Method and system for query-based management of multiple network resources

• US 20020147709A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rajarajan, Vij, Nedungadi, Kishnan, Hayes, Andrew, Kiernan, Casey, MacMahon, Mel
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/83 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• 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 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0266 using meta-data, objects or commands for formatting management information, e.g. using eXtensible markup language [XML]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 : Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 : Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/969 : Network layout and operation interface

Abstract

A method and system for query-based management of a plurality of resources in a network environment. The system uses web technology, preferably XML-technology, to receive and store information related to back-end resources and to provide a framework by which client computer systems can manage the plurality of back-end resources in a uniform manner. The system and method associates a search components to an object type, wherein the search components may come from different resources. Consequently, in a network environment having multiple resources, search information may be shared between different resources. Additionally, searching for a known objects retrieves information, both task and otherwise, associated with all shared resources. Thus a user can perform many different tasks just by searching for and locating the proper object. Furthermore, each of the resources may include a dedicated search engine for performing searches on dedicated resources.

Claims

1. A method of managing resources in a distributed network, the method comprising:

receiving a query from a client computer system in the distributed network;

accessing a plurality of resources in response to the query; and

providing management task options related to the query from more than one resource.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a request to display an instance of a managed object;

displaying attribute information related to the managed object; and

displaying task information received from at least two back-end resources in response to the request to display the object information.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving search information from a first one of the plurality of resources related a managed object type;

storing the search information in a search store;

receiving search handler information related to object type, the search handler relating to search functions on the resource;

in response to the request to display information, determining whether the information is in the search store, and if not retrieving the information from the resource using the search handler; and

displaying the information.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the search handler relates to a search engine on the resource.

5. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the search handler relates to search engines on more than one resource.

6. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the method further comprises:

in response to the request to display object information, retrieving information stored in the search store; and

displaying additional information from the search store to allow the user to refine the query.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the method further comprising:

associating a first search component with a first object type, wherein the first search component relates to object attributes managed by a first resource; and

associating a second search component with the first object type, wherein the second search component relates to object attributes managed by a second resource.

8. A computer program product readable by a computer and encoding instructions for executing the method recited in claim 1.

9. A computer program product readable by a computer and encoding instructions for executing the method recited in claim 2.

10. A computer program product readable by a computer and encoding instructions for executing the method recited in claim 3.

11. A computer program product readable by a computer and encoding instructions for executing the method recited in claim 7.

13. A computer program product as defined in claim 12 wherein the notification includes the search information.

14. A computer program product as defined in claim 12 wherein the search information relates to an object type managed by the new resource, the method further comprising:

determining whether the search information relates to an existing managed object type;

if so, associating the search information with the existing object type; and

if not, associating the search information with a new object type.

16. A system as defined in claim 15, wherein the management module comprises a search manager to receive and store search information, the search manager further communicates with the resources to perform the requested searches.

17. A system as defined in claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of resources provides information to the search manager in XML format.

18. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein one of the resources has a dedicated search engine for performing searches.

12. In a network environment having multiple resources, a computer program product readable by a computer and encoding instructions for executing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a notification that a new resource has been installed on the network environment, the installation process including communication information with the new resource;

retrieving search information associated with new resource;

storing the search information associated with the new resource; and

sharing the search information with another resource on the network.

15. A system for query-based management of a plurality of resources comprising:

a management module in communication with the plurality of resources, the management module capable of receiving a request to access information related to one or more of the plurality of resources and to receive search information from the plurality of resources, the request relating to a query; and

in response to the receipt of a query request, the management module performing search functions on more than one resource to display accessed information.