Intelligent automatic reconfiguration method and apparatus for network system

• US 20080130517A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameo Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cameo Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Pei Chuan, Lee, Shih Ching
• Granted Patent: US 7,864,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

A method and apparatus for intelligent automatic reconfiguration of a network system basically implements an automatic reconfiguration apparatus to acquire the configuration of every network device and generates a topology of the network devices. Afterward, the automatic reconfiguration apparatus can detect the status of the network devices. When some network device is replaced by a new network device due to a breakdown or other factors, the automatic reconfiguration apparatus can detect the changed status and check the hardware version as well as the corresponding location in the topology of the former network device. If the e hardware version of the new network device is identical to the hardware version of the corresponding former network device in the topology, the disclosed apparatus can automatically load the stored prime configuration into the new network device for performing automatic configuration to the network device.

Claims

1. A method for intelligent automatic reconfiguration of network system comprising the steps of:

acquiring configuration of at least one network device connected to said network system and storing the configuration in a database;

detecting a status of the network device; and

determining whether to transmit the configuration stored in the database to the network device for implementing automatic reconfiguration therein according to a result derived from detecting said status of the network device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method for acquiring configuration of at least one network device is performed under Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method for detecting the status of the network device is to detect whether a checksum of the network device is changed or not, wherein if the checksum is changed, it is indicated that the status of the network devices is changed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a following step after the step of acquiring configuration of said at least one network device:

generating a topology of the at least one network device according to the acquired configuration for determining connection among the network devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method for determining whether to transmit the configuration stored in the database to the network device includes following steps:

when a result of the detecting reveals that said network device is changed, checking whether the network device is contained in the scope of the previously generated topology; and

if the network device “

is”

contained in the scope of the previously generated topology, checking whether a hardware version of the network device is identical to a hardware version in the configuration stored in the database corresponding to the network device;

if the hardware version “

is”

identical, transmitting the configuration stored in the database to the network device for performing automatic configuration.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein either if the network device that has the status changed has not been contained in the scope of the previously generated topology or if the hardware version is not is not identical, manual configuration is required.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network system is an Ethernet system and is selected from the group consisting of WAN, LAN and WLAN.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network device is selected from the group consisting of a hub, a switch, a router, a broadband router, a NMS, an AP, a Wireless Dongle and a network card.

10. An apparatus for intelligent automatic reconfiguration of network system, comprising:

a network module for providing connection and implementing required functions of the network system;

an information acquiring module for acquiring configuration of at least one network device contained in a network system;

a database, which stores at least the acquired configuration;

a detecting and comparing module which is provided to detect a configuration change of the network device and produce a detection result; and

a configuration loading module for transmitting the configuration stored in the database to the network device and performing automatic configuration of the network device according to the detection result.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network device further comprising:

a network module, for providing connection and implementing required functions of the network system;

an information report module to transmit the configuration of the network device to the automatic reconfiguration apparatus; and

a configuration-updating module provided for receiving the configuration coming from the automatic reconfiguration apparatus, and saving the configuration as a practicing configuration thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the information acquiring module, detecting and comparing module and configuration loading module transmit and receive information to and from the network device under Simple Network Management. Protocol (SNMP).

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the method for detecting the status of the network device is to detect whether a checksum of the network device is changed or not, wherein if the checksum is changed, it is indicated that the status of the network devices is changed.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network system is an Ethernet system and is selected from the group consisting of WAN, LAN and WLAN.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the network device is selected from the group consisting of a hub, a switch, a router, a broadband router, a NMS, an AP, a Wireless Dongle and a network card.