Support system for constructing an integrated network

• US 5,687,315 A
• Filed: 11/01/1994
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Furukawa, Hiroshi, Kihara, Kenichi, Miyake, Shigeru, Tezuka, Satoru, Matsumura, Satoru, Tsuyuki, Yousuke
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, MENG AI T
• Application Number:
  US08/332,772
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/200.11, 395/200.12, 395/830, 395/284, 395/140, 395/155, 395/162, 395/163, 395/165, 395/200.1, 395/200.5, 395/969, 364/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/969 Network layout and operation interface

Abstract

An integrated network installation system which comprises an execution section having function specification means for specifying a network function of an information processor connected to a network, and preparation means for preparing installation data corresponding to the network function of the information processor specified by the specification means and a display section for connecting the information processor to the network based on the installation data from the execution section and displaying it.

Claims

1. A support system for constructing an integrated network having an execution section, said execution section comprising:

memory means for storing first and second installation data respectively corresponding to first and second network functions of information processors to be connected to said integrated network;

acceptance means for accepting a specification of corresponding relationship between a first information processor among said information processors to be connected to the integrated network, and said first network function, and for accepting a specification of corresponding relationship between a second information processor, different from said first information processor, and said second network function;

edit means responsive to said specification of the corresponding relationship accepted by said acceptance means for editing said first installation data stored in said memory means and corresponding to said first network function to output a first edited installation data, and for editing said second installation data corresponding to said second network function to output a second edited installation data;

determination means for determining a construction of said integrated network to which said first and second information processors are to be connected, based on said first and second edited installation data output by said edit means; and

register means for registering at least one of said first and second edited installation data output by said edit means in a memory medium.

2. A support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said execution section further comprises:

machine specification means for specifying an information processor to be connected to the integrated network, said information processors comprising at least one kind of information processing machine.

3. A support system for constructing an integrated network according to claim 1, wherein said determination means further determines a block diagram as the construction of said network, and

wherein said support system further comprises a display section for displaying said block diagram of said network as determined by said determination means.

4. A support system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means for changing the edited installation data edited by said edit means in response to at least one of requests for deleting an information processor connected to said integrated network from said integrated network, moving said information processor connected to the integrated network within said integrated network, and duplicating said information processor connected to the integrated network, and

wherein said display section executes at least one of deletion of said information processor connected to the integrated network from said integrated network, moving of said information processor connected to the integrated network within said integrated network, and duplication of said information processor connected to the integrated network based on said installation data changed by said execution section, and displays a result of the change.

5. A support system as claimed in claim 3, said display section displays a dedicated screen for setting an information processor function when said acceptance means in said execution section operates.

6. A support system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said display section displays a function of an information processor connected to the integrated network in relation to an information processor displayed on said display section based on installation data from said execution section.

7. A support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means for registering a new information processor to be connected to said integrated network.

8. A support system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said registration means registers at least data concerning a communication board and a disk control board upon registration of the new information processor.

9. A support system for constructing an integrated network having an execution section, said execution section comprising:

memory means for storing first and second installation data respectively corresponding to first and second network functions of information processors to be connected to said integrated network;

means for accepting selections made by a user with respect to kinds of a first information processor among said information processors to be connected and a second information processor different from said first information processor;

acceptance means for accepting a specification of corresponding relationship between said first information processor and said first network function, and for accepting a specification of corresponding relationship between said second information processor and said second network function;

edit means responsive to said specification of corresponding relationship accepted by said acceptance means for editing said first installation data stored in said memory means and corresponding to said first network function to output a first edited installation data, and for editing said second installation data corresponding to said second network function to output a second edited installation data;

match means for matching said edited first installation data and said edited second installation data output from said edit means;

determination means for determining a construction of said integrated network to which said first and second information processors are connected, based on said first and second edited installation data matched by said matching means; and

register means for registering at least one of said first and second edited installation data output by said edit means in a memory medium.

10. A support system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means for changing installation data of the information processors stored in said memory means of said execution section to new installation data prepared by said acceptance means in response to at least one of requests for deleting a specific information processor connected to said integrated network from the integrated network, moving a specific information processor connected to the integrated network within the integrated network, and duplicating a specific information processor connected to the integrated network.

11. A support system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means, when installation data contents of one of the information processors are changed by said change means, for updating installation data of other information processors connected to the integrated network in association with the change.

12. A support system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said acceptance means in said execution section assigns installation data among the information processors based on a unified criterion.

13. A support system for constructing an integrate network according to claim 9, said execution section further comprising:

determination means for determining a construction of said integrated network to which said first and second information processors are to be connected, based on said edited first installation data and said edited second installation data matched by said match means; and

a display section for displaying said construction of said network determined by said determination means.

14. A support system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means for changing the edited installation data edited by said edit means in response to at least one of requests for deleting a specific information processor connected to the integrated network from the integrated network, moving a specific information processor connected to the integrated network within the integrated network, and duplicating a specific information processor connected to the integrated network, and

wherein said display section executes at least one of deletion of the information processor connected to the integrated network from the integrated network, moving of the information processor connected to the integrated network within the integrated network, and duplication of the information processor connected to the integrated network, based on installation data changed by said execution section, and displays a result of the change.

15. A support system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said display section displays a dedicated screen for setting an information processor function when said acceptance means in said execution section operates.

16. A support system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said display section displays a function of an information processor connected to the integrated network in relation to the information processor displayed on said display section based on installation data from said execution section.

17. A support system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means for registering at least data concerning a communication board and a disk control board upon registration of a new information processor that can be connected to the integrated network.

18. A support system for constructing an integrated network having an execution section and an output section, said execution section comprising:

memory means for storing first and second installation data respectively corresponding to first and second network functions of information processors to be connected to said integrated network;

acceptance means for accepting a specification of corresponding relationship between a first information processor among said information processors to be connected to the integrated network, and said first network function, and for accepting a specification of corresponding relationship between a second information processor, different from said first information processor, and said second network function;

edit means responsive to said specification of corresponding relationship accepted by said acceptance means for editing said first installation data stored in said memory means and corresponding to said first network function to output a first edited installation data, and for editing said second installation data corresponding to said second network function to output a second edited installation data;

determination means for determining a construction of said integrated network to which said first and second information processors are to be connected, based on said first and second edited installation data output by said edit means;

register means for registering at least one of said first and second edited installation data output by said edit means in a memory medium; and

creating means for creating output data based on said edited first installation data and said edited second installation data output from said edit means,

wherein said output section outputs said output data created by said creating means.

19. A support system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means for registering a new information processor to be connected to the integrated network.

20. A support system as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

a display section for connecting the information processors to the integrated network based on installation data from said execution section and displaying them.

21. A support system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said creating means outputs a prepared network block diagram at specified timing in response to a command input from said execution section.

22. A support system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said creating means in said execution section receives an instruction of installation data concerning information processors connected to the integrated network and outputs data corresponding to the installation data on the information processors specified by said instruction, and

wherein said creating means receives data from said execution section and outputs the installation data on the information processors specified by said instruction.

23. A support system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said execution section further comprises:

means for changing installation data of the information processors stored in said memory means of said execution section to new installation data prepared by said acceptance means in response to at least one of requests for deleting a specific information processor connected to the integrated network from the integrated network, moving a specific information processor connected to the integrated network within the integrated network, and duplicating a specific information processor connected to the integrated network, and

wherein said creating means receives the new installation data provided by said change means in said execution section and outputs change contents based on the new installation data.

24. A support system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said creating means outputs a block diagram of an integrated network prepared by said execution section for each integrated network.