System and method for managing information for a plurality of computer systems in a distributed network
First Claim
1. A method of managing information for a plurality of computers in a distributed network comprising the steps of:
- (A) collecting original data for each computer relating to at least one of a system, an application program and a user associated with said respective computer and storing the original data in a respective database;
(B) generating an index table including index data for each computer wherein the index data is configured (i) to identify at least a portion of the contents of the original data stored in the database, and (ii) to facilitate access to the databases over the distributed network;
(C) selecting at least one of the plurality of databases by scanning index tables and determining, using the index data, which of the databases contain original data responsive to a user query;
(D) accessing the selected databases to retrieve original data and generate an output therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for managing computers in a distributed computer network includes a collection agent for each computer being monitored, a local database coupled to each collection agent, one or more condensing agents coupled to the databases, and at least one console module. The condensing agent generates an index table from a source database and sends it upstream to the next level up in the hierarchy of databases. Other condensing agents may in turn act on this index table and send it up to a still further level, until a top-level master node has an index table reflecting the entire network. The console can use the index table to identify what databases contain needed data, and then make only selective connections to databases to answer queries, avoiding connections to all the local databases. The condensing agent also produces summarized data and sends it upstream as well, to be used by the console. Efficiency is improved over conventional systems. Use of the index method and the summary method can be transparent to (hid from) the user of the console, or may be made visible, with selection options.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of managing information for a plurality of computers in a distributed network comprising the steps of:
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(A) collecting original data for each computer relating to at least one of a system, an application program and a user associated with said respective computer and storing the original data in a respective database;
(B) generating an index table including index data for each computer wherein the index data is configured (i) to identify at least a portion of the contents of the original data stored in the database, and (ii) to facilitate access to the databases over the distributed network;
(C) selecting at least one of the plurality of databases by scanning index tables and determining, using the index data, which of the databases contain original data responsive to a user query;
(D) accessing the selected databases to retrieve original data and generate an output therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus for managing information for computers in a distributed network comprising:
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a collection agent associated with each of a plurality of computers configured to acquire and store original data related to a respective computer in a respective storage databases, said computers arranged in a logical tree style hierarchy;
at least one condensing agent for condensing said original data into index data, said index data configured (i) to identify at least a portion of the contents of said original data, and (ii) to facilitate access to said storage databases over the distributed network, said index data including fields corresponding to a position in said hierarchy;
a base database including said index data;
a console module configured to select storage databases for access thereto responsive to a user query for said contents, said console being further operative to use said index data to access said selected storage databases, retrieve original data, and generate an output. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for managing information for computers in a distributed network comprising:
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a first database configured to store original data related to a first computer, said original data corresponding to at least one of operational and configuration characteristics of hardware, software and user of said computers;
a condensing agent coupled to said first database and configured to generate summarized data based on said original data;
a base database having a first portion configured to store said summarized data and a second portion configured to store index data comprising at least connection information of said first database; and
a console module coupled to said base database and configured for operation in (i) a first mode to generate a first output based on said summarized data and (ii) a second mode wherein said console module uses said connection information in said index data to facilitate access to said first database to generate a second output. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of managing information for a plurality of computers configured for connection to a network, comprising the steps of:
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(A) collecting original data for each computer associated with said respective computer, while at least one of said computers is disconnected from said network, and storing the original data in a respective database;
(B) generating for each computer an index table including index data configured (i) to identify at least a portion of the contents of the original data stored in the database, and (ii) to facilitate access to the databases over the distributed network and wherein said index data reflects the at least one disconnected computer when reconnected to said network;
(C) selecting at least one of the plurality of databases by scanning index tables and determining, using the index data, which of the databases contain original data responsive to a user query;
(D) accessing the selected databases to retrieve original data and generate an output therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of managing information for a plurality of computers configured for connection to a network, comprising the steps of:
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(A) collecting original data for each computer associated with said respective computer, and storing the original data in a respective collection database wherein at least one of the computers is remote from its respective collection database (B) disconnecting the at least one computer from the network while its respective database remains connected to the network;
(C) generating, while the at least one computer is disconnected, a base database from said collection databases containing condensed data wherein the condensed data reflects one of an index table including index data or summarized data, the index data being configured (i) to identify at least a portion of the contents of the original data stored in the database, and (ii) to facilitate access to the databases over the distributed network;
(D) generating an output responsive to a user query using the base database. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of managing information for a plurality of computer systems in a distributed network comprising the steps of:
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(A) collecting original data associated with each computer system and storing the original data in a respective collection database associated therewith (B) selecting certain ones of the plurality of computer systems for search;
(C) issuing a first query to the selected computer systems each of which process the first query locally with respect to original data contained in its respective collection database;
(D) consolidating responses to the first query in a working database at a base location remote from the plurality of collection databases;
(E) applying a second query to the working database at the base location to produce a result set;
(F) generating an output using the result set. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification