Importance

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Abstract

A method involves retrieving from an email message, information concerning at least one remotely monitored device. The method involves obtaining a line of the email message containing the information, decoding the line obtained from the email message if it has been encoded, and decrypting the decoded line. The decrypting involves using an abstract decrypter class configured to perform a virtual function and using any one of a plurality of derived decrypter classes each of which is configured as a derived class of the abstract decrypter class. The abstract decrypter class and the any one of the derived decrypter classes are collectively configured to decrypt the decoded email message, using the any one of the derived decrypter classes with the abstract decrypter class without having to modify the abstract decrypter class. An exemplary system for remotely monitoring devices uses the SMTP email protocol to send status, configuration, or other information concerning at least one of the devices in a MIME attachment of an email message. A POP3 processing module in the receiver of the email has a class structure. An interface class accesses an email server and obtain the email message including the MIME attachment. An extractor class extracts the MIME attachment from the email message, and a decoder class performs Base64 decoding of the attachment. An abstract decrypter class and each of plural derived decrypter classes configured as a derived class thereof, permit flexibility in adopting new decryption processes without having to modify the abstract decrypter class.

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