US5954797A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for maintaining compatibility among network nodes connected to a computer network
Assignee: Teradata US Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-14
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Granted: 1999-09-21
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Expires: 2017-05-14
Abstract
Abstract For use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes associated therewith, a network management system for maintaining compatibility among the plurality of nodes, comprising 1) polling circuit that retrieves node configuration information from the plurality of nodes, and 2) a comparison circuit that compares selected node configuration information associated with a first selected one of the plurality of nodes with known-good node configuration information to determine a level of compatibility of the selected node with the known-good node configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Sidey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
For use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes associated therewith, a network management system for maintaining compatibility among said plurality of nodes, comprising: a polling circuit that retrieves node configuration information from said plurality of nodes; and a comparison circuit that compares selected node configuration information associated with a first selected one of said plurality of nodes with known-good node configuration information to determine a level of compatibility of said selected node with said known-good node configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
For use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes associated therewith, a network management system for maintaining compatibility among said plurality of nodes, comprising: a polling circuit that retrieves node configuration information from said plurality of nodes; and a comparison circuit that compares selected node configuration information associated with a first selected one of said plurality of nodes with known-good node configuration information to determine a level of compatibility of said selected node with said known-good node configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The network management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said polling circuit retrieves said node configuration information without human intervention.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said comparison circuit detects a change in said first selected node from a first configuration to a second configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network management system as recited in claim 3 wherein said comparison circuit generates an alarm in response to a determination that said change decreases said level of compatibility.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said node configuration information is associated with a configuration of computer hardware devices in said first selected node.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The network management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said node configuration information is associated with a configuration of computer software in said first selected node.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The network management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said comparison circuit generates a report usable by an operator of said network to modify said first selected node to thereby increase said level of compatibility.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said comparison circuit modifies said first selected node to thereby increase said level of compatibility without human intervention.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The network management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said comparison circuit further compares said selected node configuration information associated with said first selected node and selected node configuration information associated with a second selected node with node configuration information associated with a known-good pair of nodes capable of communicating with each another to thereby determine a level of interoperability of said first and second selected nodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The network management system as recited in claim 9 wherein said comparison circuit generates a report usable by an operator of said network to modify said first and second selected nodes to thereby increase said level of interoperability.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison circuit includes a formal name table and a manufacturer's model table.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 11, wherein said formal name table includes information representing model number, formal name, location, serial number and said manufacturer's model table includes information representing model number, manufacturer's name, microprocessor type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison circuit can determine a degree of compatibility between two nodes in the computer network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison circuit group's node configurations into virtual classes and determines if each node configuration is in a virtual class to determine the level of compatibility of selected nodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison circuit includes a comparison engine and a coordination database.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said coordination database includes a known self-compatibility table including information for computers which are operating properly internally.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said comparison circuit includes an MIB table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
For use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes associated therewith, a method of maintaining compatibility among the plurality of nodes, comprising the steps of: retrieving node configuration information from the plurality of nodes; and comparing selected node configuration information associated with a first selected one of the plurality of nodes with known-good node configuration information to determine a level of compatibility of the selected node with the known-good node configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
For use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes associated therewith, a method of maintaining compatibility among the plurality of nodes, comprising the steps of: retrieving node configuration information from the plurality of nodes; and comparing selected node configuration information associated with a first selected one of the plurality of nodes with known-good node configuration information to determine a level of compatibility of the selected node with the known-good node configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the step of retrieving the node configuration information is automatically performed by a polling circuit associated with the computer network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the step of comparing includes the further step of detecting a change in the first selected node from a first configuration to a second configuration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 20 including the further step of generating an alarm in response to a determination that the change decreases the level of compatibility.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the node configuration information is associated with a configuration of computer hardware devices in the first selected node.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the node configuration information is associated with a configuration of computer software in the first selected node.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 18 including the further step of generating a report usable by an operator of the network to modify the first selected node to thereby increase the level of compatibility.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as recited in claim 18 including the further step of automatically modifying the first selected node to thereby increase the level of compatibility without human intervention.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the step of comparing includes the further step of comparing the selected node configuration information associated with the first selected node and selected node configuration information associated with a second selected node with node configuration information associated with a known-good pair of nodes capable of communicating with each another to thereby determine a level of interoperability of the first and second selected nodes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method as recited in claim 26 including the further step of generating a report usable by an operator of the network to modify the first and second selected nodes to thereby increase the level of interoperability.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-20 | 2003-03-22 | 2003-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-20 | 2007-03-22 | 2007-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-20 | 2011-03-22 | 2011-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |