US5619656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for uninterruptively displaying only relevant and non-redundant alert message of the highest severity for specific condition associated with group of computers being managed
Assignee: NITROSECURITY-OPENSERVICE Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-05
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Granted: 1997-04-08
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Expires: 2014-05-05
Abstract
Abstract The system and method of this invention automatically manages a group of computers by automatically gathering data, storing the data, analyzing the stored data to identify specified conditions, and initiating automated actions to respond to the detected conditions. The invention, hereafter "SYSTEMWatch AI-L", comprises a SYSTEMWatch AI-L client which turns a computer into a managed computer, a SYSTEMWatch AI-L console, which turns a computer into a monitoring computer, a SYSTEMWatch AI-L send facility, which allows a system administrator to send commands to various SYSTEMWatch AI-L clients through the SYSTEMWatch AI-L console, and a SYSTEMWatch AI-L report facility which allows a system administrator to query information collected and processed by the SYSTEMWatch AI-L clients and SYSTEMWatch AI-L consoles.
Inventors
- 👤 Lars O. Graf
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0706; G06F11/0715; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/1438; G06F11/30; G06F11/32; G06F11/324; G06F11/327; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; G06F11/3495; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/81
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of automatically managing a group of at least one managed computer comprising the steps of: gathering data; analyzing the data to identify a specific computer condition; constructing an alert message identifying said specific computer condition; performing a set of validation tests on said alert message, said set of validating tests comprising; querying for a duplicate alert message existing in a database in which previously posted alert messages are stored; querying said database for an existing alert message associated a computer condition related to, and having a higher severity than, said specific computer condition prompting said alert message; querying said database for an existing alert message associated with said specific computer condition which is being ignored; and querying said database for a previously cleared alert message associated with said specific computer condition within a predetermined time period; rejecting said alert message if an existing alert was found during any one test from said set of validation tests; and displaying said alert message, when said alert message was not rejected during said validation tests, at the managed computer without inhibiting the managed computer from continuing its application processes; whereby a user is only presented with relevant alerts and no network traffic is used to retransmit irrelevant or redundant alerts.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of automatically managing a group of at least one managed computer comprising the steps of: gathering data; analyzing the data to identify a specific computer condition; constructing an alert message identifying said specific computer condition; performing a set of validation tests on said alert message, said set of validating tests comprising; querying for a duplicate alert message existing in a database in which previously posted alert messages are stored; querying said database for an existing alert message associated a computer condition related to, and having a higher severity than, said specific computer condition prompting said alert message; querying said database for an existing alert message associated with said specific computer condition which is being ignored; and querying said database for a previously cleared alert message associated with said specific computer condition within a predetermined time period; rejecting said alert message if an existing alert was found during any one test from said set of validation tests; and displaying said alert message, when said alert message was not rejected during said validation tests, at the managed computer without inhibiting the managed computer from continuing its application processes; whereby a user is only presented with relevant alerts and no network traffic is used to retransmit irrelevant or redundant alerts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of clearing other existing alert messages related to said alert message upon creation of said alert message whereby less severe alerts can be superseded by more severe alerts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said identified computer condition is one from a set of conditions consisting of; state of file system disk space; state of file system inode usage; state of process CPU usage; state of process memory usage; state of swap space usage; state of daemon processes; state of operating system; state of hardware; state of application; state of networks; state of other peripherals connected to said group of at least one managed computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of initiating a predetermined action at said managed computer against said alert message, whereby once initiated, the action retrieves all argument necessary directly from said alert message and does not require the user to specify any additional arguments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of executing an action upon creation of said alert message whereby the problem can be fixed without human intervention.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of clearing said alert message whereby less relevant alerts do not clutter up the alerts display screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said step of clearing said alert message is preformed automatically after a predetermined period of time whereby the need to manually clear alerts alleviated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of assigning said alert message with a priority indicating the severity of said computer condition whereby it is made easy to classify problems by severity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of changing said priority over time whereby an alert can be escalated in priority over time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of executing an action upon changing of said priority whereby different actions can be executed depending on escalation status of said alert message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of associating an owner with said alert message whereby it is possible to select only those alerts that require resolution by a specific user for viewing by the user.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
216 words
A system of automatically managing a group of at least one managed computer comprising: means for gathering data; means for analyzing the data to identify a specific computer condition; means for constructing an alert message identifying said specific computer condition; means for performing a set of validation tests on said alert message, said set of validating tests comprising; querying for a duplicate alert message existing in a database in which previously posted alert messages are stored; querying said database for an existing alert message associated with a computer condition related to, and having a higher severity than, said specific computer condition prompting said alert message; querying said database for an existing alert message associated with said specific computer condition which is being ignored; and querying said database for a previously cleared alert message associated with said specific computer condition within a predetermined time period; means for rejecting said alert message if an existing alert was found during any one of said validation tests; and means for displaying said alert message, when said alert message was not rejected during said validation tests, at the managed computer without inhibiting the managed computer from continuing its application processes; whereby a user is only presented with relevant alerts and no network traffic is used to retransmit irrelevant or redundant alerts.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
216 words
A system of automatically managing a group of at least one managed computer comprising: means for gathering data; means for analyzing the data to identify a specific computer condition; means for constructing an alert message identifying said specific computer condition; means for performing a set of validation tests on said alert message, said set of validating tests comprising; querying for a duplicate alert message existing in a database in which previously posted alert messages are stored; querying said database for an existing alert message associated with a computer condition related to, and having a higher severity than, said specific computer condition prompting said alert message; querying said database for an existing alert message associated with said specific computer condition which is being ignored; and querying said database for a previously cleared alert message associated with said specific computer condition within a predetermined time period; means for rejecting said alert message if an existing alert was found during any one of said validation tests; and means for displaying said alert message, when said alert message was not rejected during said validation tests, at the managed computer without inhibiting the managed computer from continuing its application processes; whereby a user is only presented with relevant alerts and no network traffic is used to retransmit irrelevant or redundant alerts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 12, further comprising a step of clearing other existing alert messages related to said alert message upon creation of said alert message whereby less severe alerts can be superseded by more severe alerts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein said identified computer condition is one from a set of conditions consisting of; state of file system disk space; state of file system inode usage; state of process CPU usage; state of process memory usage; state of swap space usage; state of daemon processes; state of operating system; state of hardware; state of application; state of networks; state of other peripherals connected to said group of at least one managed computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 12, further comprising a step of initiating a predetermined action at said managed computer against said alert message, whereby once initiated, the action retrieves all argument necessary directly from said alert message and does not require the user to specify any additional arguments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein the creation of said alert message causes an action to be executed whereby the problem can be fixed without human intervention.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein said alert message is cleared whereby less relevant alerts do not clutter up the alerts display screen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein said alert message is cleared automatically after a predetermined period of time whereby the need to manually clear alerts alleviated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein said alert message has a priority indicating the severity of said computer condition whereby it is made easy to classify problems by severity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 19, wherein said priority can change over time whereby an alert can be escalated in priority over time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 20, wherein a change of said priority causes an action to be executed whereby different actions can be executed depending on escalation status of said alert message.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein said alert message can be associated with an owner whereby it is possible to select only those alerts that require resolution by a specific user for viewing by the user.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-07 | 2000-10-07 | 2001-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-07 | 2004-10-07 | 2005-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-07 | 2008-10-07 | 2009-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |