MANAGEMENT OF VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL NETWORK INVENTORIES
First Claim
1. A method for managing a network element inventory for a video and data network comprising:
- self-discovering a physical network inventory of physical network elements of the video and data network;
self-discovering a logical network inventory logical network elements of the video and data network;
receiving, at a computer system, a planned network inventory of the video and data network;
loading, at a computer system, the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory into the network element inventory;
synchronizing the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory in the network element inventory to determine any difference between (i) the physical network inventory or the logical network inventory, and (ii) the planned network inventory;
receiving, at the computer system, a request for a view of the network element inventory; and
providing, from the computer system, the view using one or more of the physical network inventory, the logical network inventory, and the planned network inventory.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing a network element inventory for a video and data network is provided. The method includes self-discovering a physical network inventory of the video and data network. Additionally, a logical network inventory of the video and data network is self-discovered. Further, a planned network inventory of the video and data network is provided. Once the planned, logical, and physical network inventories are collected, the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory are loaded into the network element inventory. After loading, synchronization of the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory in the network element inventory is performed. A view is then provided using the synchronized physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory when a request for the view of the network element inventory is received.
100 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for managing a network element inventory for a video and data network comprising:
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self-discovering a physical network inventory of physical network elements of the video and data network; self-discovering a logical network inventory logical network elements of the video and data network; receiving, at a computer system, a planned network inventory of the video and data network; loading, at a computer system, the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory into the network element inventory; synchronizing the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory in the network element inventory to determine any difference between (i) the physical network inventory or the logical network inventory, and (ii) the planned network inventory; receiving, at the computer system, a request for a view of the network element inventory; and providing, from the computer system, the view using one or more of the physical network inventory, the logical network inventory, and the planned network inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for managing a network element inventory between one or more operation systems for a video and data network comprising:
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self-discovering a physical network inventory of physical network elements of the video and data network; self-discovering a logical network inventory of logical network elements of the video and data network; receiving, at a computer system, a planned network inventory of the video and data network; loading, at the computer system, the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory into the network element inventory; synchronizing, at the computer system, the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory in the network element inventory to determine any difference between (i) the physical network inventory or the logical network inventory, and (ii) the planned network inventory; creating, at the computer system, one or more views of the network element inventory using one or more of the physical network inventory, the logical network inventory, and the planned network inventory for the one or more operation systems; providing, from the computer system, the one or more views to the one or more operation systems. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for managing a network element inventory for a video and data network comprising:
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self-discovering a physical network inventory of physical network elements using network elements of the video and data network; self-discovering a logical network inventory of logical network elements using network elements of the video and data network; receiving, at a computer system, a planned network inventory of the video and data network; storing, at the computer system, the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory into the network element inventory; comparing, at the computer system, the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory in the network element inventory to determine differences between (i) physical network inventory or the logical network inventory and (ii) the planned network inventory; and determining, at the computer system, a view of the network element inventory based one or more of the physical network inventory, the logical network inventory, the planned network inventory, and the comparison between physical network elements of the physical network inventory and logical network elements of the logical network inventory with physical or logical network elements of the planned network inventory. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for managing a network element inventory for a video and data network, the apparatus comprising:
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a self-discovered physical network inventory of physical network elements using network elements of the video and data network; a self-discovered logical network inventory of logical network elements using network elements of the video and data network; a planned network inventory of the video and data network; a database for storing the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory into the network element inventory; logic for comparing the physical network inventory, logical network inventory, and planned network inventory in the network element inventory to determine differences between (i) physical network inventory or the logical network inventory and (ii) the planned network inventory; and logic for determining a view of the network element inventory based one or more of the physical network inventory, the logical network inventory, the planned network inventory, and the comparison between physical network elements of the physical network inventory and logical network elements of the logical network inventory with physical or logical network elements of the planned network inventory. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification