Method and apparatus for adaptive monitor and support system

• US 6,192,403 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Renger, Bernard S L, Seidel, Kurt D., Jong, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prieto, Beatriz
• Application Number:
  US08/997,666
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220-222, 709/301, 709/223, 709/229, 709/226, 709/235-240, 709/251-253, 709/280, 364/424.01, 364/424.05, 364/443, 364/449.5, 364/550, 705/811, 707/10-04-, 710/18, 710/15, 710/16, 702/134, 702/187
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

This invention provides an adaptive monitor and support system that adapts a monitoring process for monitored devices based on monitored data by downloading instructions and/or monitor/support programs to optimize the monitoring process. A monitor/support shell executes in intelligent monitored devices such as personal computers. For non-intelligent devices, intelligent monitor devices are provided to support the monitor/supporting shell. A profile corresponding to each monitored device identifies device functions that require special monitor and/or support processes which are downloaded from an adaptive monitor and support device located remotely relative to the monitored device. The adaptive monitor and support device analyzes uploaded monitored data and adjusts the monitoring process based on the analysis results by downloading special monitor programs, special support programs, and/or instructions to the monitored devices. The special monitor and/or support programs may also be downloaded directly from third-party databases.

Claims

1. A method for operating an adaptive monitor/support system in a network, the adaptive monitor/support system monitoring and/or supporting a plurality of operating devices, each of the operating devices being coupled to the network, the method comprising:

monitoring each of the plurality of operating devices, using a monitoring process to determine whether one or more device functions are performed for supporting a user of the device or for collecting information of device function usage; and

adjusting the monitoring process for each operating device based on a profile of each operating device and first results of the monitoring step by downloading information from an adaptive monitor/support device that is not part of the operating devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the first results of the monitoring step to generate monitored data; and

searching the monitored data for a launching or an ending of at least one device function identified in the profiles.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting step modifies the monitoring processes to account for the launching or the ending of the device function by downloading at least one of a process and an instruction from the adaptive monitor/support device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating devices include at least one of an intelligent device and a non-intelligent device, the non-intelligent device being monitored through an intelligent monitoring device, the intelligent device and the intelligent monitoring device include a monitor/support shell that controls a monitoring process.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein an operating device of the plurality of operating devices corresponds to a profile, the profile including at least one pre-specified function that may be performed in the operating device, the monitor/support shell detecting a launching or ending of the pre-specified function based on the profile.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the adaptive monitor/support device has access to monitor processes and support processes additional to monitor and support processes being controlled by the monitor/support shell, the monitor/support shell downloading at least one of the monitor processes, the support processes, and instructions from the adaptive monitor/support device to adjust a monitoring process of the operating device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the profile is tailored to direct the monitor/support shell and/or the monitor processes and/or the support processes based on which one of a plurality of users is using the operating device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitor/support shell and/or the monitor processes and/or the support processes interact with a user of the operating device to receive and/or output information to the user.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the monitor/support shell downloads the monitor and/or support processes from either the adaptive monitor/support device or from a source external to the adaptive monitor/support system.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the adaptive monitor/support device uploads the monitored data from the operating devices and processes the monitored data to generate second results, the adaptive monitor/support device downloading instructions to the operating devices to launch a new process, to delete a current process or to change the monitoring processes based on the second results.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating devices include one of computers, televisions, telephone stations, cable boxes, entertainment controllers, intelligent appliances and intelligent home security systems.

12. An adaptive monitor/support system operating in a network that monitors and/or supports a plurality of operating devices, each of the operating devices being coupled to the network, the adaptive monitor/support system comprising:

an adaptive monitor/support device; and

monitor/support shells, each of which is operating in a corresponding operating device of the operating devices, wherein a monitor/support shell generates first results for the corresponding operating device by monitoring process that determines whether one or more device functions are performed for supporting a user of the device for collecting information of device function usage and adjusting the monitoring process based on a profile of each operating device and first results of the monitoring process by downloading information from the adaptive monitor/support device that is not part of the operating devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the monitor/support shells process the first results of the monitoring step to generate monitored data and search the monitored data for a launching or an ending of at least one device function identified in the profiles.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the monitor/support shells modify the monitoring processes to account for the launching or the ending of the device function by downloading at least one of a process and an instruction from the adaptive monitor/support device.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the operating devices include at least one of an intelligent device and a non-intelligent device, the non-intelligent device being monitored through an intelligent monitoring device, the intelligent device and the intelligent monitoring device include a monitor/support shell that controls a monitoring process.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein an operating device of the plurality of operating devices corresponds to a profile, the profile including at least one pre-specified function that may be performed in the operating device, the monitor/support shell detecting a launching or ending of the pre-specified function based on the profile.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the adaptive monitor/support device has access to monitor processes and support processes additional to monitor and support processes being controlled by the monitor/support shell, the monitor/support shell downloading at least one of the monitor processes, the support processes, and instructions from the adaptive monitor/support device to adjust a monitoring process of the operating device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the profile is tailored to direct the monitor/support shell and/or the monitor processes and/or the support processes based on which one of a plurality of users is using the operating device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor/support shell and/or the monitor processes and/or the support processes interact with a user of the operating device to receive and/or output information to the user.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitor/support shell downloads the monitor and/or support processes from either the adaptive monitor/support device or from a source external to the adaptive monitor/support system.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the adaptive monitor/support device uploads the monitored data from the operating devices and processes the monitored data to generate second results, the adaptive monitor/support device downloading instructions to the operating devices to launch a new process, to delete a current process or to change the monitoring processes based on the second results.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the operating devices include one of computers, televisions, telephone stations, cable boxes, entertainment controllers, intelligent appliances and intelligent home security systems.