NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, SOFTWARE AND METHOD

• US 20110106860A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Wood, Anderson J., Daniel, Robert E., Stafford, Tina M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/812
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/085 Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles

Abstract

A fault prediction system comprises a processor, a data storage device and a network connection. The processor acts to commence monitoring of a newly notified device upon the network irrespective of whether details of the device are stored in a database on the data storage device or not.

Claims

1. A network management system arranged to manage a network of managed devices, the system comprising a processor and a data storage device, the processor being arranged to receive device identification data from a managed device, the data storage device being arranged to store device identification data associated with at least one other managed device in a database, the processor being arranged to compare the received device identification data to the device identification data in the database to determine whether the managed device is known to the system, adding the device to a database of managed devices on the data storage device if the managed device is not known to the system, and importing device characteristics from a pre-defined template into the database based upon the device identification data, the processor being arranged to monitor some or all performance data associated with the managed device based upon the imported device characteristics.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, the processor is arranged to receive device data providing details of the managed device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein, the details comprise at least one of the following:

a list of peripheral devices to be monitored, parameters associated with each peripheral device, geographical location, hardware information about the device.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein, the processor is arranged to update the database stored on the data storage device with the details contained in the device data.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein, the processor is arranged to monitor a core set of parameters of the managed device prior to receiving the device data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein, the processor is arranged to assign a pre-defined status code associated with the addition of the managed device to the database which is displayed in an event log associated with the network management system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein, the processor is arranged to generate a notification to an owner of the managed device that the device has been added to the database of managed devices

8. The system of claim 1 wherein, the managed device comprises a self-service terminal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein, the managed device may comprise any of the following:

an automated teller machine (ATM), an information kiosk, an electronic funds transfer (EFT) terminal a financial services centre, a bill payment kiosk, a video, DVD, multi-media, mpeg3 etc sales/rental kiosk, a lottery kiosk, a postal services machine, a check-in and/or check-out terminal such as those used in the retail, hotel, car rental, gaming, healthcare, and airline industries, or the like.

10. A computer implemented method of managing a network of devices comprising the steps of:

i) receiving device identification data from a managed device at a processor;

ii) storing device identification data associated with at least one other managed device in a database at a data storage device;

iii) comparing the received device identification data to the device identification data in the database;

iv) determining whether the managed device is known to the system;

v) adding the device to a database of managed devices on the data storage device if the determination of step (iv) is negative;

vi) importing device characteristics from a pre-defined template into the database based upon the device identification data; and

vii) monitoring of some or all performance data associated with the managed device by the processor based upon the imported device characteristics.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising receiving device data providing details of the managed device at the processor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, the details comprise at least one of the following:

a list of peripheral devices to be monitored, parameters associated with each peripheral device, geographical location. The method may comprise updating of the database stored on the data storage device with the details contained in the device data by the processor.

13. The method of claim 10 comprising monitoring a core set of parameters of the managed device prior to receiving the device data.

14. The method of claim 10 comprising assigning a pre-defined status code associated with the addition of the managed device to the database which is displayed in an event log associated with the network management system.

15. The method of claim 10 comprising generating a notification to an owner of the managed device that the device has been added to the database of managed devices.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising transmitting the notification to the device owner.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein, the managed device comprises a self-service terminal.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein, the managed device comprises any of the following:

an automated teller machine (ATM), an information kiosk, an electronic funds transfer (EFT) terminal a financial services centre, a bill payment kiosk, a video, DVD, multi-media, mpeg3 etc sales/rental kiosk, a lottery kiosk, a postal services machine, a check-in and/or check-out terminal such as those used in the retail, hotel, car rental, gaming, healthcare, and airline industries, or the like.

19. Software which when executed upon a processor causes the processor to execute the method of claim 10.