Pool-based network diagnostic systems and methods

• US 7,907,532 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Cuni, Genti, Foster, Craig E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOAKYE, ALEXANDER O
• Application Number:
  US11/560,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/241.1, 370/242, 370/247, 370/248, 370/249, 370/245, 370/230, 370/329, 370/250, 370/251, 370/252, 709/224, 709/228, 709/207, 709/218, 714/25, 714/37, 379/1.01, 379/7, 379/14.01, 379/33, 379/15.05, 379/37, 379/22.03, 379/45, 379/26.01, 379/27.01, 379/32.01
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0609 based on severity or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/18 Protocol analysers

Abstract

A networking system may include one or more nodes communicating with each other. The nodes may communicate via one or more links, which a switch or other structure may provide. The networking system may include one or more pools of at least one network diagnostic module. A network diagnostic module may test one or more links and may be configured to rove among a plurality of links. The networking system may include an alarm module. The alarm module may configure one or more network diagnostic modules to test a link. Preferably, the alarm module may, at least partially in response to a first network diagnostic module detecting particular conditions on a link, configure one or more other network diagnostic modules to test a link. The alarm module may configure the one or more other network diagnostic modules according to priority.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon configured to providing the following functionality:

an alarm module configured to receive statistics at least partially generated by a first network diagnostic module;

to determine whether the statistics satisfy a set of conditions associated with a first alarm, the first alarm having a priority; and

to compare the priority of the first alarm and a priority of a second network diagnostic module, wherein the second network diagnostic module performs a network diagnostic function in response to a second alarm.

2. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the alarm module is further configured to trigger the copying of a communication to the second network diagnostic module if the priority of the second network diagnostic module is lower than the priority of the first alarm.

3. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the alarm module is further configured to trigger the copying of a communication to the second network diagnostic module if the priority of the second network diagnostic module is lower than or equal to the priority of the first alarm.

4. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the alarm module is further configured to compare the priority of the first alarm and a priority of a third network diagnostic module;

and wherein the alarm module is further configured to trigger the copying of a communication to the second and third network diagnostic modules if the priority of the second network diagnostic module is less than the priority of the first alarm and the priority of the third network diagnostic module is less than the priority of the first alarm.

5. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the alarm module is further configured to compare the priority of the first alarm and a priority of a third network diagnostic module;

and wherein the alarm module is further configured to trigger the copying of a communication to the second and third network diagnostic modules if the priority of the second network diagnostic module is lower than or equal to the priority of the first alarm and the priority of the third network diagnostic module is lower than or equal to the priority of the first alarm.

6. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the priority of the first alarm is at least partially based on a probability that the first alarm will continue to be triggered if circumstances related to the first alarm are not changed.

7. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 6, wherein the priority of the first alarm is at least partially based on a probability that the circumstances related to the first alarm can be successfully changed.

8. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the priority of the first alarm is at least partially based on the amount of damage that arises if circumstances related to the first alarm are not changed.

9. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 8, wherein the priority of the first alarm is at least partially based on a probability that the circumstances related to the first alarm can be successfully changed.

10. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the priority of the first alarm is at least partially based on how soon damage arises if circumstances related to the first alarm are not changed.

11. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 10, wherein the priority of the first alarm is at least partially based on a probability that the circumstances related to the first alarm can be successfully changed.

12. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 10, wherein the damage comprises a monetary loss.

13. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 10, wherein the damage comprises a monetary expense.

14. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the priority of the first alarm is at least partially based on a probability that the second alarm will continue to be triggered if circumstances related to the second alarm are not changed.

15. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the priority of the second alarm is at least partially based on the amount of damage that arises if circumstances related to the second alarm are not changed.

16. The non-transitory computer readable media as in claim 1, wherein the priority of the second alarm is at least partially based on how soon damage arises if circumstances related to the second alarm are not changed.

17. A non-transitory computer readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon comprising:

means for providing an alarm module configured to receive statistics at least partially generated by a first network diagnostic module;

to determine whether the statistics satisfy a set of conditions associated with a first alarm, the first alarm having a priority; and

to compare the priority of the first alarm and a priority of a second network diagnostic module, wherein the alarm module is further configured to compare the priority of the first alarm and a priority of a third network diagnostic module.

18. A non-transitory computer readable media for carrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon configured to providing the following functionality:

an alarm module configured to receive statistics at least partially generated by a first network diagnostic module;

to determine whether the statistics satisfy a set of conditions associated with a first alarm, the first alarm having a priority; and

to compare the priority of the first alarm and a priority of a second network diagnostic module, wherein the alarm module is further configured to compare the priority of the second network diagnostic module and a priority of the third network diagnostic module.