Computer network software and hardware event monitoring and reporting system and method

• US 8,195,797 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spiceworks, Inc. (Ziff Davis, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spiceworks, Inc. (Ziff Davis, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US13/181,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20120011251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 719/328, 719/329
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

A method, system, and network for providing a method, system, and network, for network and device event monitoring and reporting. The disclosed subject matter associates with a host computer, a local network of information technology devices, a community of network users, and a global information technology community. The present disclosure initiates an inventory of a plurality of information technology devices associated with a local network of information technology devices. The method, system and apparatus determine change in the operational status of the plurality of the information technology devices associated with the local network. Then, the present disclosure monitors for changes in the operational status of the plurality of the information technology devices associated with the local network. The disclosed subject matter then presents to the host computer information relating changes in the operational status of the information technology devices associated with the local network. The present method and system associate changes to the operational status with a plurality of products from a set of product vendors, and those changes to the operational status with a plurality of advertisements presented in association with plurality of products.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing the event monitoring and reporting of a host computer, a local network of information technology devices, a community of network users, and a global information technology community, comprising the steps of:

downloading a local network monitoring software program from an online source onto a host computer system associated with said local network, said monitoring software program pre-configured with algorithms and parameters for automatic asset and configuration discovery of information technology devices associated with said local network from said host computer utilizing preexisting platform management systems and protocols on said information technology devices without the use of a client side agent associated to said local network monitoring software;

initiating an inventory of a plurality of information technology devices associated with a local network of information technology devices from said host computer;

determining a change in the operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network from said host computer;

monitoring for changes in said operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network from said host computer;

displaying information relating changes in said operational status of said information technology devices associated with said local network on said host computer;

associating changes to said operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices with a plurality of products from a set of product vendors; and

associating changes to said operational status with a plurality of advertisements presented in association with plurality of products.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an event associated with a media access control (MAC) address for computers associated with said local network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an event associated with at least a subset of all servers, routers, printers and other IP-based devices, software packages, services, hot fixes, and patches associated said local network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining changes in the operation status step further comprises the step of determining a change in the status of all software programs, servers, routers, printers and other IP-based devices, software packages, services, hot fixes, and patches associated with said local network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining changes in the operational status step further comprises sorting all cables and ports associated with said local network by MAC addresses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining needs step further comprises the step of determining the particular needs of said host computer, and the perceived needs of said local network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said associating step further comprises the ability to access information technology devices, configurations, problems, and solutions of said user community.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said directing step further comprises ability to access products and services of said global community in response to said changes in operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices.

9. A system for providing workflow monitoring and reporting interface of a host computer, a local network, a user community, and a global product and services community, comprising:

instructions operable on said host computer for automatic asset and configuration discovery of information technology devices associated with said local network from said host computer utilizing preexisting platform management systems and protocols on said information technology devices and without the use of a client side agent associated to said local network monitoring software, said instructions operable on said host computer for;

retrieving information based on the network assets associated with said local network;

monitoring events relating to changes in work-flow of said network assets associated with said local networks;

determining needs of said local network in response to events occurring on network assets associated with said local network;

displaying events relating to work-flow changes in association with said network assets;

directing said host computer to research and purchase resources for said local network of said information technology devices; and

driving advertisements to said host computer, said advertisements providing services similar to said needs of said local network.

10. The system on claim 9, wherein said instructions for retrieving information further comprise a process running on said network, and information technology devices associated with said local network for reporting events occurring on said network assets.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said instructions for retrieving information further comprises generating reports, flags and alerts of said network assets in response to operational changes occurring on said network assets.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said instructions for determining needs further comprises instructions determining the particular needs of said user of said host computer, and perceived needs of said local network.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said instructions providing information further comprises instructions for monitoring web-server activity of said informational technology devices associated with said local network.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said instructions providing the user information further comprises instructions for monitoring general activity of said informational technology devices associated with said local network.