentication/security, intelligent bandwidth management, decoupled data/configuration messaging, improved scalability, auto-detection functions, business metrics, etc., also are disclosed. A console is disclosed that communicates with each of a plurality of converged communications systems, e.g., preferably through the use of sockets. The actual traffic load is decentralized among the computer server systems, as each one uses direct connections (e.g., via an enhanced file transfer protocol) to access update/configuration data as needed. In addition, an improved communication protocol is disclosed that is optimized for the multisite management architecture of the present invention. An improved set of graphical user interface (GUI) features are described that improve the efficiency of the management of multiple systems.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for providing a report database comprising reporting information gathered from a plurality of localized devices comprising the steps of: providing a server system to coordinate management activities for the plurality of localized devices; providing an abstraction layer that references the plurality of localized devices as “locations” rather than physical equipment, wherein the “locations” are defined by location identification information distinct from an IP address; wherein the server system communicates with an individual device of the plurality of localized devices via the abstraction layer to request software distribution information without requiring user initiation at the individual device; wherein the software distribution information provides the server system with information sufficient to generate reporting information comprised of “locations”; wherein the reporting information is gathered from two or more localized devices and imported into the report database, wherein the reporting information comprises geographic advertisement response information, wherein communications between the server system and the individual device are performed using a protectable communications protocol that includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be reversed upon an error in one of the plurality of transaction instructions.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communications between the server system and the individual device using the protectable communications protocol communicate via sockets.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software distribution information provide the individual device with information sufficient to establish a direct link with a software distribution server in order to receive software distribution data.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the direct link comprises an FTP link.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface software application, wherein bandwidth characteristics associated with the FTP link are configurable via the graphical user interface software application.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of FTP servers associated with backup, distribution, and or reporting tasks, wherein the FTP link provides a communication path between the server system and one or more of the plurality of FTP servers.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one FTP server is located externally to a private network associated with the server system.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geographic advertisement response information provides information indicative of responses to an advertisement in one or more geographic regions.
9. In a system having a plurality of localized computing devices in a plurality of geographically diverse sites, wherein information specific to each geographically diverse site is generated over time through at least one localized computing device associated with each geographically diverse site, a method for providing a report database comprising reporting information gathered from a plurality of localized devices, comprising: providing a server system to manage information associated with each of the plurality of geographically diverse sites; providing each of the plurality of geographically diverse sites with at least one localized computing device, wherein the localized computing device may be transferred from a first geographically diverse site to a second geographically diverse site or be “out of service” after some period of time; and providing an abstraction layer that enables management of information for each of the plurality of geographically diverse sites distinct from the plurality of localized computing devices, wherein “locations” are defined by location identification information distinct from an IP address; wherein the reporting information for the “locations” is gathered from a plurality of localized computing devices and imported into a report database, wherein the reporting information comprises geographic advertisement response information, wherein communications between the server system and one or more of the plurality of localized computing devices are performed using a protectable communications protocol that includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be reversed upon an error in one of the plurality of transaction instructions.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each geographically diverse site comprises a business entity.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the server system communicates with a localized computing device via the protectable communications protocol to provide software distribution instructions to the localized computing device.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a communications system, and wherein at least one of the localized computing devices comprises a localized communications device.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the geographic advertisement response information provides information indicative of responses to an advertisement in one or more geographic regions.
14. In a system having a plurality of computing devices, wherein reporting information specific to each computing device is generated over time, a method for providing a report database comprising the reporting information gathered from the plurality of computing devices, comprising: providing a server system to manage the plurality of computing devices; providing an abstraction layer that enables management of information for each computing device, wherein “locations” are defined by location identification information; wherein the reporting information for the “locations” is gathered from the plurality of computing devices and imported into a report database, wherein the reporting information comprises geographic advertisement response information, wherein communications between the server system and one or more of the plurality of computing devices are performed using a protectable communications protocol that includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be reversed upon an error in one of the plurality of transaction instructions.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the server system communicates with an individual computing device to request software distribution information without requiring user initiation at the individual computing device; and wherein the software distribution information provides the individual computing device with information sufficient to establish a direct link with a software distribution server in order to receive software distribution data.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the direct link comprises an FTP link.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface software application, wherein bandwidth characteristics associated with the FTP link are configurable via the graphical user interface software application.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of FTP servers associated with backup, distribution, and or reporting tasks, wherein the FTP link provides a communication path between the server system and one or more of the plurality of FTP servers.
19. A method of claim 14 , wherein the server system communicates with a computing device via the protectable communications protocol to provide software distribution instructions to the computing device.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the geographic advertisement response information provides information indicative of responses to an advertisement in one or more geographic regions.
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December 31, 2012
February 23, 2016
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