Processing node for eliminating duplicate network usage data

• US 20020099806A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhou, Qin, Jiang, Jingjie, Beuree, Jerry J., Balsamo, Phillip, Landon, Timothy C.
• Application Number:
  US09/728,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20020099806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/06 for supporting key management in a packet data network cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management H04L9/08

Abstract

A data collection system includes a plurality of node host computers. Each node host computer has a node manager, at least one processing node and a data manager. The data manager delivers network records between processing nodes. The processing nodes include an input queue and an output queue. In some embodiments at least one of the nodes has a plurality of output queues. The processing nodes are arranged in configurable chains of processing nodes. The chains are disposed across one or more of the plurality of host computers to process network records. The at least one processing node having the plurality of output queues can couple records from the plurality of output queues to input queues of corresponding processing nodes, based on a selected distribution method and/or selected content of records. The system can include an administrative client that displays a graphical user interface and an administrative server communicating with the node host computers and the administrative client. The administrative server stores files of executable code that can be dynamically downloaded from the server to configure the client and change the graphical user interface dynamically while the graphical user interface is running. The system includes a order enhancer node that can remove duplicate records produced from gathering statistics concerning network data packets and can order records for delivery to subsequent nodes in the system.

Claims

1. A method for removing duplicate records produced from gathering statistics concerning network data packets comprises:

determining whether a session key associated with the network record maps to an active session and, if the session key maps to an active session, determining whether a record key associated with the NAR exists within the session;

dropping the network record if the session key exists in the session.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving network packets; and

producing from the network packets the network records that contain statistics derived from the network packets.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

routing the network records to an order enhancing node to perform the actions of determining and dropping.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the session key maps to an already propagated session key and dropping the NAR if the session key maps to an already propagated session key.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

passing through the NAR if the NAR is a pass through type NAR.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein if the session key does not map to an active session, the method further comprising:

adding the session key to an active sessions table; and

adding the NAR as part of the session.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the session is complete.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein if the session is complete, sequencing all NARs in the session according to a record number sequence.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

propagating to an output file all NARS according to record number sequence for the session.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

removing the session from the active session table and session time table after propagating NARs to the output file.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

adding the session to a process session list.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if the session key maps to an already propagating session and if so dropping the network record.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the network packets are provided by use of a wireless networking protocol.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

adding the session key to a session list if the session key does not map to an already propagated session.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining whether a session key associated with the network record maps to an active session and, if the session key maps to an active session, determining whether a record key associated with the NAR exists within the session.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

dropping the network record if the session key exists in the session.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

adding the network record to the session if the session key does not exist in the session.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

determining whether the protocol of the network transmission allows for determining if the session is complete.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein if the session is complete,

sequencing all NARs in the session according to a record number sequence;

propagating to an output file all NARS according to record number sequence for the session; and

removing the session from the active session table and session time table after propagating NARs to the output file.

15. A method for removing duplicate records produced from gathering statistics concerning network data packets transmitted by a wireless protocol comprises:

determining if a session key associated with a record maps to an already propagating session and if so dropping the network record.

21. A computer program product residing on a computer readable media for removing duplicate records produced from gathering statistics concerning network data packets comprises instructions for causing a computer to:

determine whether a session key associated with the network record maps to an active session and, if the session key maps to an active session;

determine whether a record key associated with the NAR exists within the session; and

drop the network record if the session key exists in the session.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising instructions to:

determine whether the session key maps to an already propagated session key; and

drop the NAR if the session key maps to an already propagated session key.

23. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising instructions to:

pass through the NAR if the NAR is a pass through type NAR.

24. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising instructions to:

add the session key to an active sessions table; and

add the NAR as part of the session, if the session key does not map to an active session.

25. The computer program product of claim 21 further comprising instructions to:

determine whether the session is complete; and

if the session is complete,

sequence all NARs in the session according to a record number sequence.

26. A data collection system comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing a computer program product for execution in the processor, for removing duplicate records produced from gathering statistics concerning network data packets comprises instructions for causing a processor to;

determine whether a session key associated with the network record maps to an active session and, if the session key maps to an active session;

determine whether a record key associated with the NAR exists within the session; and

drop the network record if the session key exists in the session