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Method and apparatus for identifying an agent running on a device in a computer network

  • US 5,619,615 A
  • Filed: 07/22/1994
  • Issued: 04/08/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for identifying an agent running on a device in a network system, the method comprising the steps of:

  • a) a network management station (NMS) establishing a plurality of agents as a set of possible agents;

    b) said NMS transmitting a current query over said network to said agent, said current query requesting information regarding one or more characteristics of said agent;

    c) said NMS receiving a current response over said network from said agent;

    d) determining a set of likely agents based on said current response, said set of likely agents being a subset of said set of possible agents;

    e) if said set of likely agents includes more than one agent, then said NMS;

    i) selecting a new query based upon said current response,ii) establishing said new query as said current query,iii) establishing said set of likely agents as said possible set of agents,iv) repeating steps (b) through (e) until said set of likely agents includes less than two agents; and

    f) if said set of likely agents includes a single agent, then said NMS selecting said single agent to identify said agent.

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