Method and implementation for using computer network topology objects

• US 6,243,746 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Angal, Rajeev, Arora, Akhil, Sondur, Raghavendra, Pagadala, Balaji, Fisher, Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/205,826
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/220, 709/221
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

Software, method, and systems for representing devices on a computer network are described. In one embodiment the invention comprises a method which identifies devices on a computer network; creates topology objects configured to represent the devices; associates the topology objects with the identified devices; stores the associated topology objects in a database managed by a topology service. The embodiment further is capable of receiving an alarm notification regarding a device having an associated topology object stored in the database, extracting the topology object, and acting on said topology object update an alarm count in the topology object; propagate the alarm notice to other topology nodes associated with the topology object; store information related to the alarm and the database; and notifying other services on the computer network. Other embodiments update the relationships between the devices and associated topology objects stored in the database.

Claims

1. A method for representing devices on a computer network, comprising the steps of:

a) identifying said devices on said computer network;

b) creating topology objects configured to represent said devices;

c) associating said topology objects with said devices identified on said computer network;

d) storing said associated topology objects in a database managed by a topology service;

e) receiving an alarm notification regarding a device or entity having an associated topology object stored in said database;

f) extracting said topology object; and

g) acting on said topology object in accordance with said alarm, wherein acting on said topology object includes the sub-steps of;

i) updating an alarm count in said topology object;

ii) propagating said notice to other topology nodes associated with said topology object;

iii) storing information related to said alarm and said database; and

iv) notifying other services on said computer network.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of receiving a set request by said topology service and processing said set request to modify a topology object in said database.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the step of receiving a set parent ID request by said topology service and processing said set request to modify a parent-child relationship of said topology object in said database.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of receiving a get request by said topology service and processing said get request to locate a topology object in said database.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of receiving an action request by said topology service and processing said action to perform a query of said database.

6. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to:

a) provide a topology service on said computer network, said topology service being configured to create and manage topology object representing devices on said computer network;

b) identify said devices on said computer network;

c) create topology objects configured to represent said devices;

d) associate said topology objects with said devices identified on said computer network;

e) store said associated topology objects in a database managed by a topology service; and

f) receiving a get request by said topology service and processing said get request to locate a topology object in said database, wherein processing said get request includes parsing said get request to determine scope and filter parameters, obtaining topology objects within said scope parameters, comparing said obtained topology objects against said filter parameters, and processing said filtered objects in accordance with said get request.

7. A computer data signal on a carrier wave containing instructions for providing memory allocations in response to memory allocation requests from device drivers, said computer data signal comprising instructions configured to cause a computer to perform the steps of claim 6.

8. A method for representing devices on a computer network, comprising the steps of:

a) identifying said devices on said computer network;

b) creating topology objects configured to represent said devices;

c) associating said topology objects with said devices identified on said computer network;

d) storing said associated topology objects in a database managed by a topology service;

e) receiving a set parent ID request by said topology service; and

f) processing said set request to modify a parent-child relationship of said topology object in said database wherein said processing includes;

i) determining if the parent-child relationship to be changed exists in said database;

ii) determining if said parent-child relationship is valid if said parent-child relationship is determined to exist;

iii) modifying said parent-child relationship in said topology object; and

iv) updating said parent-child relationship in objects associated with said topology object.

9. A method for representing devices on a computer network, comprising the steps of:

a) identifying said devices on said computer network;

b) creating topology objects configured to represent said devices;

c) associating said topology objects with said devices identified on said computer network;

d) storing said associated topology objects in a database managed by a topology service; and

e) receiving a get request by said topology service and processing said get request to locate a topology object in said database, wherein processing said get request includes parsing said get request to determine scope and filter parameters, obtaining topology objects within said scope parameters, comparing said obtained topology objects against said filter parameters, and processing said filtered objects in accordance with said get request.

10. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to execute the steps of:

a) identifying said devices on said computer network;

b) creating topology objects configured to represent said devices;

c) associating said topology objects with said devices identified on said computer network;

d) storing said associated topology objects in a database managed by a topology service;

e) receiving an alarm notification regarding a device or entity having an associated topology object stored in said database, extracting said topology object, and

f) acting on said topology object in accordance with said alarm, wherein acting on said topology object includes;

i) updating an alarm count in said topology object;

ii) propagating said notice to other topology nodes associated with said topology object;

iii) storing information related to said alarm and said database; and

iv) notifying other services on said computer network.

11. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable program code devices configured to cause a computer to execute the steps of:

a) identifying said devices on said computer network;

b) creating topology objects configured to represent said devices;

c) associating said topology objects with said devices identified on said computer network;

d) storing said associated topology objects in a database managed by a topology service;

e) receiving a set parent ID request by said topology service; and

f) processing said set request to modify a parent-child relationship of said topology object in said database wherein said processing includes;

i) determining if the parent-child relationship to be changed exists in said database;

ii) determining if said parent-child relationship is valid if said parent-child relationship is determined to exist;

iii) modifying said parent-child relationship in said topology object; and

iv) updating said parent-child relationship in objects associated with said topology object.