METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SET OF NETWORK APPLIANCE WHICH CAN BE CONNECTED TO PROVIDE ENHANCED COLLABORATION, SCALABILITY AND RELIABILITY

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an appliance that supports the remote monitoring of various measured data. SOLUTION: The device may monitor a variable or a set of variables and output the data upon request. In addition, the appliance may issue alarms, alerts, warning and/or other notifications when a variable matches a setpoint or undergoes a specific change, deviation and/or fluctuation. Further the appliance may be operable to communicate with other appliances. The communication may comprise periodic pinging of peer appliances. In this manner, a peer appliance may detect a failure in other network-enabled appliances when an anticipated ping is not received. Further, the communication may enable the establishment of a directory of capabilities of various appliances. In this manner, a group of appliances may perform more complex behaviors by grouping resources. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT