Auto-suggesting IT asset groups using clustering techniques
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- registering a plurality of information technology assets in a computerized asset management system, the plurality of information technology assets being physical information technology assets;
storing at least one configuration data variable for each of the plurality of information technology assets, an attribute of the at least one configuration data variable identifying a location of each one of the plurality of information technology assets;
converting the at least one configuration data variable for each of the plurality of information technology assets into a set of numerical values, the one or more attributes associated with the at least one configuration data variables identifying a location of the information technology assets;
performing a first cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the first cluster analysis using a distance algorithm with at least one first set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the first cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one first set of variables;
performing a second cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm with at least one second set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of the at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one second set of variables;
generating a plurality of clusters of information technology assets based on a comparison of a result of the first cluster analysis and a result of the second cluster analysis, each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets including technology assets having similar configuration data;
rendering a graphical representation for each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets in a graphical user interface (GUI), the graphical representation visually indicating a similarity of the information technology assets within each of the plurality of clusters based on spacing between points in the graphical representation;
enabling in the GUI a selection of the graphical representation;
in response to the selection of the graphical representation, automatically creating a logical group of information technology assets in the asset management system; and
pre-populating the logical group with the information technology assets from the cluster represented by the selection.
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Abstract
An information technology (IT) asset management system provides for logically grouping IT assets and performing actions on the logical groups. Cluster analysis techniques are used to analyze the configuration data corresponding to IT assets in the IT asset management system, generating proposed logical groups from the clusters determined by the cluster analysis techniques. A system administrator may be allowed to accept or reject the proposed logical groups.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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registering a plurality of information technology assets in a computerized asset management system, the plurality of information technology assets being physical information technology assets; storing at least one configuration data variable for each of the plurality of information technology assets, an attribute of the at least one configuration data variable identifying a location of each one of the plurality of information technology assets; converting the at least one configuration data variable for each of the plurality of information technology assets into a set of numerical values, the one or more attributes associated with the at least one configuration data variables identifying a location of the information technology assets; performing a first cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the first cluster analysis using a distance algorithm with at least one first set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the first cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one first set of variables; performing a second cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm with at least one second set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of the at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one second set of variables; generating a plurality of clusters of information technology assets based on a comparison of a result of the first cluster analysis and a result of the second cluster analysis, each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets including technology assets having similar configuration data; rendering a graphical representation for each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets in a graphical user interface (GUI), the graphical representation visually indicating a similarity of the information technology assets within each of the plurality of clusters based on spacing between points in the graphical representation; enabling in the GUI a selection of the graphical representation; in response to the selection of the graphical representation, automatically creating a logical group of information technology assets in the asset management system; and pre-populating the logical group with the information technology assets from the cluster represented by the selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions for a programmable control device stored thereon wherein the instructions cause a programmable control device to,
register a plurality of information technology assets in a computerized asset management system, the plurality of information technology assets being physical information technology assets; -
store at least one configuration data variable for each of the plurality of information technology assets, an attribute of the at least one configuration data variable identifying a location of at least one of the plurality of information technology assets; convert the at least one configuration data variable for each of the plurality of information technology assets into a set of numerical values; perform a first cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the first cluster analysis using a distance algorithm with at least one first set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the first cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one first set of variables; perform a second cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm with at least one second set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of the at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one second set of variables; generate a plurality of clusters of information technology assets based on a comparison of a result of the first cluster analysis and a result of the second cluster analysis, each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets including technology assets having similar configuration data; render a graphical representation for each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets in a graphical user interface (GUI), the graphical representation visually indicating a similarity of the information technology assets within each of the plurality of clusters based on spacing between points in the graphical representation; enable in the GUI a selection of the graphical representation; in response to the selection of the graphical representation, automatically create a logical group of information technology assets in the asset management system; and pre-populate the logical group with the information technology assets from the cluster represented by the selection.
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12. A computerized asset management system, comprising:
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a database storing a plurality of entries associated with information technology assets, the information technology assets being physical information technology assets, each entry including; configuration data associated with a corresponding information technology asset, at least one configuration data variable associated with the corresponding information technology asset, and at least one attribute associated with the at least one configuration data variable, an attribute of the at least one attribute identifying a location of an information technology asset; a processor, coupled to the database; a program storage unit, coupled to the processor; and
software, stored in the program storage unit, comprising instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform actions, comprising;selecting a plurality of configuration data corresponding to a plurality of information technology assets from the database; converting the at least one configuration data variables for each of the plurality of information technology assets into a set of numerical values; performing a first cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the first cluster analysis using a distance algorithm with at least one first set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the first cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one first set of variables; performing a second cluster analysis on the plurality of information technology assets, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm with at least one second set of variables selected from the numerical values as an input, the second cluster analysis using the distance algorithm to compare a closeness of the at least two of the plurality of information technology assets to each other based on the at least one second set of variables; generating a plurality of clusters of information technology assets based on a comparison of a result of the first cluster analysis and a result of the second cluster analysis, each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets including technology assets having similar configuration data; render a graphical representation for each of the plurality of clusters of information technology assets in a graphical user interface (GUI), the graphical representation visually indicating a similarity of the information technology assets within each of the plurality of clusters based on spacing between points in the graphical representation; enable in the GUI a selection of the graphical representation; in response to the selection of the graphical representation, automatically create a logical group of information technology assets in the asset management system; and pre-populate the logical group with the information technology assets from the cluster represented by the selection. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification