Dynamic monitoring and authorization of an optimization device

1. A system for monitoring and authorizing operation of an optimization device in a network, comprising:

an optimization device comprising:

an interface module that facilitates communication between the optimization device and the network;

an optimization module that facilitates data transfer across the network using at least one optimization technique; and

a storage module in communication with the optimization module, the storage module including memory to store at least one copy of selected data for use in the at least one optimization technique, the selected data for use in the at least one optimization technique comprising a subset of data facilitated for transfer across the network by the optimization module; and

at least one portal in communication with the interface module of the optimization device, wherein the portal:

receives an authorization request message from the optimization device, the authorization request message comprising a customer identifier and customer location where the optimization device is deployed;

determines, based at least in part on the customer identifier, that the optimization device is authorized for operation;

determines capability parameters for the optimization device, the capability parameters including a plurality of expiry parameter thresholds at which the optimization device is to report device usage information to the portal, the device usage information including an amount of data transferred; and

transmits an authorization response message to the optimization device, the authorization response message comprising the determined capability parameters, wherein the authorization response message further comprises configuration information to configure a firewall at the optimization device to access a remote software service provider.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the capability parameters for the optimization device comprise at least one of a cumulative data processing capacity for modules of the optimization device, and a data rate limit for the optimization device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the capability parameters for the optimization device comprise an expiry parameter, a warning parameter, and a refresh parameter.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of expiry parameter thresholds in the capability parameters for the optimization device further comprise a warning parameter threshold and a refresh parameter threshold, where the optimization device is still authorized to operate at both the warning parameter threshold and the refresh parameter threshold.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of expiry parameter thresholds include at least a threshold for the optimization device to send an updated authorization request message and a threshold for the optimization device to cease operation.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of expiry parameter thresholds is a total data processing limit for the optimization device measuring an amount of data processed by the optimization device, exceedance of the total data processing limit causing the optimization device to cease to operate.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface module of the optimization device further facilitates communication between the optimization device and the remote software service provider via a secure data channel.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the secure data channel is an IPsec tunnel.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determined capability parameters for the optimization device further comprise configuration information to establish a secure data channel between the optimization device and the remote software service provider.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device usage information comprises at least one of an amount or rate of data transmitted on a LAN side of the optimization device, an amount or rate of data received on the LAN side of the optimization device, an amount or rate of data transmitted on a WAN side of the optimization device, an amount or rate of data received on the WAN side of the optimization device, or an amount of operating time of the optimization device.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authorization request message further comprises information regarding a service provider utilized by the optimization device, or password associated with the customer.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the authorization request message further comprises a request to access the remote software service provider.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optimization module further transmits data via a secure data channel between the optimization device and a second optimization device at the remote software service provider using the at least one optimization technique.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one optimization technique comprises at least one of compression, deduplication, performance enhancing proxy, error correction, and TCP acceleration.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portal further:

receives an updated authorization request message from the optimization device upon expiration of at least one expiry parameter threshold, the updated authorization request message comprising an amount of usage of the optimization device;

verifies that the amount of usage in the updated authorization request message for the optimization device is within allowed limits; and

transmits an updated authorization response message to the optimization device comprising at least one updated expiry parameter threshold for the optimization device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one updated expiry parameter threshold is based at least in part on the amount of usage of the optimization device in the updated authorization request message.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portal further:

receives an updated authorization request message from the optimization device, the updated authorization request message comprising information regarding a type of usage of the optimization device;

verifies that the type of usage in the updated authorization request message from the optimization device is within allowed limits; and

transmits an updated authorization response message to the optimization device comprising information regarding at least one updated expiry parameter threshold for the optimization device.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portal further:

receives an updated authorization request message from the optimization device upon expiration of at least one expiry parameter threshold, the updated authorization request message comprising an amount of usage of the optimization device;

verifies that the amount of usage in the updated authorization request message for the optimization device is outside of allowed limits; and

transmits an updated authorization response message to the optimization device comprising at least one original expiry parameter threshold for the optimization device.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portal further:

receives an updated authorization request message from the optimization device, the updated authorization request message comprising an amount of usage of the optimization device;

processes information in the updated authorization request message;

determines, based at least in part on the amount of usage, that the optimization device is not authorized for further operation; and

transmits an updated authorization response message to the optimization device comprising capability parameters for the optimization device with an expiry time for the optimization device set at a past time.