Network management system using model-based intelligence
First Claim
1. A system for maintaining and processing information pertaining to a condition of a computer network and providing the information to a user, the computer network including a plurality of network entities such as computer devices and software applications being executed on such devices, the system comprising:
- a virtual network machine comprising interrelated, intelligent models of network entities and relations between network entities, the virtual network machine including;
means for acquiring network information pertaining to the condition of a network entity from the corresponding network entity;
means for maintaining objects repesenting network entities and relations between network entities, each of the objects including;
one or more attributes comprising network data relating to a corresponding network entity and derived from the acquired network information, andone or more inference handlers for processing the network data, the inference handlers being responsive to changes occurring in one or more objects and including means for watching an attribute, means for generating a trigger in response to a change in the watched attribute, and means responsive to the trigger for producing a response in an object, wherein a first object has a first inference handler with a first means for watching an attribute in a second object and a first responsive means responsive to a change in the watched attribute of the second object; and
means for transferring the network data to a user interface; and
a user interface coupled to the virtual network machine for supplying the network data to a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network management system includes a user interface, a virtual network and a device communication manager. The virtual network includes models which represent network entities and model relations which represent relations between network entities. Each model includes network data relating to a corresponding network entity and one or more inference handlers for processing the network data to provide user information. The system performs a fault isolation technique wherein the fault status of a network device is suppressed when it is determined that the device is not defective. User displays include hierarchical location views and topological views of the network configuration. Network devices are represented on the displays by multifunction icons which permit the user to select additional displays showing detailed information regarding different aspects of the corresponding network device.
768 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A system for maintaining and processing information pertaining to a condition of a computer network and providing the information to a user, the computer network including a plurality of network entities such as computer devices and software applications being executed on such devices, the system comprising:
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a virtual network machine comprising interrelated, intelligent models of network entities and relations between network entities, the virtual network machine including; means for acquiring network information pertaining to the condition of a network entity from the corresponding network entity; means for maintaining objects repesenting network entities and relations between network entities, each of the objects including; one or more attributes comprising network data relating to a corresponding network entity and derived from the acquired network information, and one or more inference handlers for processing the network data, the inference handlers being responsive to changes occurring in one or more objects and including means for watching an attribute, means for generating a trigger in response to a change in the watched attribute, and means responsive to the trigger for producing a response in an object, wherein a first object has a first inference handler with a first means for watching an attribute in a second object and a first responsive means responsive to a change in the watched attribute of the second object; and means for transferring the network data to a user interface; and a user interface coupled to the virtual network machine for supplying the network data to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for maintaining and processing information pertaining to the condition of a computer network and providing the same to a user, the network including a plurality of network entities such as computer devices and software applications being executed on such devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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acquiring network information pertaining to the condition of a network entity from the corresponding network entity; maintaining a virtual network of interrelated intelligent models comprising objects representing network entities and relations between network entities, each of the objects including; one or more attributes comprising network data relating to a corresponding network entity and derived from the acquired network information, and one or more inference handlers for processing the network data, the inference handlers being responsive to changes occurring in one or more objects by watching an attribute, generating a trigger in response to a change in the watched attribute, and responsive to the trigger, producing a response in an object, wherein a first object watches an attribute in a second object and a change in the attribute of the second object triggers the response;
transferring the network data to a user interface; and
displaying the network data on a user interface. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification