Method and apparatus to detect unidentified inventory
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving data that was collected from a plurality of network devices;
wherein the data includes at least one device identifier for a neighboring network device of at least one network device of the plurality of network devices;
comparing the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device to one or more device identifiers of known network devices;
in response to determining that the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device does not match a device identifier for the known network devices, adding the at least one device identifier to a list of unidentified inventory;
generating a score for the neighboring network device based, at least in part, on how many devices of the plurality of network devices detected the neighboring network device;
determining a rank, within the list of unidentified inventory, for the neighboring network device based, at least in part, on the score and how many devices of the plurality of network devices detected the neighboring network device;
wherein the rank, within the list of unidentified inventory, for the neighboring network device is higher when a greater number of devices of the plurality of network devices detect the neighboring network device than when a fewer number of devices of the plurality of network devices detect the neighboring network device;
wherein the rank indicates that the neighboring network device has a greater likelihood than one or more other network devices identified by the list of unidentified inventory that the neighboring network device should be included in a network inventory;
wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.
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Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for detecting unidentified inventory in a network. In one embodiment, data that was collected from a plurality of network devices is received. The data includes at least one device identifier for a neighboring network device of at least one network device of the plurality of network devices. The at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device is compared to one or more device identifiers of known network devices. In response to determining that the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device does not match a device identifier for the known network devices, the at least one device identifier is added to a list of unidentified inventory.
5 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving data that was collected from a plurality of network devices; wherein the data includes at least one device identifier for a neighboring network device of at least one network device of the plurality of network devices; comparing the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device to one or more device identifiers of known network devices; in response to determining that the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device does not match a device identifier for the known network devices, adding the at least one device identifier to a list of unidentified inventory; generating a score for the neighboring network device based, at least in part, on how many devices of the plurality of network devices detected the neighboring network device; determining a rank, within the list of unidentified inventory, for the neighboring network device based, at least in part, on the score and how many devices of the plurality of network devices detected the neighboring network device; wherein the rank, within the list of unidentified inventory, for the neighboring network device is higher when a greater number of devices of the plurality of network devices detect the neighboring network device than when a fewer number of devices of the plurality of network devices detect the neighboring network device; wherein the rank indicates that the neighboring network device has a greater likelihood than one or more other network devices identified by the list of unidentified inventory that the neighboring network device should be included in a network inventory; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which when executed cause performing:
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receiving data that was collected from a plurality of network devices; wherein the data includes at least one device identifier for a neighboring network device of at least one network device of the plurality of network devices; comparing the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device to one or more device identifiers of known network devices; in response to determining that the at least one device identifier for the neighboring network device does not match a device identifier for the known network devices, adding the at least one device identifier to a list of unidentified inventory; generating a score for the neighboring network device based, at least in part, on how many devices of the plurality of network devices detected the neighboring network device; determining a rank, within the list of unidentified inventory, for the neighboring network device based, at least in part, on the score and how many devices of the plurality of network devices detected the neighboring network device; wherein the rank, within the list of unidentified inventory, for the neighboring network device is higher when a greater number of devices of the plurality of network devices detect the neighboring network device than when a fewer number of devices of the plurality of network devices detect the neighboring network device; wherein the rank indicates that the neighboring network device has a greater likelihood than one or more other network devices identified by the list of unidentified inventory that the neighboring network device should be included in a network inventory. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification