Systems and methods for the detection and management of network assets

• US 20040128374A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hodges, Donna K., Wright, Robert E., Hagan, Guy R., Lockhart, James Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,243,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

System and methods are disclosed that enable the detection and management of network assets. Such systems in accordance with the present invention include one or more asset detection systems and one or more asset repositories. Asset detection systems and asset repositories in accordance with the present invention each have an interface for exchanging information. For example, such an interface may enable asset registration information to be detected at an asset detection system and automatically sent to asset repository. Furthermore, for example, such an interface may enable asset registration information to be verified at an asset repository, and enable a verification to be sent to an asset detection system.

Claims

1. A method for administration of network assets, the method comprising:

detecting the appearance of an asset in a network;

acquiring registration information associated with the detected asset; and

sending the registration information to an asset repository.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the appearance of an asset comprises detecting the appearance of an asset via a network monitoring tool on the network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the appearance of an asset comprises detecting the appearance of an asset via an intrusion detection tool on the network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

detecting an intrusion of the asset; and

alerting the asset repository of the intrusion.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein alerting the asset repository of the intrusion comprises:

alerting the information service to suspend currently running applications of the asset; and

alerting the information service to suspend deployment of new applications to the asset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the appearance of an asset comprises detecting the appearance of a hardware apparatus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein acquiring the registration information comprises acquiring a number of central processing units operating at the hardware apparatus.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein acquiring the registration information comprises acquiring an amount of memory available at the hardware apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the appearance of an asset comprises detecting the appearance of a software application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein acquiring the registration information comprises acquiring registration information from a signature issued to an instance of the software application.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein acquiring the registration information comprises acquiring an identifier for a hardware apparatus on which the software application is deployed.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the registration information comprises acquiring an identifier for the asset.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the registration information comprises acquiring an electronic license to use the asset.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the asset repository a message that the registration information has not been previously reported to the information service.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the asset repository a confirmation that the registration information matches registration information previously reported to the asset repository.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the asset repository an alert that the registration information does not match registration information previously reported to the asset repository.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring updated registration information at a pre-determined interval from the asset.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising reporting the updated registration information to the asset repository.

19. A method for verifying asset registration information, the method comprising:

receiving from an asset detection system registration information corresponding to an asset;

comparing the registration information with previously received registration information;

if the registration information matches the previously received registration information, then sending to the asset detection system a message confirming the registration information; and

if the registration information does not match the previously received registration information, then sending to the asset detection system an alert.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving registration information at a grid information service.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving registration information at a digital asset management system.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving registration information corresponding to a hardware apparatus.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving a number of central processing units operating at a hardware apparatus.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving registration information corresponding to an amount of memory available at a hardware apparatus.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving registration information corresponding to a software application.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving an identifier for a hardware apparatus on which a software application is deployed.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving an identifier for an asset.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving the registration information comprises receiving an electronic license to use an asset.

29. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

if there is no previously received registration information, then sending to the network asset monitoring system a message that there is no previously received registration information.

30. The method of claim 19, further comprising storing the registration information at an asset repository.

31. The method of claim 19, further comprising querying a digital asset management system for reports related to digital licenses for digital assets.

32. A system for detection and management of network assets, the system comprising:

an asset detection system;

an asset repository;

wherein said asset detection system is for performing the following steps;

detecting the appearance of an asset in a network;

acquiring registration information associated with the detected asset; and

sending the registration information to the asset repository; and

wherein said asset repository is for-performing the following steps;

receiving from the asset detection system the registration information corresponding to the asset;

comparing the registration information with previously received registration information;

if the registration information matches the previously received registration information, then sending to the asset detection system a message confirming the registration information; and

if the registration information does not match the previously received registration information, then sending to the asset detection system an alert.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the asset detection system is a network monitoring tool on the network.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the asset detection system is an intrusion detection tool on the network.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the asset repository is a grid information service.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the asset repository is a digital asset management system.