Facility to transmit network management data to an umbrella management system

• US 7,502,851 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chu, Jie, Thomas, Leslie Alan, Sitaraman, Aravind, Sthothra Bhasham, Sampath Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US11/042,704
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/246
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0609 based on severity or priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/028 by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method for conveying data communications network management information to an umbrella management system whereby network management information events are published on an information bus and received at a subscribing monitor interface located on the information bus. The monitor interface then converts the network management information events into umbrella management system-useable information and communicates the umbrella management useable information to the umbrella management system. In this manner, the umbrella management system is able to import valuable information pertaining to the devices and services that comprise the overall network. The monitor interface includes an adapter located on the information bus that subscribes to network management information events, a converter that formats the network management information events into data useable by the umbrella management system, and a forwarder that communicates the umbrella management system-useable data to the umbrella management system.

Claims

1. A monitor interface in a data communications network, the monitor interface in communication with an information bus and an umbrella management system, the monitor interface comprising:

an adapter that subscribes to and captures network management events off of the information bus, the network management events having been published on the information bus by an access database adapter in communication with the information bus, a network management application, and a database;

a converter in communication with the adapter that formats the events into umbrella management system information, and

a forwarder in communication with the converter that conveys the umbrella management system information to the umbrella management system.

2. The monitor interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a filter in communication with the adapter, the filter selecting certain information from certain network management events.

3. The monitor interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a publisher in communication with the adapter, the publisher transmitting events across the information bus.

4. A monitor interface comprising:

means for subscribing to and capturing off of an information bus, network management events published on the information bus by an access database adapter in communication with the information bus, a network management application, and a database;

means for formatting the network management events into umbrella management system information; and

means for conveying the umbrella management system information to an umbrella management system.

5. The monitor interface of claim 4, further comprising:

means for selecting certain information from certain network management events captured off the information bus.

6. The monitor interface of claim 4, further comprising:

means for publishing events across the information bus.

7. A monitor interface in a data communications network, the monitor interface comprising:

a first adapter configured to subscribe to and capture off of an information bus, network management events published by an access database adapter associated with a network management application;

a converter configured to format the network management events from the first adapter into umbrella management system information; and

a forwarder configured to convey the umbrella management system information from the converter to an umbrella management system.

8. The monitor interface of claim 7, further comprising:

a filter configured to select certain information from certain network management events captured by the first adapter.

9. The monitor interface of claim 7, further comprising:

a publisher configured to transmit events across the information bus via the first adapter.

10. A monitor interface in a data communications network, the monitor interface comprising:

means for subscribing to and capturing off an information bus, network management events associated with a network management application;

means for formatting the network management events into umbrella management system information; and

means for conveying the umbrella management system information to an umbrella management system.

11. The monitor interface of claim 10, further comprising:

means for selecting certain information from certain network management events captured off the information bus.

12. The monitor interface of claim 10, further comprising:

means for publishing events across the information bus.