OS Independent Device Management Methods and Apparatuses

Abstract

An apparatus adapted to facilitate remote configuration and/or management of a system, independent of its operating system, is disclosed. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a first and a second interface coupled to an input device and a network interface of the system respectively, and a controller.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first input/output (I/O) interface adapted to interface the apparatus to a network; and   a controller adapted to contact a remote configuration administrator for configuration information of a system, and to configure the system accordingly, the system having a storage, an operating system stored in the storage, and a processor coupled to the storage, wherein the controller is configured to contact the remote configuration administrator and configure the system independent of the operating system of the system.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a network interface, wherein the first I/O interface is coupled to the network through the network interface of the system. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises an input device; the apparatus further comprises a second I/O interface adapted to interface the apparatus to the input device of the system;
 wherein the controller is further adapted to log activations of keys of the input device, independent of the operating system, through the second I/O interface if the system is configured to operate with a key logging feature.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is further adapted to forward the logged key activations to a remote device through the second I/O interface. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a memory-bus controller to which the storage and the processor are coupled, wherein the apparatus is a discrete component coupled to the memory-bus controller. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a memory-bus controller of the system to which the storage and the processor are also coupled. 
   
   
       7 . A system comprising
 a network interface;   a storage having an operating system stored therein;   a processor coupled to the network interface and the storage; and   a by-pass controller having a first and a second input/output interface coupled to the input device and the network interface respectively, and adapted to facilitate remote access and configuration of the system, independent of the operating system.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system further comprises a memory-bus controller, to which the storage and the processor are coupled, and the by-pass controller is a discrete component coupled to the memory-bus controller. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system further comprises a memory-bus controller, to which the storage and the processor are coupled, integrally comprising the by-pass controller. 
   
   
       10 . A method comprising:
 a controller of a system having an operating system, contacting a remote configuration administrator for configuration information of the system independent of the operating system; and   the controller causing the system to be configured accordingly, independent of the operating system, based at least in part on the configuration information.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the controller further logs activations of keys of an input device of the system, independent of the operating system, if the system is configured to operate with a key logging feature. 
   
   
       12 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 computer readable storage medium;   a plurality of instructions stored in the storage medium, adapted to enable a controller of a system having in addition to the controller, a processor, an input device, and an operating system to   contact a remote configuration administrator for configuration information of the system independent of the operating system; and   cause the system to be configured accordingly, independent of the operating system, based at least in part on the configuration information.   
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further adapted to enable the controller to log activations of keys of an input device of the system, independent of the operating system, if the system is configured to operate with a key logging feature.