Abstract: A method of device maintenance, comprising: providing a maintenance network including a user site and a multi-device servicing site that provides maintenance to at least one target device in said user site; selecting, by a user, a degree of access of maintenance functions of said servicing site to at least one of maintenance-related information of said target device and commanding said target device to perform a maintenance-related task; and setting said degree of access.

Abstract: A method of device maintenance, comprising: providing a maintenance network including a user site and a multi-device servicing site that provides maintenance to at least one target device in said user site; selecting, by a user, a degree of access of maintenance functions of said servicing site to at least one of maintenance-related information of said target device and commanding said target device to perform a maintenance-related task; and setting said degree of access.

Abstract: A method of device maintenance, comprising: providing a maintenance network including a user site and a multi-device servicing site that provides maintenance to at least one target device in said user site; selecting, by a user, a degree of access of maintenance functions of said servicing site to at least one of maintenance-related information of said target device and commanding said target device to perform a maintenance-related task; and setting said degree of access.

Abstract: A method of device maintenance including determining that maintenance should be performed on a target device, automatically selecting a maintenance process including at least one maintenance task to effect said maintenance, automatically managing said maintenance process on a maintenance server separate from said target device, said maintenance server adapted to manage maintenance processes for a plurality of devices, said managing including at least monitoring the execution of said process and automatically performing at least one said maintenance-related task to effect at least a portion of said maintenance of said target device.

Abstract: An abstraction unit, comprising a conversion module adapted to translate general instructions, having a format that is independent of a target device model, to specific instructions for each of a plurality of different target device models, said module having at least one programmable and user accessible rule element which defines said translation; and a presentation module adapted to receive responses from a plurality of said target devices, said module having at least one programmable and user accessible rule element which converts said responses into a standardized response format that is independent of the device model that sent the response.

Abstract: A generic software logging package (item 13 or FIG. 1) for using with a user software application (12). The software logging package includes at least one function which stores logging data into at least one logging buffer (17) and at least one macro command (20) which expands into a conditional call to the at least one function, the conditional call including a call statement which transfers to the called function at least one redundant parameter.

Abstract: A method of device maintenance, comprising: determining that maintenance should be performed on a target device; automatically selecting a maintenance process including at least one maintenance task to effect said maintenance; automatically managing said maintenance process on a maintenance server separate from said target device, said maintenance server adapted to manage maintenance processes for a plurality of devices, said managing including at least monitoring the execution of said process; and automatically performing at least one said maintenance-related task to effect at least a portion of said maintenance of said target device.