Dynamically responding to non-network events at a network device in a computer network

• US 20070283005A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kolar, Mark A., Beliles, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

A technique dynamically responds to non-network events at a network device in a computer network. According to the novel technique, one or more sensors automatically detect (sense) one or more non-network events, and notifications of the non-network events are then transmitted over the network. One or more network devices (e.g., data centers, servers, routers, etc.) detect the notifications of the network events, and dynamically respond to the non-network events based on one or more associated policies. For example, one or more network-based policies may be defined that modify one or more network configuration parameters in response to the non-network events. Alternatively or in addition, one or more physical-based policies may be defined that instruct one or more network-attached physical control devices to modify one or more physical parameters.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically responding to non-network events, the method comprising:

detecting a notification of at least one non-network event at a network device; and

dynamically responding to the non-network event at the network device based on at least one associated policy.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the associated policy is a network-based policy, the method further comprising:

modifying at least one network configuration parameter in response to the non-network event.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the associated policy is a physical-based policy, the method further comprising:

instructing a network-attached physical control device to modify at least one physical parameter in response to the non-network event.

4. The method as in claim 3, further comprising:

modifying the physical parameter at the network-attached physical control device.

5. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

sensing the non-network event at a sensor; and

transmitting the notification of the non-network event into the network.

6. The method as in claim 5, further comprising:

informing, from the sensor, a network-attached sensor translator of the non-network event, wherein the network-attached sensor translator transmits the notification of the non-network event into the network.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein the network device is one of either a destination network device of the notification or an intercepting network device.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the associated policy defines at least one response to an occurrence of at least two particular non-network events.

9. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting at least one network event at the network device, wherein the associated policy defines at least one response to an occurrence of both at least one particular network event and at least one particular non-network event.

10. A system for dynamically responding to non-network events, the system comprising:

at least one network device configured to detect a notification of at least one non-network event, and to dynamically respond to the non-network event based on at least one associated policy.

11. The system as in claim 10, wherein the associated policy is a network-based policy, and the network device is further configured to modify at least one network configuration parameter in response to the non-network event.

12. The system as in claim 10, further comprising:

at least one network-attached physical control device configured to modify at least one physical parameter; and

wherein the associated policy is a physical-based policy, the network devices further configured to instruct the network-attached physical control device to modify at least one physical parameter in response to the non-network event.

13. The system as in claim 13, further comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense the non-network event; and

at least one network-attached sensor translator configured to transmit the notification of the non-network event into the network;

14. The system as in claim 13, wherein the sensor and the network-attached sensor translator are co-located on a same device.

15. A network device for use with dynamically responding to non-network events in a computer network, the network device comprising:

at least one network interface configured to receive non-network event notifications;

a processor coupled to the network interface and adapted to execute software processes; and

a memory adapted to store a response process executable by the processor, the response process configured to;

i) detect a notification of a non-network event; and

ii) dynamically respond to the non-network event based on at least one associated policy.

16. The network device as in claim 15, wherein the associated policy is a network-based policy, the response process further configured to:

modify at least one network configuration parameter in response to the non-network event.

17. The network device as in claim 15, wherein the associated policy is a physical-based policy, the response process further configured to:

instruct at least one network-attached physical control device to modify at least one physical parameter in response to the non-network event.

18. The network device as in claim 15, wherein the associated policy defines at least one response to an occurrence of at least two particular non-network events.

19. The network device as in claim 15, wherein the response process is further configured to:

detect at least one network event, wherein the associated policy defines at least one response to an occurrence of both at least one particular network event and at least one particular non-network event.

20. A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for dynamically responding to non-network events, the computer readable medium adapted to operate on a network device, the executable program instructions comprising program instructions adapted to:

detect a notification of a non-network event; and

dynamically respond to the non-network event based on at least one associated policy.