Computer system and method for characterizing and distributing information

• US 6,381,630 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Niemi, Frederick Eldin
• Primary Examiner(s): WILEY, DAVID ARMAND
• Application Number:
  US09/660,689
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223-225, 709/201, 709/205, 709/224, 370/245, 707/10, 710/52
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0604 using filtering, e.g. reduction of information by using priority, element types, position or time

Abstract

A system enables a consumer to generate a filtering program based on criteria set forth by a system operator during run time. During system operation, the operator selects appropriate filtering criteria from a display screen associated with a respective consumer. Each consumer implements filtering criteria in a filtering program that is registered with a distributor. The filtering program may include simple true or false tests, or more complex tests. The distributor compiles each filtering program during registration and thereafter dynamically loads the compiled program before executing filtering queries.

Claims

1. A distributed computer network system comprising:

a distributor that receives a generated message from an entity that detects an anomaly on a network device;

a filtering device for use by the distributor that contains a filtering expression for testing a value of an argument contained in the generated message, wherein the filtering expression is created at run time; and

a transmitting device for transmitting the message if a result of the filtering expression is true.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the distributor compiles each filtering device, wherein the filtering device is a filtering program, the filtering program is programmed in a programming language that can be compiled.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the distributor dynamically loads the compiled filtering program before executing the filtering expression in the filtering program.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the filtering program includes a test implement in one of a Boolean statement and a SQL statement.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the filtering program includes a programming expression that performs queries on one of an individual message and a group of messages.

6. A method for distributing characterizing information from a distributor of a computer network system, the method comprising the steps of:

A) receiving a message that indicates an anamoly on a network device;

B) compiling a filtering program that is associated with the message;

C) filtering the message in accordance with the filtering program by testing an argument value in the message in accordance with a filtering expression of the filtering program wherein the filtering expression is created at run time; and

D) distributing the filtered message if a result of the filtering expression is true.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step B of compiling comprises the steps B2 of writing and compiling the filtering program in a language similar to that of the distributor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step B2 of compiling further comprises the steps B3 of:

dynamically loading the compiled filtering program; and

executing the filtering expression.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step A further comprises the step A1 of dynamically altering the filtering program during run time in response to the anomoly.

10. A node for carrying out the method according to claim 6.

11. A computer-readable medium comprising the comprising:

instructions and data written on said computer readable medium, said instructions and data containing information for the practice of the method of claim 6.

12. Electromagnetic signals travelling over a computer network comprising:

said electromagnetic signals carrying information for the practice of the method of claim 6.

13. A distributed computer network system adapted to characterize information for distribution, the system comprising:

a distributor that receives a message from a network device, the message containing a value of an argument, the distributor testing the value of the argument in accordance with a filtering expression to thereby distribute the message if a result of the filtering expression is true; and

a filtering device that creates the filtering expression at run time.

14. A distributed computer network system comprising:

a distributor for receiving at least one message that indicates an anamoly on a network device;

a means for compiling a filtering program that is associated with the at least one message;

a filtering device for use by the distributor to test a value of an argument contained in the message, wherein the filtering program is created at run time; and

a means for distributing the message if a result of the filtering program is true.

15. A method for distributing information from a distributor of a computer network system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a message into the distributor that indicates an anamoly on a network device;

filtering the message through by a filtering program that contains a filtering expression for testing a value of an argument contained in the message, wherein the filtering expression is created at run time; and

transmitting the message through a transmitting device if a result of the filtering expression is true.

16. A computer in a network comprising:

a distributor software application on said computer for receiving at least one message that indicates an anamoly on a network device;

a means for compiling a filtering program that is associated with the at least one message;

a filtering device for use by the distributor to test a value of an argument contained in the message, wherein the filtering program is created at run time; and

a means for distributing the message if a result of the filtering program is true.

17. A packet switching communication network comprising at least one node according to claim 16.

18. A method in a computer for distributing information, comprising receiving a message into a distributor software application, said message indicating an anamoly on a network device;

filtering the message by a filtering program that contains a filtering expression for testing a value of an argument contained in the message, wherein the filtering expression is created at run time; and

transmitting the message through a transmitting device if a result of the filtering expression is true.