Deferred processing of continuous metrics
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring traffic on a communications network, the system comprising:
- a plurality of data collection sources connected at predetermined connection points on the network, wherein each of the data collection sources generates a plurality of fundamental metrics, the fundamental metrics being representative of at least one characteristic of the network traffic traversing the corresponding connection point, the data collection sources including at least a network link circuit and a data frame circuit configured to generate the plurality of fundamental metrics;
a data portal connected to the plurality of data collection sources so as to receive the plurality of fundamental metrics, at least some of which are then included in at least one data container having a predefined format, and wherein the data portal further generates at least one processor object that is included in the at least one data container, the at least one processor object providing predefined logic capable of processing information represented by the fundamental metrics contained within the data container; and
a monitoring client operatively connected to the data portal, the client including;
a communication interface configured to selectively request and receive at least one data container from the data portal; and
a user interface capable of selectively displaying network information derived from the contents of at least one data container,wherein the predefined logic of the processor object is defined based on a metrics request received by the data portal from the monitoring client, the metrics request requesting a type of derivation to be performed by the predefined logic on the information represented by the fundamental metrics to generate derived metrics, andwherein at least a portion of the displayed network information is based upon the derived metrics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network monitoring is performed using a three-tiered distributed computing system architecture, including a data source tier, a portal tier and a client tier. The data source tier monitors the physical data on the network medium using multiple data collection sources connected to the network. The probes analyze network data and generate fundamental metrics that describe attributes of the network data. The portal tier encapsulates the fundamental metrics along with executable processor objects into data containers having a predefined format. The processor objects contain logic that operates on fundamental metrics contained in the data containers in a manner so as to generate new derived metrics or aggregates of metric data. The data containers may be requested by the client tier, which executes the processor objects and provides a user interface for displaying various types of network information derived from the contents of data containers.
80 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring traffic on a communications network, the system comprising:
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a plurality of data collection sources connected at predetermined connection points on the network, wherein each of the data collection sources generates a plurality of fundamental metrics, the fundamental metrics being representative of at least one characteristic of the network traffic traversing the corresponding connection point, the data collection sources including at least a network link circuit and a data frame circuit configured to generate the plurality of fundamental metrics; a data portal connected to the plurality of data collection sources so as to receive the plurality of fundamental metrics, at least some of which are then included in at least one data container having a predefined format, and wherein the data portal further generates at least one processor object that is included in the at least one data container, the at least one processor object providing predefined logic capable of processing information represented by the fundamental metrics contained within the data container; and a monitoring client operatively connected to the data portal, the client including; a communication interface configured to selectively request and receive at least one data container from the data portal; and a user interface capable of selectively displaying network information derived from the contents of at least one data container, wherein the predefined logic of the processor object is defined based on a metrics request received by the data portal from the monitoring client, the metrics request requesting a type of derivation to be performed by the predefined logic on the information represented by the fundamental metrics to generate derived metrics, and wherein at least a portion of the displayed network information is based upon the derived metrics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for monitoring traffic on a communications network, the system comprising:
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a plurality of data collection sources connected at predetermined connection points on the network, wherein each of the data collection sources generates a plurality of fundamental metrics, the fundamental metrics being representative of at least one characteristic of the network traffic traversing the corresponding connection point, the data collection sources including at least a network link circuit and a data frame circuit configured to generate the plurality of fundamental metrics; a data portal connected to the plurality of data collection sources so as to receive the plurality of fundamental metrics, at least some of which are then included in at least one data container having a predefined format, and wherein the data portal further generates at least one processor object that is included in the at least one data container, the at least one processor object providing predefined logic capable of processing information represented by the fundamental metrics contained within the data container; and a monitoring client operatively connected to the data portal, the client including; a communication interface configured to selectively request and receive at least one data container from the data portal; and a user interface capable of selectively displaying network information derived from the contents of at least one data container, wherein the predefined logic of the processor object is defined based on a metrics request received by the data portal from the monitoring client, the metrics request requesting a type of aggregation and/or derivation to be performed by the predefined logic on the information represented by the fundamental metrics. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification