System and method for monitoring network appliances using well-formatted data files

• US 6,912,486 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Bing
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/464,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702182-185, 707/205
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for monitoring network appliances using formatted data files. A system for monitoring a network appliance by recording operational data in formatted data files includes a data management module and a data presentation module. The data management module is configured to determine selected operational data associated with the network appliance and to record the selected operational data in formatted data files. The selected operational data are a subset of data regarding transactions performed by the network appliance. The data management module is also configured to record the selected operational data with minimum processing. The data presentation module is configured to present statistical data. The statistical data is determined from the selected operational data in the formatted data files. The data presentation module is also configured to provide the statistical data in real-time.

Claims

1. A system for efficiently monitoring a network appliance, comprising:

a formatted data file that is formatted according to at least one predetermined time period; and

a data management module configured to record within the predetermined time period selected operational data associated with the network appliance in predetermined locations within the formatted data file; and

to convert a formatted data file to a different format, wherein the data management module ignores existing and inactive formatted data files during the conversion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined time period is selected from at least one of an hourly period, a daily period, a weekly period, a monthly period, and a yearly period.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data management module further comprises a data manager configured to maintain and update the formatted data file.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data management module includes an update front end configured to receive update requests from an update client.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data presentation module configured to provide statistical data determined from the recorded selected operational data in the formatted data file.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the data presentation module includes a data analyzer configured to select the requested data from the formatted data file and perform computations to provide the statistical data.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the data analyzer is further configured to build a sorted data array.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the data presentation module further comprises a data formatter configured to translate the sorted data array into a specified format.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the specified format is selected from an XML format and an MIB format.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data presentation module is further configured to apply the conversion while providing the statistical data.

11. A method for monitoring a network appliance using minimum processing power, the method comprising:

determining selected operational data associated with the network appliance; and

recording the selected operational data in predetermined locations within the formatted data files, wherein recording the selected operational data further comprises;

determining when to transition from a current time range to a new time range in a formatted data file; and

when transitioning the new time range;

determining statistical data associated with the current time range;

recording the statistical data in the data files; and

setting a flag associated with the current time range to indicate availability of the statistical data.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising

determining statistical data from the formatted data files;

and

providing the statistical data in real-time.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising assigning filenames to the formatted data files such that each filename is associated with a time range and the filenames are recycled after a period of time.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the formatted data files further comprise:

an hourly formatted data file containing selected operational data being associated with the performance of the network appliance during a twenty-four hour period; and

a daily formatted data file containing selected operational data associated the performance of the network appliance during a one year period.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising a yearly formatted data file associated with a year in a multi-year period.

16. An apparatus for efficiently monitoring a network appliance, comprising:

means for determining selected operational data associated with transactions performed by the network appliance; and

means for recording the selected operational data in predetermined locations within the formatted data files, wherein the means for recording the selected operational data further comprises;

a means for determining when to transition from a current time range to a new time range in a formatted data file; and

when transitioning the new time range employing;

a means for determining statistical data associated with the current time range;

a means for recording the statistical data in the data files; and

a means for setting a flag associated with the current time range to indicate availability of the statistical data.

17.The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising;

means for determining statistical data from the selected operational data using the formatted data files; and

means for providing the statistical data in real-time.