Method, apparatus and system for supporting multiple collaborative sessions in a bi-directional communication device

1. A method for supporting multiple diagnostic sessions in a bi-directional communication device, said method comprising:

receiving diagnostic session requests from a plurality of requesters;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating diagnostic information corresponding to a particular one of the diagnostic session requests received from a particular one of said verified requesters to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels,

wherein said establishing a communications channel further comprises saving session information such as, a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number for each of said verified requesters, and

wherein the requested information is communicated to each of said verified requesters via an available socket comprising the respective saved session information.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if communication of information to a requester fails, making available, to a subsequent requester, the communications channel associated with the failed communication.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said identification information comprises a user ID and a password.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said establishing a communications channel comprises assigning an available socket for communication with each verified requester.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising rejecting subsequent requests after a total number of available sockets has been assigned.

6. An apparatus for supporting multiple diagnostic sessions in a bi-directional communication device, said apparatus comprising:

a server;

a memory for storing program instructions; and

a processor for executing said instructions to configure the apparatus to perform the steps of:

receiving diagnostic session requests from a plurality of requesters;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating diagnostic information corresponding to a particular one of the diagnostic session requests received from a particular one of said verified requesters to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels,

wherein said establishing a communications channel further comprises saving session information such as, a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number for each of said verified requesters, and

wherein the requested information is communicated to each of said verified requesters via an available socket comprising the respective saved session information.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further configured to perform the step of:

if communication of information to a requester fails, making available, to a subsequent requester, the communications channel associated with the failed communication.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , further configured to perform the steps of:

rejecting subsequent requests after a total number of available sockets has been assigned.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said establishing a communications channel comprises assigning an available socket for communication with each verified requester.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said assigned sockets comprise a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said plurality of requesters comprise Telnet clients.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said plurality of requesters are network devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said server comprises:

a web server for enabling communication between a requesting device and a diagnostic engine; and

said diagnostic engine for performing the routines that are specified in each of said requests.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said apparatus comprises a modem.

15. An apparatus for supporting multiple Telnet sessions, comprising:

means for receiving Telnet session requests from a plurality of requesters;

means for verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

means for establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

means for communicating diagnostic information corresponding to a particular one of the diagnostic session requests received from a particular one of said verified requesters to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels,

wherein said establishing a communications channel further comprises saving session information such as, a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number for each of said verified requesters, and

wherein the requested information is communicated to each of said verified requesters via an available socket comprising the respective saved session information.

16. Computer-readable medium for storing a set of instructions, wherein when said set of instructions is executed by a processor perform a method comprising:

receiving Telnet session requests from a plurality of requesters;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating diagnostic information corresponding to a particular one of the diagnostic session requests received from a particular one of said verified requesters to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels,

wherein said establishing a communications channel further comprises saving session information such as, a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number for each of said verified requesters, and

wherein the requested information is communicated to each of said verified requesters via an available socket comprising the respective saved session information.

17. A network comprising:

at least one subscriber terminal comprising a Telnet client for initiating Telnet session requests;

at least one data servicing system comprising a Telnet client for initiating Telnet session requests; and

a network device comprising:

a Telnet server;

a memory for storing program instructions; and

a processor for executing said instructions to configure said network device to perform the steps of:

receiving Telnet session requests from said at least one subscriber terminal and said at least one data servicing system;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating diagnostic information corresponding to a particular one of the diagnostic session requests received from a particular one of said verified requesters to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels,

wherein said establishing a communications channel further comprises saving session information such as, a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number for each of said verified requesters, and

wherein the requested information is communicated to each of said verified requesters via an available socket comprising the respective saved session information.

18. The network of claim 17 , wherein said network device is further configured to perform the step of:

if communication of information to a requester fails, making available, to a subsequent requester, the communications channel associated with the failed communication.