Network management system using virtual reality techniques to display and simulate navigation to network components

Claim 1

An apparatus of interconnected programmed computers comprising: a workstation computer including processing instructions for: displaying real-time multi-dimensional views of a plurality of components of a networked computer system; controlling a relevant component, including identifying and simulating navigation to the relevant component in a virtual-reality environment responsive to navigation tools and further including displaying the status and configuration of the relevant component; adjusting the operation of the relevant component; and monitoring the relevant component, including displaying an abnormality of the relevant component and providing details of the abnormality in order to facilitate identification, diagnosis and correction of the abnormality by executing manipulation and control routines; an object repository connected to the workstation computer, the object repository being populated with information associated with each of the plurality of components and operative to receive requests and commands from the workstation computer and to send event notifications to the workstation computer; a management application computer connected to the object repository to send event notifications to the object repository and to receive requests and commands from the object repository, the management application computer being connected to the workstation computer to send and to receive commands and send notifications; and a component of a networked computer system, the component including an agent software system, the agent software system including processing instructions for monitoring the operation of the component, the component being in communication with the workstation computer to receive requests and commands from the management application computer and to send event notifications to the management application computer; the workstation computer, object repository, management application computer and component of the networked computer system operatively coupled to facilitate management of comprehensively integrated heterogeneous systems, and components thereof, from the workstation computer.

Claim 2

An apparatus of interconnected programmed computers comprising: a workstation computer including processing instructions for: displaying real-time multi-dimensional views of a plurality of components of a networked computer system; controlling a relevant component, including identifying and simulating navigation to the relevant component in a virtual-reality environment responsive to navigation tools and further including displaying the status and configuration of the relevant component; adjusting the operation of the relevant component; and monitoring the relevant component, including displaying an abnormality of the relevant component and providing details of the abnormality in order to facilitate identification, diagnosis and correction of the abnormality by executing manipulation and control routines; an object repository connected to the workstation computer, the object repository being populated with information associated with each of the plurality of components and operative to receive requests and commands from the workstation computer and to send event notifications to the workstation computer; a management application computer connected to the object repository to send event notifications to the object repository and to receive requests and commands from the object repository, the management application computer being connected to the workstation computer to send and to receive commands and send notifications; and a component of a networked computer system, the component including an agent software system, the agent software system including processing instructions for monitoring the operation of the component, the component being in communication with the workstation computer to receive requests and commands from the management application computer and to send event notifications to the management application computer; the workstation computer, object repository, management application computer and component of the networked computer system operatively coupled to facilitate management of comprehensively integrated heterogeneous systems, and components thereof, from the workstation computer.

Claim 7

A method for intuitively administering networked computer systems containing hardware, software, and components, comprising: executing instructions at a workstation, the workstation including a monitor, the instructions comprising: displaying a real-time multi-dimensional view of a plurality of components of a networked computer system; controlling a relevant component, including identifying and simulating navigation to the relevant component in a virtual-reality environment based on the use of navigation tools and further including displaying the status and configuration of the relevant component; adjusting the operation of the relevant component; and monitoring the relevant component, including displaying an abnormality of the relevant component and providing details associated with the abnormality in order to facilitate identification, diagnosis and correction of the abnormality by executing manipulation and control routines; populating and maintaining an object repository containing information associated with each of the plurality of components including the relevant component, the object repository being accessible to the workstation; executing processing instructions at a management application computer connected to the object repository to send event notifications to the object repository and to receive requests and commands from the object repository, the management application computer being connected to the workstation to send and to receive commands and to send notifications; executing processing instructions of an agent software system associated with the relevant component to monitor the relevant component, to receive requests and commands from the management application computer and to send event notifications to the management application computer; and displaying information necessary to administer the networked computer system on the workstation monitor, thereby enabling comprehensively integrated heterogeneous systems and components thereof to be managed from the workstation.

Claim 8

A method for intuitively administering networked computer systems containing hardware, software, and components, comprising: executing instructions at a workstation, the workstation including a monitor, the instructions comprising: displaying a real-time multi-dimensional view of a plurality of components of a networked computer system; controlling a relevant component, including identifying and simulating navigation to the relevant component in a virtual-reality environment based on the use of navigation tools and further including displaying the status and configuration of the relevant component; adjusting the operation of the relevant component; and monitoring the relevant component, including displaying an abnormality of the relevant component and providing details associated with the abnormality in order to facilitate identification, diagnosis and correction of the abnormality by executing manipulation and control routines; populating and maintaining an object repository containing information associated with each of the plurality of components including the relevant component, the object repository being accessible to the workstation; executing processing instructions at a management application computer connected to the object repository to send event notifications to the object repository and to receive requests and commands from the object repository, the management application computer being connected to the workstation to send and to receive commands and to send notifications; executing processing instructions of an agent software system associated with the relevant component to monitor the relevant component, to receive requests and commands from the management application computer and to send event notifications to the management application computer; and displaying information necessary to administer the networked computer system on the workstation monitor, thereby enabling comprehensively integrated heterogeneous systems and components thereof to be managed from the workstation.

