Managing conditions in a network

• US 6,418,469 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Justice, William D. Jr., Stupek, Richard A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Marc D.
• Application Number:
  US08/941,410
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.16, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 709/202, 709/250, 709/300, 707/10, 707/500, 707/501
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Apparatus and method of managing conditions in a network of network devices. A management system identifies conditions on the network by periodically polling the network devices or in response to a message from a network device. The management system maintains an event list that keeps track of the network conditions. The event list is automatically updated (entries added or removed) by the management system as conditions appear or become resolved.

Claims

1. A computer system for connection to a network, comprising:

a processor;

a management program executed by the processor to identify a plurality of conditions on the network; and

a storage device on which an action list and an action log are stored, wherein the management program updates the action list without user intervention in response to the condition being resolved, such that any resolved operating condition is removed and only unresolved conditions remain on the action list, the management program providing a user access to the action list and instructions related to correcting a problem condition on the action list and wherein the management program updates the action log to contain a history of the operating conditions of the action list.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one network device, connected to the network, transmits a message to the management program in connection with an occurrence of said plurality of conditions.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one network device, connected to the network, transmits a message to the management program in connection with an occurrence of at least one of said plurality of conditions.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the storage device further stores a description database identifying information associated with the plurality of conditions.

5. The computer system of claim 4, wherein the description database can be updated to add more conditions.

6. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a video display on which the action list can be displayed.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein displayed entries of the action list are selectable by a user to allow further information to be displayed.

8. A network system comprising:

a plurality of network devices including a first network device;

a network connecting said plurality of network devices;

a management system connected to said network, the management system configured to identify a plurality of operating conditions associated with the plurality of network devices, the management system further configured to produce an action list for the plurality of operating conditions which is updated to provide a user an accurate status of the plurality of operating conditions associated with the plurality of network devices, said management system further being configured to produce an action log containing a history of the operating conditions of the action list; and

a storage device on which the action list and the action log are stored, wherein the management system updates the action list without user intervention in response to an operating condition being resolved such that any resolved operating condition is removed and only unresolved operating conditions remain on the action list.

9. The network system of claim 8, wherein the management system polls the plurality of network devices to determine the status of said plurality of operating conditions.

10. The network system of claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of network devices is configured to transmit a message to the management system in connection with an occurrence of at least one of said plurality of operating conditions.

11. The network system of claim 8, wherein the management system includes a storage device for storing a description database identifying information associated with the action list.

12. The network system of claim 11, wherein the description database can be updated to add more conditions.

13. A method for managing conditions in a network, comprising the acts of:

identifying operating conditions of a plurality of devices coupled to a network;

generating an action list and an action log based on the identified operating conditions;

updating the action list and the action log without user intervention;

determining, without user intervention, whether one of the identified operating conditions represented on the action list has been resolved; and

removing, without user intervention, any resolved operating condition from the action list and recording the resolved operation condition on the action log.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, comprising the act of:

maintaining a database of known operating conditions, the database comprising

information related to each known operating condition;

accessing the database to determine information relevant to one of the identified operating conditions; and

requesting the relevant information from the device associated with the one of the identified operating conditions.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the database further comprises instructions relevant to resolving the known operating conditions, and wherein the method comprises the act of:

providing a user access to the action list and to the instructions relevant to resolving the one of the identified operating conditions on the action list.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, comprising the act of:

storing the action list on a storage device.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, comprising the act of:

displaying the action list on a display device accessible to a user.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the act of identifying operating conditions comprises the act of:

periodically polling the devices on the network for data related to the operating conditions.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the act of identifying operating conditions comprises the act of:

receiving messages transmitted by the devices on the network, the messages comprising data related to the operating conditions.