Network advisor

• US 7,853,829 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Younger, Lauren, Vandenberg, Greg, Jones, Caleb, Owens, John-Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US11/867,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20090019314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 714/37, 714/4, 714/45, 714/46, 714/47, 709/203, 709/217, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 714/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227

Abstract

A system for diagnosing the configuration and use of devices in an interconnected network. The system may be used to analyze a network and/or discrete network devices, and then suggest steps that a user may take to improve the performance or usability of the network and/or device.

Claims

1. A diagnostic system, comprising:

(a) a first network-management tool executable on a first computer device and comprising;

a processor and a memory;

a first device-information collection module configured to collect information relating to the first computer device, and

an information-transmission module configured to transmit collected information to an electronic device remote from the first computer device; and

(b) an advisory tool executable on a server computing device and comprising;

an information-receiving module configured to receive the collected information, and

an advisor module configured to determine, based on the collected information, a deficiency associated with the first computer device and generate a report suggesting a remedy to the deficiency, wherein the advisor module is configured to evaluate files in the first computer device in order to make a recommendation about adding a media network adapter to the first computer device, and wherein the advisor module is configured to evaluate a connection speed in order to recommend a connection type for coupling the first computer device to a network, and wherein the advisor module is configured to evaluate the first computer device in order to recommend a software protection mechanism.

2. The diagnostic system recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second network-management tool executable on a second computer device and comprising;

a second device-information collection module configured to collect information relating to the second computer device,

an information-sharing module configured to share the information relating to the second computer device with the first computer device; and

wherein the first network-management tool further includes a synchronization module configured to receive the information collected by the first device-information collection module, receive the information collected by the second device-information collection module, synchronize the information collected by the first device-information collection module with the information collected by the second device-information collection module, and provide the synchronized collected information to the information transmission module.

3. The diagnostic system recited in claim 2, wherein the first computer device and the second computer device are members of the same network.

4. The diagnostic system recited in claim 1, wherein the information collected by the first device-information collection module relates to software applications run by the first computer device.

5. The diagnostic system recited in claim 4, wherein the suggested remedy generated in response to the collected information comprises a recommendation that a particular software application be installed on the first computer device.

6. The diagnostic system recited in claim 1, wherein the information collected by the first device-information collection module relates to wide-area-network connection speed of the first computer device.

7. The diagnostic system recited in claim 6, wherein the suggested remedy generated in response to the collected information comprises a recommendation that a higher-quality network connection be applied to the first computer device.

8. The diagnostic system recited in claim 1, wherein the information collected by the first device-information collection module relates to devices on a network of which the first computer device is a member.

9. The diagnostic system recited in claim 8, wherein the suggested remedy generated in response to the collected information comprises a recommendation that a particular device be added to the network.

10. The diagnostic system recited in claim 1, wherein the information collected by the first device information collection module relates to types of files stored on the first computer device.

11. The diagnostic system recited in claim 10, wherein the suggested remedy generated in response to the collected information comprises a recommendation that a particular device be coupled to the first computer device.

12. The diagnostic system recited in claim 1, wherein the information collected by the first device information collection module relates to product versions of network devices on a network of which the first computer device is a member.

13. The diagnostic system recited in claim 12, wherein the suggested remedy generated in response to the collected information comprises a recommendation of an upgrade to the network device.

14. The diagnostic system recited in claim 1, wherein the report comprises a user interface configured to assist a user in obtaining the remedy.

15. The diagnostic system recited in claim 14, wherein the user interface includes an aggregation of content describing a product associated with the remedy.

16. The diagnostic system recited in claim 14, wherein the user interface includes a link to an online source for a remedial object.

17. A method to be performed in conjunction with a processor and a memory, comprising:

collecting from a remote network information characterizing the remote network, wherein the remote network comprises at least one electronic device;

automatically determining, based on the collected information, a deficiency associated with the remote network;

automatically generating a report suggesting a remedy to the deficiency; and

automatically providing the report to a user associated with the network, wherein an advisor module is configured to evaluate files in a computer device in order to make a recommendation about adding a media network adapter to the computer device, and wherein the advisor module is configured to evaluate a connection speed in order to recommend a connection type for coupling the computer device to the remote network, and wherein the advisor module is configured to evaluate the computer device in order to recommend a software protection mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein collecting information comprises providing to the remote network a network management tool executable on at least one network device of the remote network.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein generating a report comprises applying a set of heuristics to the collected information.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein providing the report comprises providing the report to the user via a web page accessible by the user.