Claim 36

A method for intuitively administering networked computer systems containing hardware, software, and components, comprising: executing instructions at a workstation, the workstation including a monitor, the instructions comprising: displaying a real-time multi-dimensional view of a plurality of components of a networked computer system, including: employing color coded alerting to identify a component experiencing an abnormality; displaying a hierarchical organization of components, including continents, wide area networks, cities, buildings, subnetworks, segments, computers and peripherals, and related internal hardware, firmware, and software resources; displaying a network of components, including the relevant component, peripheral equipment, operating systems and application programs, in an environment that represents physical reality, said environment representing the geographical area in which said displayed network exits; displaying at least one internal component of the relevant component; providing a user interface with a consistent look-and-feel for all functions; displaying photo-realistic building views; displaying realistic three-dimensional topographical surface maps and using texture rendering to create user-specifiable maps for geographic regions; displaying three dimensional models produced by industry standard three dimensional modeling tools; providing modeling tools to create simple models; providing management tools to identify computer-related units by class or category; displaying both 3-dimensional, 2-dimensional and standard user interface displays; and automatically adjusting the level of displayed detail; controlling a relevant component, including: detecting an event originated by the agent software system associated with the relevant component; identifying and simulating navigation to the relevant component in a virtual-reality environment based on the sue of navigation tools; determining automatically a reasonable trajectory; determining automatically a reasonable speed and reasonable acceleration; producing a history log; displaying the status and configuration of the relevant component; automatically rescaling displayed components to simulate motion through a virtual-reality environment, thereby displaying a close-up of the relevant component; indicating a present location of a user in terms of level of depth in the hierarchy; indicating choices made to reach the indicated level; receiving a selection from the user representing a subsequent level in the hierarchy; and simulating navigation to the subsequent level in the hierarchy identifying a selection of the relevant component, wherein simulating navigation to the relevant component is performed automatically in response to the step of identifying a selection; adjusting the operation of the relevant component; and periodically monitoring the relevant component, including displaying an abnormality of the relevant component and providing details associated with the abnormality in order to facilitate identification, diagnosis and correction of the abnormality by executing manipulation and control routines, wherein the steps of controlling and periodically monitoring are performed in accordance with an integrated operability resulting in seamless cooperation between the steps; populating and maintaining an object repository containing information associated with each of the plurality of components including the relevant component, the object repository being accessible to the workstation, the steps of populating and maintaining including: automatically detecting network topology and components, including internal computer components and software processes; manually adding, deleting or modifying a component in the network or network topology; configuring relationships of components; and automatically displaying networks in a virtual-reality environment incorporating floor plans or other diagrams; executing processing instructions at a management application computer connected to the object repository to send event notifications to the object repository and to receive requests and commands from the object repository, the management application computer being connected to the workstation to send and to receive commands and to send notifications; executing processing instructions of the agent software system associated with the relevant component to monitor the relevant component, to receive requests and commands from the management application computer and to send event notifications to the management application computer, wherein the operation of the agent software system is customizable by a user; constructing at least one filter to view only components pertaining to a specific business or other interest so that a user may control or monitor components relevant to such interest; filtering data associated with the relevant component being monitored according to a preset threshold parameter; providing for the extensibility of visualization and object capabilities of a first component in the networked computer system to a second component of the networked computer system; providing configuration tools to establish any logical structure so that any particular hierarchical model may be created by a user; allowing the user to customize functionality within the system by extending interface and object capabilities to any component in the networked computer system; customizing an interface for at least one user; customizing a configuration within the system or among a plurality of users in response to input from the user; identifying the relevant component using an intelligent cursor; displaying information about the relevant component, including formal and informal name for the relevant component and a brief summary of status of the relevant component; and displaying information necessary to administer the networked computer system on the workstation monitor, including: displaying the status of components by use of colored indicators; illustrating on the monitor an amount of activity on disk drives, network cards and components; and monitoring activity on said networked system and reporting average and instantaneous activity; thereby enabling comprehensively integrated heterogeneous systems and components thereof to be managed from the workstation, including applying intelligent filtering, aggregating and correlating of event notifications and the step of executing processing instructions at the management application computer includes asynchronous notification responsive to said filtering, aggregating and correlating.

