Method and apparatus for distributed object filtering

• US 6,255,943 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cabletron Systems Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, David, Lewis, Lundy, Datta, Utpal, Arrowsmith, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US09/124,204
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 364/514.B, 364/514.C, 364/551.01, 364/572, 395/155, 395/156, 395/157, 395/158, 395/159, 395/160, 395/161
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0604 using filtering, e.g. reduction of information by using priority, element types, position or time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs

Abstract

Apparatus and method for distributed object filtering of objects transferred between a client and server. The objects may be alarms transferred between a network management server and one or more network management applications. The apparatus and method further includes applying a plurality of policy-based filters to the alarms. The filters may be named and stored in a database, and application of the policy-based filters may be scheduled for different times. The same policy-based filters may be applied to one or more multiple network management applications. The system and method provides increased performance and reliability of passing objects from a server to a client application.

Claims

1. A method of distributed object filtering comprising the steps of:

(a) generating alarms from multiple network management servers;

(b) assigning policy-based filters to both the network management servers and associated network management applications; and

(c) applying the assigned policy-based filters to the alarms and for the alarms which pass the filters, generating an alarm notification and forwarding the same to the associated network management application.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of assigning includes assigning the policy-based filters according to a load distribution policy.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the load distribution policy is based on at least one of a plurality of metrics including processor availability, memory availability, disk space availability, and processing capability.

4. The method according to claim 2, further including a step of determining the load distribution policy based on a busyness of at least one of the network management servers and a busyness of at least one of the network management applications.

5. The method according to claim 2, further including a step of determining, for one of the network management servers, a first metric that represents a suitability of the one network management server to perform a filtering operation.

6. The method according to claim 5, further including a step of determining, for one of the network management applications, a second metric that represents a suitability of the one network management application to perform the filtering operation.

7. The method according to claim 2, further including a step of periodically scheduling policy-based filters.

8. The method according to claim 4, further including a step of dynamically determining the load distribution policy.

9. The method according to claim 6, further including a step of communicating the first and second metrics between the one network management server and the one network management application.

10. The method according to claim 6, further including a step of distributing filtering operations in proportion to the first and second metrics.

11. An apparatus for distributed object filtering comprising:

a database of policy-based filters;

a user interface for assigning policy-based filters to both a plurality of network management servers and associated network management applications;

a processor and a memory device containing a program of instructions for the processor which instructions include;

means for receiving alarms from the plurality of network management servers;

means for applying, at both the plurality of network management servers and associated network management applications, policy-based filters to the alarms and generating an alarm notification for those alarms which pass the filters; and

means for forwarding the alarm notification to the associated network management applications.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor and memory device containing a program of instructions further include:

means for assigning the policy-based filters according to a load distribution policy.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor and memory device containing a program of instructions further include:

means for determining for one of the network management servers, a first metric that represents a suitability of the one network management server to perform a filtering operation.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processor and memory device containing a program of instructions further include:

means for determining, for one of the network management applications, a second metric that represents a suitability of the one network management application to perform the filtering operation.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a storage area, wherein the one network management application and the one network management server exchange the first and second metrics.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processor and memory device containing a program of instructions further include:

means for distributing filtering operations in proportion to the first and second metrics.