Network topology
First Claim
1. A method of determining the topology of at least part of a network comprising:
- (a) either(i) monitoring traffic to, and/or from, a plurality of computers in the network, storing information relating to the monitored traffic for each of the plurality of computers, the information including traffic flow information which includes an identifier of a requested service;
or(ii) receiving and storing information relating to traffic to, and/or from, a plurality of computers in the network, for each of the plurality of computers on the network the information including traffic flow information which includes an identifier of a requested service; and
(b) selecting a first computer of the plurality of computers;
(c) reading the stored information related to the first computer and identifying, using the stored identifier of the requested service, at least one traffic flow to or from the first computer that corresponds to the requested service;
(d) using the stored information to identify the destination or origin of the identified traffic flow for the first computer;
(e) using the identified destination or origin to identify one or more computers that are immediately upstream or downstream of the first computer; and
(f) determining a topology based on the identified one or more upstream or downstream computers.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of determining the topology of at least part of a network comprising the steps of: monitoring traffic to and/or from a plurality of computers in the network; storing information relating to the monitored traffic for each of the plurality of computers, the information including an identifier of a requested service; selecting a first computer of the plurality of computers; reading the stored information related to the first computer and identifying, using the stored identifier of the requested service, at least one traffic flow to or from the first computer that corresponds to the requested service; using the stored information to identify the destination or origin of the identified traffic flow for the first computer, which traffic flow information includes the identifier of the requested service; using the identified destination or origin to identify one or more computers that are immediately upstream or downstream of the first computer, and determining a topology based on the identified one or more upstream or downstream computers.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of determining the topology of at least part of a network comprising:
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(a) either (i) monitoring traffic to, and/or from, a plurality of computers in the network, storing information relating to the monitored traffic for each of the plurality of computers, the information including traffic flow information which includes an identifier of a requested service;
or(ii) receiving and storing information relating to traffic to, and/or from, a plurality of computers in the network, for each of the plurality of computers on the network the information including traffic flow information which includes an identifier of a requested service; and (b) selecting a first computer of the plurality of computers; (c) reading the stored information related to the first computer and identifying, using the stored identifier of the requested service, at least one traffic flow to or from the first computer that corresponds to the requested service; (d) using the stored information to identify the destination or origin of the identified traffic flow for the first computer; (e) using the identified destination or origin to identify one or more computers that are immediately upstream or downstream of the first computer; and (f) determining a topology based on the identified one or more upstream or downstream computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Computer apparatus for determining the topology of at least part of a network, the apparatus comprising a processor, a memory and an input in communication with a plurality of computers in a network each of which has been configured to monitor traffic to and/or from one of the plurality of computers and to transmit information relating to the monitored traffic to the input for storage as stored information, the information including traffic now information which includes an identifier of a requested service;
- the computer apparatus being configured to;
select a first computer of the plurality of computers, read the stored information related to the first computer and identify, using the stored identifier of the requested service, at least one traffic flow, to and/or from the first computer, that corresponds to the requested service; use the stored information to identify the destination and/or origin of the identified traffic flow for the first computer; use the identified destination and/or origin to identify one or more computers that are immediately upstream and/or downstream of the first computer; and determine a topology based on the identified one or more upstream and/or downstream computers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- the computer apparatus being configured to;
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20. A method of determining the topology of at least part of a network, the method comprising:
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(a) monitoring traffic of a plurality of computers in the network, storing information relating to the monitored traffic for each of the plurality of computers, the information including traffic flow information which includes an identifier of a requested service; (b) selecting a first computer of the plurality of computers; (c) reading the stored information related to the first computer and identifying, using the stored identifier of the requested service, at least one traffic flow to or from the first computer that corresponds to the requested service; (d) using the stored information to identify the destination or origin of the identified traffic flow for the first computer; (e) using the identified destination or origin to identify one or more computers that are immediately upstream or downstream of the first computer; and (f) determining a topology based on the identified one or more upstream or downstream computers. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of determining the topology of at least part of a network, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving and storing information relating to traffic of a plurality of computers in the network, for each of the plurality of computers on the network the information including traffic flow information which includes an identifier of a requested service; (b) selecting a first computer of the plurality of computers; (c) reading the stored information related to the first computer and identifying, using the stored identifier of the requested service, at least one traffic flow to or from the first computer that corresponds to the requested service; (d) using the stored information to identify the destination or origin of the identified traffic flow for the first computer; (e) using the identified destination or origin to identify one or more computers that are immediately upstream or downstream of the first computer; and (f) determining a topology based on the identified one or more upstream or downstream computers. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification