System and Method for Serving and Managing Independent Access Devices

Abstract

A third party service provider can provide data, management, and configuration services to a plurality of unrelated entities. The services are separated from the management and configuration aspect, and a system of trust is arranged to avoid the unrelated parties affecting one another.

1 . A method of providing services from a service provider to a plurality of independent entities, the method comprising:
 facilitating, on a first set of one or more servers of said service provider, a first set of services that require said first set of one or more servers to trust said independent entities;   facilitating, on a second set of one or more servers of said service provider, a second set of services that require said independent entities to trust said second set of one or more servers; and   providing said first and second set of services to said independent entities.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a trust is established so that said first set of servers' trusts said second set of servers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said first set of servers provides data services and wherein said second set of services provides management and configuration services. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein each of said independent entities is organized as a single forest. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein each of said entities is organized as a single domain. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least one of said independent entities is embodied as a forest of computers that spans multiple customer sites. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first set of services comprises at least one of the following: virus protection services, remote access, backup, software sharing, and telephony services, and wherein said second set of services comprises at least one of the following: security, password management, software update, software distribution, access control. 
     
     
         8 . A system for providing computer services a to plurality of remotely located computers, the network comprising:
 a service forest for providing data services to said remotely located computers;   a management and configuration forest for providing management and configuration services to said remotely located computers;   said management and configuration forest and said service forest being separate from each other.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said remotely located computers are arranged into plural domains, and wherein each of said plural domains is associated with a separate customer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said remotely located computers are arranged into forests, and wherein at least one forest spans multiple customers. 
     
     
         11 . A network of computers comprising a service forest that trusts and provides services to a plurality of independent remotely located user computers, wherein the user computers trust and are managed and configured by a management forest of computers, and wherein the service forest trusts the management forest. 
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 11  wherein computers within said service forest implement telephony functions and email services for plural ones of said remotely located computers. 
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 11  wherein computers in said management and configuration forest implement security and password management, software updating and distribution, and configuration and management for plural ones of said remotely located computers.