1 A remote system controller (RSC) for interfacing an IP network running SNMP to a plurality of network devices, the RSC comprising:
a microprocessor unit adapted to run IP and to be connected to the network, the microprocessor unit being configured to represent a contiguous block of IP addresses to a SNMP network management station NMS or appropriate local SNMP agent, the number of IP addresses in said block being at least equal to the number of devices, and
memory means connected to and accessible by the microprocessor unit, the memory means being configured to comprise a standard SNMP MIB corresponding to each IP address in said block of IP addresses.
2 A RSC according to claim 1 wherein:
at least one IO port is adapted for connection to a plurality of non-IP, legacy or proprietary devices to be monitored andor controlled by the RSC,
a respective one of said MIBs is associated with each device in said plurality of devices,
said respective MIB is adapted to be populated with data from or concerning its associated device so as to enable the RSC to communicate with said device via a protocol conversion routine determined by said data in the respective MIB.
3 A RSC according to claim 1 wherein:
at least one IO port is adapted for connection to a plurality of IP devices to be monitored andor controlled by the RSC,
each one of said plurality of IP devices has a native IP address that is not an IP address within said block of IP addresses assigned the RSC,
a respective one of said MIBs is associated with each device in said plurality of devices,
said respective MIB is adapted to be populated with data from or concerning its associated device so as to enable the RSC to communicate with said device via an address translation routine determined by said data in the respective MIB.
4 A RSC according to claim 1 wherein:
an IO port is adapted for connection to a non-IP, legacy or proprietary device,
one of said MIBs is associated with said non-IP, legacy or proprietary device,
said one MIB is adapted to be populated with data from or concerning the associated device whereby the RSC can communicate with said device via an protocol conversion routine determined by said data in the respective MIB.
5 A RSC according to any preceding claim wherein:
the RSC has an IP address and is itself addressable via that address, and
the IP address of the RSC is the first or base address in the aforesaid block of addresses assigned to the RSC for devices serviced thereby.
6 A RSC according to any one of claims 2-5 wherein:
the RSC includes a software routine for interrogating or determining the status of a device connected thereto and for recording the status of that device in the MIB associated with that device,
whereby, upon occasions determined by said routine, or upon request by an NMS or agent requesting data concerning that device, the RSC will read the requested data from the MIB associated with that device and automatically return that data to the NMS or agent together with the IP address of that device assigned by the RSC thereto.
7 A RSC according to any one of claims 2-5 wherein:
the RSC includes a software routine for varying a controlled parameter of a device connected thereto by utilising address translation andor protocol conversion data stored in the MIB associated with said device,
whereby, upon occasions determined by said routine, or upon request by an NMS or agent directing adjustment of said parameter of said device, the RSC will activate said routine to effect a required variation or adjustment of said parameter.
8 A method of interfacing a plurality of non-IP devices to an IP network comprising the steps of:
connecting the devices to separate output ports on a remote system controller RSC,
associating a management information base MIB with each device and recording particulars concerning said device within the MIB,
associating a protocol conversion circuit with each device to enable communication with the device by the RSC,
assigning a block of IP addresses to the RSC and
assigning individual IP addresses from said block of addresses to individual devices,
whereby said devices can be individually addressed and interrogated using the IP addresses assigned thereto.
9 A method of interfacing a first network of IP devices to a second network of IP devices where there is duplication or conflict in the IP addresses between the first and second networks, the method comprising the steps of:
connecting the first and second networks to separate output ports on a remote system controller RSC,
associating a first management information base MIB within the RSC with the first network and recording the device addresses in the first network within the first MIB,
associating a second management information base MIB within the second network and recording the device addresses in the second network within the second MIB,
assigning first and second blocks of IP addresses to the RSC, which are different from the addresses employed within the first and second networks, and associating individual IP addresses from said first and second blocks of addresses to individual devices,
whereby said devices can be individually addressed and interrogated using the IP addresses assigned thereto.
10 A network system comprising:
a computer communications network running under TCPIP and SNMP,
a plurality of non-IP devices for connection the network,
an interface unit comprising a remote system controller RSC having a connection to the network, running TCPIP and SNMP and having a plurality of IP addresses assigned thereto,
IO ports in the RSC for each of the non-IP devices,
protocol conversion means associated with each of said IO ports adapted to communicate with the respective device,
a management information base associated with each protocol converter or IO port for storing information about the respective device, each MIB also being associated with one of the assigned IP addresses whereby the associated device appears to the network as an IP device at that address and whereby IP commands received by an MIB for the respective device are converted into signals intelligible by said device, andor whereby signals generated by said device and transmitted to the RSC are converted into IP signals identified with the IP address of that device and can be recorded in the associated MIB or placed on the IP network.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm comprising:
replacing a former portion of a firing mechanism of the firearm with a new portion, and constructing said new portion of the firing mechanism with a mechanical strength weaker than the former portion so that said new portion mechanically fails after significantly less rounds have been fired from the firearm than with the former portion.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein constructing said new portion of the firing mechanism with the weaker mechanical strength comprises constructing said new portion of a material whose yield strength is weaker than that of the former portion.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein constructing said new portion of the firing mechanism with the weaker mechanical strength comprises constructing said new portion with dimensions that obtain a smaller moment of inertia than that of the former portion.
4. A method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm comprising:
placing an element in the firearm, wherein after a certain number of rounds has been fired from the firearm, said element moves to a position that prevents a firing mechanism of said firearm from firing a round.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after the certain number of rounds has been fired, said element moves to a position that prevents a round from being chambered for firing.
6. The method according to claim 4, comprising providing said firearm with a shot counter that causes said element to move to the position that prevents the firing mechanism of said firearm from firing a round.
7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising providing a warning before the certain number of rounds has been fired that the firearm will soon be rendered unfit for firing.
8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising providing a processor that controls deployment of said element, said processor being programmable by a user to set the certain number of rounds to a user-selected number.
9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising providing a processor that controls deployment of said element, said processor being programmable by a user to set the certain number of rounds to a user-selected number.
10. The method according to claim 6, wherein said shot counter is programmable by a user to set the certain number of rounds to a user-selected number.
11. The method according to claim 1, comprising providing said firearm with a remote-controllable element that renders said firearm unfit for use after the certain number of rounds.