Automated data collection and analysis

• US 20060116841A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Baekelmans, Thibaut Vos
• Original Assignee: John Baekelmans, Thibaut Vos
• Inventors: Baekelmans, John, Vos, Thibaut
• Application Number:
  US11/333,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116841A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/121
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

Techniques are provided for automated data collection and analysis, including steps of receiving a request for information about a device; constructing a command set, wherein the command set is a set of executable commands that indicate collection of data from the device and zero or more other devices; sending the command set to the device; receiving analysis results from an analysis engine, wherein the analysis results are based at least in part on a set of results received from the device and produced by executing the command set; and determining a set of solutions based on the analysis results. Techniques are also provided for automated data collection and analysis, including the steps of sending a request for information about a device; receiving a command set in response to the request, wherein the command set is a set of executable commands that indicate collection of data from the device and zero or more other devices; executing the command set; generating a result set based on the execution of the command set; sending the result set to an analysis engine as part of a second request for analysis of the result set; and receiving a solution to one or more problems discovered at least in part by the analysis engine.

Claims

1. A method of automated data collection and analysis, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

sending a request for information about a device;

receiving a command set in response to the request, wherein the command set is a set of executable commands that indicate collection of data from the device and zero or more other devices;

executing the command set;

generating a result set based on the execution of the command set;

sending the result set to an analysis engine as part of a second request for analysis of the result set; and

receiving a solution to one or more problems discovered at least in part by the analysis engine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are performed by a command runner module running on a user machine, and wherein the method further comprises the step of determining whether the user machine has the latest version of the command runner module.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

if the user machine does not have a version of the command runner module, downloading the command runner module.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

if the user machine does not have the latest version of the command runner module, downloading a patch to the command runner module.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of removing confidential information from the result set.

6. A method of automated data collection and analysis from one or more network devices, the method comprising the machine-implemented steps of:

sending a request for information about a network device;

receiving a command set in response to the request, wherein the command set is a set of executable commands that indicate collection of data from the network device and zero or more other network devices;

executing the command set;

generating a result set based on the execution of the command set;

sending the result set to an analysis engine as part of a second request for analysis of the result set; and

receiving a solution to one or more problems discovered at least in part by the analysis engine.