Systems and methods for improved multisite management and reporting of converged communication systems and computer systems

1. A method for providing a report database comprising reporting information gathered from a plurality of localized devices comprising the steps of:

providing a server system to coordinate management activities for a plurality of localized devices;

providing an abstraction layer that references the localized devices as “locations” rather than physical equipment, wherein the “locations” are defined by location identification information distinct from an IP address;

wherein the server system communicates with an individual device of the plurality of localized devices via the abstraction layer to request software distribution information without requiring user initiation at the individual device;

wherein the software distribution information provides the server system with information sufficient to generate reporting information comprised of “locations”;

wherein the reporting information is gathered from two or more localized devices and imported into the report database,

wherein communications between the server system and the individual device are performed using a protectable communications protocol that includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be reversed upon an error in one of the plurality of transaction instructions.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein communications between the server system and the individual device using the protectable communications protocol communicate via sockets.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software distribution information provide the individual device with information sufficient to establish a direct link with a software distribution server in order to receive software distribution data.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the direct link comprises an FTP link.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface software application, wherein bandwidth characteristics associated with the FTP link are configurable via the graphical user interface software application.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of FTP servers associated with backup, distribution, and or reporting tasks, wherein the FTP link provides a communication path between the server system and one or more of the plurality of FTP servers.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one FTP server is located externally to a private network associated with the server system.

8. In a system having a plurality of localized computing devices in a plurality of geographically diverse sites, wherein information specific to each geographically diverse site is generated over time through at least one localized computing device associated with each geographically diverse site, a method for providing a report database comprising reporting information gathered from a plurality of localized devices, comprising:

providing a server system to manage information associated with each geographically diverse site;

providing each geographically diverse site with at least one localized computing device, wherein the localized computing device may be transferred from a first geographically diverse site to a second geographically diverse site or be “out of service” after some period of time; and

providing an abstraction layer that enables management of information for each geographically diverse site distinct from the plurality of localized computing devices, wherein “locations” are defined by location identification information distinct from an IP address;

wherein the reporting information for the “locations” is gathered from a plurality of localized computing devices and imported into a report database,

wherein communications between the server system and one or more of the plurality of localized computing devices are performed using a protectable communications protocol that includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be reversed upon an error in one of the plurality of transaction instructions.

9. A method of claim 8 , wherein each geographically diverse site comprises a business entity.

10. A method of claim 8 , wherein the server system communicates with a localized computing device via the protectable communications protocol to provide software distribution instructions to the localized computing device.

11. A method of claim 8 , wherein the system comprises a communications system, and wherein at least one of the localized computing devices comprises a localized communications device.

12. In a system having a plurality of computing devices, wherein reporting information specific to each computing device is generated over time, a method for providing a report database comprising the reporting information gathered from the computing devices, comprising:

providing a server system to manage the computing devices;

providing an abstraction layer that enables management of information for each computing device, wherein “locations” are defined by location identification information;

wherein the reporting information for the “locations” is gathered from a plurality of computing devices and imported into a report database,

wherein communications between the server system and one or more of the plurality of computing devices are performed using a protectable communications protocol that includes an atomic error handling capability to enable one or more transaction instructions to be reversed upon an error in one of the plurality of transaction instructions.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the server system communicates with an individual computing device to request software distribution information without requiring user initiation at the individual computing device; and

wherein the software distribution information provides the individual computing device with information sufficient to establish a direct link with a software distribution server in order to receive software distribution data.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the direct link comprises an FTP link.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface software application, wherein bandwidth characteristics associated with the FTP link are configurable via the graphical user interface software application.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of FTP servers associated with backup, distribution, and or reporting tasks, wherein the FTP link provides a communication path between the server system and one or more of the plurality of FTP servers.

17. A method of claim 12 , wherein the server system communicates with a computing device via the protectable communications protocol to provide software distribution instructions to the computing device.