System for displaying information relating to a computer network including association devices with tasks performable on those devices
First Claim
1. A method of displaying information relating to a computer network, the network including a plurality of devices, each of a plurality of tasks being performable upon at least one of the devices, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining a present state of the network, the present state of the network including a present configuration of the network;
storing data representing the present state of the network in a database;
determining for each of the devices the tasks which may be performed; and
generating a display corresponding to the present state of the network, wherein the display includes an association of the devices with the tasks performable on the devices.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-implemented method of managing a computer network including a plurality of devices is provided, wherein a plurality of network management tasks are performable upon the devices. Data is gathered about a present configuration of the network, including the types of devices in the network, the quantity of each type of device present in the network, the relationships between the devices, and the tasks performable upon each of the devices. The data is then stored in a database representing a network map. A display is generated corresponding to the network map using the data in the database. The display shows an association of the devices with the tasks performable on the devices using bitmap representations of the devices and tasks. The display may include hierarchical, schematic, or geographical representations of the devices on the network. The devices are organized into a plurality of groups. In response to a user input selecting a device or group, the tasks performable by that device or group are identified on the display. A user may initiate any one of the displayed tasks by applying a user input selecting that task.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of displaying information relating to a computer network, the network including a plurality of devices, each of a plurality of tasks being performable upon at least one of the devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a present state of the network, the present state of the network including a present configuration of the network; storing data representing the present state of the network in a database; determining for each of the devices the tasks which may be performed; and generating a display corresponding to the present state of the network, wherein the display includes an association of the devices with the tasks performable on the devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-implemented method of displaying data relating to a computer network, the network including a plurality of devices, each of a plurality of tasks being performable upon at least one of the devices, the method comprising the steps of:
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gathering data about a present state of the network, the data including information about a present configuration of the network and the tasks performable upon the devices in the network; storing the data in a database representing a network state; and generating a display of the present state of the network, the display including a first portion displaying a representation of the network state, wherein the representation is displayable as a tree structure including symbols representing the devices, the display further including a second portion, the second portion displaying, for a device or group of devices selected from the first portion, the tasks performable upon said device or group of devices selected. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for managing a computer network, the computer network including a plurality of devices, the apparatus comprising:
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a discovery manager for gathering data about a present configuration of the network; a database coupled to the discovery manager, the database for storing the data, the database representing a network state; a task manager coupled to the discovery manager, the task manager for determining and maintaining task information, the task information including the tasks performable upon the devices in the network, the task information further including associations of each of the tasks with the devices upon which said tasks can be operated; and a view generator coupled to the discovery manager, the view generator for generating a display to a user representing the network state and the task information. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A program storage device readable by a machine, the program storage device tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for displaying information relating to a computer network, the computer network including a plurality of devices coupled by a plurality of connections, the method steps comprising:
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gathering data about a present state of the network, the data including the types of devices in the network, the connections between the devices, and the tasks performable upon the devices; storing the data in a database; and generating a display corresponding to the data in the database, wherein the display shows an association of the devices with the tasks performable upon the devices. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification