System and method for monitoring informational resources

• US 6,513,060 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Internetseer.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Internetseer.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Moyer, Christopher A., Moyer, Alan R., Nixon, Miles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HIEU C
• Application Number:
  US09/141,245
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/223, 709/100, 709/203, 709/227, 709/226, 709/225, 709/217-219, 707/9, 707/10, 707/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5083 wherein the managed service relates to web hosting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/55 Testing of service level quality, e.g. simulating service usage
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

A system and method are provided to monitor informational resources, such as websites. A plurality of host units support one or more informational resources accessible over a network, such as the Internet. A plurality of monitoring units located on a distributed computer system are coordinated to access the network and monitor the informational resources to determine if they are accessible and to evaluate their performance. Preferably, a central control unit manages the monitoring units.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a website being supported by a web server, comprising the steps of:

a) determining whether the web server is pingable;

b) if the web server is pingable, performing a ping operation comprising the steps of;

(i) sending a ping to the web server;

(ii) determining whether the web server responds to the ping;

(iii) if the web server does not respond to the ping, sending a message;

c) attempting to access the website by requesting the primary web page from the web server; and

d) if the website is not accessible, sending a message.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a message if the web server does not return the primary web page within a predetermined period of time.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of recording the time for the web server to return the primary web page.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the steps of sending a message comprises sending an alert via pager, electronic mail, facsimile transmission or vocal telephone transmission.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the performance of the website if it is accessible.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of providing a report comprising the ping response time and at least a portion of the determined performance.

7. A computer readable medium, comprising instructions capable of performing the method of claim 1.