Method and System for Classifying Devices in a Wireless Network

• US 20080049642A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pyati, Rohit, Shankar, Rohit, Gudipudi, Srinivas, Singh, Kartik
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for classifying devices in a wireless network includes discovering, by a managing device, devices in the wireless network in accordance with discovery parameters. The discovery parameters include a parameter indicative of an IP address range. The method also includes retrieving, by the managing device, classification parameters from the devices. The method further includes comparing, by the managing device, the classification parameters with classification rules. The method further includes storing a device profile for each of the devices with classification parameters satisfying the classification rules.

Claims

1. A method for classifying devices in a wireless network, comprising:

discovering, by a managing device, one or more devices in the wireless network in accordance with one or more discovery parameters, the one or more discovery parameters comprising a parameter indicative of an IP address range and a parameter indicative of a hostname regular expression;

retrieving, by the managing device, a plurality of classification parameters from each of the one or more devices, the plurality of classification parameters comprising a parameter indicative of a device vendor, a parameter indicative of a device model, and a parameter indicative of a device firmware version;

comparing, by the managing device, the received plurality of classification parameters with one or more classification rules, the one or more classification rules stored in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file; and

storing a device profile for each of the one or more devices with classification parameters satisfying the one or more classification rules for use by the managing device.

2. A method for classifying devices in a wireless network, comprising:

discovering, by a managing device, one or more devices in the wireless network in accordance with one or more discovery parameters, the one or more discovery parameters comprising a parameter indicative of an IP address range;

retrieving, by the managing device, a plurality of classification parameters from each of the one or more devices;

comparing, by the managing device, the received plurality of classification parameters with one or more classification rules; and

storing a device profile for each of the one or more devices with classification parameters satisfying the one or more classification rules for use by the managing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more classification rules are stored in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more discovery parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a hostname regular expression.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of classification parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a device vendor, a parameter indicative of a device model, and a parameter indicative of a device firmware version.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network comprises discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

7. The method of claim 2, wherein discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network comprises discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network using Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).

8. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving a plurality of classification parameters comprises retrieving a plurality of classification parameters using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

9. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving a plurality of classification parameters comprises retrieving a plurality of classification parameters using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

10. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving a plurality of classification parameters comprises retrieving a plurality of classification parameters using TELNET.

11. A system for classifying devices in a wireless network, comprising:

a wireless network, the wireless network comprising one or more devices; and

a managing device operable to connect to the wireless network, the managing device comprising;

a processor; and

a storage device readable by the managing device, embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform acts for classifying devices in a wireless network, the acts comprising;

discovering one or more devices in the wireless network in accordance with one or more discovery parameters, the one or more discovery parameters comprising a parameter indicative of an IP address range;

retrieving a plurality of classification parameters from each of the one or more devices;

comparing the received plurality of classification parameters with one or more classification rules; and

storing a device profile for each of the one or more devices with classification parameters satisfying the one or more classification rules for use by the managing device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more classification rules are stored in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more discovery parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a hostname regular expression.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of classification parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a device vendor, a parameter indicative of a device model, and a parameter indicative of a device firmware version.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the act of discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network comprises the act of discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the act of discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network comprises the act of discovering a plurality of devices in a wireless network using Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the act of retrieving a plurality of classification parameters comprises the act of retrieving a plurality of classification parameters using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the act of retrieving a plurality of classification parameters comprises the act of retrieving a plurality of classification parameters using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the act of retrieving a plurality of classification parameters comprises the act of retrieving a plurality of classification parameters using TELNET.

20. Logic encoded in media, the logic being operable to:

discover, by a managing device, one or more devices in the wireless network in accordance with one or more discovery parameters, the one or more discovery parameters comprising a parameter indicative of an IP address range;

retrieve, by the managing device, a plurality of classification parameters from each of the one or more devices;

compare, by the managing device, the received plurality of classification parameters with one or more classification rules; and

store a device profile for each of the one or more devices with classification parameters satisfying the one or more classification rules for use by the managing device.

21. The logic of claim 20, wherein the one or more classification rules are stored in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file.

22. The logic of claim 20, wherein the one or more discovery parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a hostname regular expression.

23. The logic of claim 20, wherein the plurality of classification parameters comprises a parameter indicative of a device vendor, a parameter indicative of a device model, and a parameter indicative of a device firmware version.

24. The logic of claim 20, wherein the logic operable to discover a plurality of devices in a wireless network is further operable to discover a plurality of devices in a wireless network using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

25. The logic of claim 20, wherein the logic operable to discover a plurality of devices in a wireless network is further operable to discover a plurality of devices in a wireless network using Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).

26. The logic of claim 20, wherein the logic operable to retrieve a plurality of classification parameters is further operable to retrieve a plurality of classification parameters using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

27. The logic of claim 20, wherein the logic operable to retrieve a plurality of classification parameters is further operable to retrieve a plurality of classification parameters using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

28. The logic of claim 20, wherein the logic operable to retrieve a plurality of classification parameters is further operable to retrieve a plurality of classification parameters using TELNET.