Network software and hardware monitoring and marketplace

• US 9,483,791 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2013
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spiceworks, Inc. (Ziff Davis, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spiceworks, Inc. (Ziff Davis, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schank, Eric David, Sullivan, Francis, Abel, Scott Richard, Gugliemetti, Brian S., Syed, Tabrez
• Primary Examiner(s): Desai, Resha
• Application Number:
  US13/776,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 705 261- 272, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• 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 interfacing the work-flow monitoring and reporting of a host computer, a local network of information technology devices, a community of network users, and third party vendors is provided. This includes processes and systems for initiating an inventory, including software, of a plurality of information technology devices associated with a local network of information technology devices from a host computer and determining the operational status of the information technology devices associated with the local network. The operational status of the information technology devices associated with the local network is monitored and presented to a host computer. Needs relating to the local network are identified and determined and a purchasing platform for purchasing product solutions from third party vendors is provided.

Claims

1. A method for managing operations of a local network by a network management system integrating work-flow monitoring and reporting of a host computer of said local network, with a community of network users of other networks, and with third party vendors, said method comprising the steps of:

providing said network management system comprising a network management system server remote from said local network, the server comprising a processor, memory, and a network connection;

providing to a host computer of said local network an inventory acquisition application, the inventory acquisition application installed on said host computer;

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

determining, by said host computer, operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network;

monitoring, by said host computer, said operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network;

said inventory acquisition application causing said host computer to report to said network management system said operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network;

determining needs of said local network, by said network management system, said needs comprising network assets related to said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network;

providing by said network management system a purchasing platform for the user to purchase communicating to third party vendors purchase transactions for product solutions to fulfill said needs; and

receiving input to said purchasing platform from a browser-based management interface of said network management system;

wherein said network management system automatically recurs said initiating an inventory and automatically recurs said determining needs, without said browser-based management interface being open.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

recommending a product solution in said browser-based management interface based on said needs of said local network.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising the steps of:

wherein said recommending comprises filtering via a processor of said network management system a database of product solutions of third party vendors to identify product solutions for fulfillment of said needs, said filtering comprising usage data from said community of network users.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

wherein said providing of a purchasing platform further comprises providing a request for quote module, said request for quote module generating a quote request for a product from a third party vendor.

5. The method of claim 4 and further comprising the steps of:

automatically transmitting via a network interface status updates for said quote request to said browser-based management interface.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

providing by said network management system an inventory management tool for tracking inventory of network assets and purchases of product solutions, and generating reports relating to the same.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of:

providing in said browser-based management interface an IT help desk console for troubleshooting said local network.

8. A network management system for remote management of operations of a local network, said network management system integrating work-flow monitoring and reporting of a host computer of said local network, with a community of network users of other networks, and with third party vendors, said system comprising:

a network management system server remote from said local network, said server comprising a processor, memory, and a network connection;

an inventory acquisition application provided from memory of said network management system server over a network connection to a host computer of said local network, the inventory acquisition application installed on said host computer, said inventory acquisition application initiating an inventory, including software, of a plurality of information technology devices associated with said local network from said host computer;

said host computer determining operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network;

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

said host computer receiving information relating to said operational status of said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network;

said network management system determining needs of said local network, said needs comprising network assets related to said plurality of said information technology devices associated with said local network;

said network management system comprising a purchasing platform communicating to third party vendors purchase transactions for product solutions to fulfill said needs; and

said purchasing platform receiving input from a browser-based management interface of said network management system;

wherein said network management system automatically recurs said initiating an inventory and automatically recurs said determining needs, without said browser-based management interface being open.

9. The system of claim 8 and further comprising:

said browser-based management interface including a product solution recommended based on said needs of said local network.

10. The system of claim 9 and further comprising:

said network management system via a processor filtering a database of product solutions of third party vendors to identify product solutions for fulfillment of said needs, said filtering comprising usage data from said community of network users.

11. The system of claim 8 and further comprising:

said purchasing platform including a request for quote module, said request for quote module generating a quote request for a product from a third party vendor.

12. The system of claim 11 and further comprising:

said request for quote module automatically transmitting via a network interface status updates for said quote request to said browser-based management interface.

13. The system of claim 8 and further comprising:

said network management system including an inventory management tool for tracking inventory of network assets and purchases of product solutions, and generating reports relating to the same.

14. The system of claim 8 and further comprising:

said browser-based management interface including an IT help desk console for troubleshooting said local network.