Claim 37

A method for intuitively administering networked computer systems containing hardware, software, and components, comprising: executing instructions at a workstation, the workstation including a monitor, the instructions comprising: displaying a real-time multi-dimensional view of a plurality of components of a networked computer system, including: employing color coded alerting to identify a component experiencing an abnormality; displaying a hierarchical organization of components, including continents, wide area networks, cities, buildings, subnetworks, segments, computers and peripherals, and related internal hardware, firmware, and software resources; displaying a network of components, including the relevant component, peripheral equipment, operating systems and application programs, in an environment that represents physical reality, said environment representing the geographical area in which said displayed network exits; displaying at least one internal component of the relevant component; providing a user interface with a consistent look-and-feel for all functions; displaying photo-realistic building views; displaying realistic three-dimensional topographical surface maps and using texture rendering to create user-specifiable maps for geographic regions; displaying three dimensional models produced by industry standard three dimensional modeling tools; providing modeling tools to create simple models; providing management tools to identify computer-related units by class or category; displaying both 3-dimensional, 2-dimensional and standard user interface displays; and automatically adjusting the level of displayed detail; controlling a relevant component, including: detecting an event originated by the agent software system associated with the relevant component; identifying and simulating navigation to the relevant component in a virtual-reality environment based on the sue of navigation tools; determining automatically a reasonable trajectory; determining automatically a reasonable speed and reasonable acceleration; producing a history log; displaying the status and configuration of the relevant component; automatically rescaling displayed components to simulate motion through a virtual-reality environment, thereby displaying a close-up of the relevant component; indicating a present location of a user in terms of level of depth in the hierarchy; indicating choices made to reach the indicated level; receiving a selection from the user representing a subsequent level in the hierarchy; and simulating navigation to the subsequent level in the hierarchy identifying a selection of the relevant component, wherein simulating navigation to the relevant component is performed automatically in response to the step of identifying a selection; adjusting the operation of the relevant component; and periodically monitoring the relevant component, including displaying an abnormality of the relevant component and providing details associated with the abnormality in order to facilitate identification, diagnosis and correction of the abnormality by executing manipulation and control routines, wherein the steps of controlling and periodically monitoring are performed in accordance with an integrated operability resulting in seamless cooperation between the steps; populating and maintaining an object repository containing information associated with each of the plurality of components including the relevant component, the object repository being accessible to the workstation, the steps of populating and maintaining including: automatically detecting network topology and components, including internal computer components and software processes; manually adding, deleting or modifying a component in the network or network topology; configuring relationships of components; and automatically displaying networks in a virtual-reality environment incorporating floor plans or other diagrams; executing processing instructions at a management application computer connected to the object repository to send event notifications to the object repository and to receive requests and commands from the object repository, the management application computer being connected to the workstation to send and to receive commands and to send notifications; executing processing instructions of the agent software system associated with the relevant component to monitor the relevant component, to receive requests and commands from the management application computer and to send event notifications to the management application computer, wherein the operation of the agent software system is customizable by a user; constructing at least one filter to view only components pertaining to a specific business or other interest so that a user may control or monitor components relevant to such interest; filtering data associated with the relevant component being monitored according to a preset threshold parameter; providing for the extensibility of visualization and object capabilities of a first component in the networked computer system to a second component of the networked computer system; providing configuration tools to establish any logical structure so that any particular hierarchical model may be created by a user; allowing the user to customize functionality within the system by extending interface and object capabilities to any component in the networked computer system; customizing an interface for at least one user; customizing a configuration within the system or among a plurality of users in response to input from the user; identifying the relevant component using an intelligent cursor; displaying information about the relevant component, including formal and informal name for the relevant component and a brief summary of status of the relevant component; and displaying information necessary to administer the networked computer system on the workstation monitor, including: displaying the status of components by use of colored indicators; illustrating on the monitor an amount of activity on disk drives, network cards and components; and monitoring activity on said networked system and reporting average and instantaneous activity; thereby enabling comprehensively integrated heterogeneous systems and components thereof to be managed from the workstation, including applying intelligent filtering, aggregating and correlating of event notifications and the step of executing processing instructions at the management application computer includes asynchronous notification responsive to said filtering, aggregating and correlating.