Method for building element manager for a computer network element using a visual element manager builder process

• US 6,272,537 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1997
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Carlton, Eloise H., Lu, Grace N., Kekic, Miodrag M.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/972,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/205, 709/206, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/223, 709/221, 709/313, 709/328, 709/329, 707/10, 707/104
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/04 Network management architectures or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/045 comprising client-server management architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A client-server network management system includes: a plurality of managed computer network elements, a managed element server that executes on a first computer; and at least one managed element server client that typically executes on a second computer. The managed element server and managed element server client are computer processes that execute from memory of their respective computers. The client-server network management system is really two applications in one: a visual element manager builder and a manager. The manager provides the run-time environment in which element managers are executed to monitor and manage computer network behavior such as network throughput, collision rate, and number of duplicate IP packets, to name a few. The manager portion of managed element server is independent of any graphic user interface. The logic and structure of the manager of managed element server is cleanly separated from the graphic user interfaces. The visual element manager builder is a visual development environment in which device vendors or network managers may create standardized element management applications, called element managers. A user can build an element manager without writing a any computer code. In addition, a user can edit an element manager without writing any computer code. A graphic user interface of this invention, that is displayed by the client, includes a visual image of a computer network element being managed. As a user looks at the visual display in the graphic user interface, the user is provided the same visual information as if the user where physically present at the location of the managed computer network element. Thus, at a glance, a user can obtain considerable information about the status of the computer network element as represented by the visual display.

Claims

1. A method for building an element manager for a computer network element comprising:

entering data characterizing said element manager through a graphical user interface of a client computer process;

using said data and a visual element manager builder, building said element manager, said element manager being provided as a template for managing said computer network element; and

storing said element manager on a computer that executes a server process for said client computer process.

2. A method for building an element manager as in claim 1 wherein said entering data further comprises:

entering basic information characterizing said computer network element.

3. A method for building an element manager as in claim 2 wherein said entering basic information further comprises:

identifying a storage location of a file wherein said file contains a visual representation of said computer network element.

4. A method for building an element manager as in claim 2 wherein said entering basic information further comprises:

selecting attributes that characterize operation of components of said computer network element.

5. A method for building an element manager as in claim 4 wherein said entering basic information further comprises:

associating a component of said computer network element with one hotspot in a plurality of hotspots.

6. A method for building an element manager as in claim 5 wherein said plurality of hotspots includes an active component hotspot.

7. A method for building an element manager as in claim 5 wherein said plurality of hotspots includes a LED hotspot.

8. A method for building an element manager as in claim 5 wherein said plurality of hotspots includes an action button hotspot.

9. A method for building an element manager as in claim 5 wherein said plurality of hotspots includes a graph hotspot.

10. A method for building an element manager as in claim 5 wherein said entering basic information further comprises:

associating attributes that characterize operation of said component with said one hotspot.

11. A method for building an element manager as in claim 1 wherein said entering data further comprises:

entering event management information for managing said computer network element.

12. A method for building an element manager as in claim 11 wherein said entering event management information further comprises:

specifying a state for a component of said computer network element.

13. A method for building an element manager as in claim 11 wherein said entering data further comprises:

specifying a polling event for a component of said computer network element.

14. A method for building an element manager as in claim 12 wherein said entering data further comprises:

specifying a polling event for a component of said computer network element.

15. A method for building an element manager as in claim 14 wherein said entering data further comprises:

selecting a requisite component state for said polling event.

16. A method for building an element manager as in claim 15 wherein said entering data further comprises:

defining a rule for said polling event when said component is in said requisite component state.

17. A method for building an element manager as in claim 16 wherein said defining a rule further comprises entering a rule condition.

18. A method for building an element manager as in claim 16 wherein said defining a rule further comprises entering a rule action.

19. A method for building an element manager as in claim 11 wherein said entering data further comprises:

specifying a trap event for a component of said computer network element.

20. A method for building an element manager as in claim 12 wherein said entering data further comprises:

specifying a trap event for a component of said computer network element.

21. A method for building an element manager as in claim 20 wherein said entering data further comprises:

selecting a requisite component state for said trap event.

22. A method for building an element manager as in claim 21 wherein said entering data further comprises:

defining a rule for said trap event when said component is in said requisite component state.

23. A method for building an element manager as in claim 22 wherein said defining a rule further comprises entering a rule condition.

24. A method for building an element manager as in claim 22 wherein said defining a rule further comprises entering a rule action.

25. A method for building an element manager as in claim 1 wherein said entering data is independent of the computer platform architecture on which said client and visual element manager builder server processes are executing.

26. A method for building an element manager for a computer network element comprising:

downloading a element manager builder tool from a computer server process; and

executing said element manager builder tool as a client process wherein said element manager builder tool presents a user with a plurality of panels in a graphic user interface to build said element manager, said element manager being a template for management of said computer network element.