US6041347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer system and computer-implemented process for simultaneous configuration and monitoring of a computer network
Assignee: Unified Access Communications
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Filing: 1997-10-24
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Granted: 2000-03-21
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Expires: 2017-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A centralized computer network management system that simultaneously configures and monitors computers in a computer network. The computer network management system allows a network administrator to describe the computer network according to both its physical topology and logical groups of machines and users in the computer network. Each network device, computer, or groups of network devices and computers can be associated with one or more rules which define configuration parameters. These rules may be inherited by machines through both the physical and logical relationships of the machines in the computer network. This centralized administration of the computer network simplifies the task of configuring and monitoring the network. All machines in the computer network also can be configured or monitored simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 Bret Harsham
- 👤 Lalit Jain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; H04L41/00; H04L41/08; H04L41/0803; H04L41/0813; H04L41/0816; H04L41/082; H04L41/0893; H04L41/0894; H04L41/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A computer implemented process for simultaneously configuring parameters of devices in a computer network, comprising the steps of: defining a hierarchy of logical groups of objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network; defining rules associated with the objects, wherein a rule specifies a type of traffic, a communication protocol, and indication of whether the rule is associated with the object acting as a sender or as a receiver of information, wherein each object inherits all rules associated with each group in which it is a member; processing the defined rules to produce a set of control parameters for machines in the computer network; and applying the control parameters to machines in the computer network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A computer implemented process for simultaneously configuring parameters of devices in a computer network, comprising the steps of: defining a hierarchy of logical groups of objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network; defining rules associated with the objects, wherein a rule specifies a type of traffic, a communication protocol, and indication of whether the rule is associated with the object acting as a sender or as a receiver of information, wherein each object inherits all rules associated with each group in which it is a member; processing the defined rules to produce a set of control parameters for machines in the computer network; and applying the control parameters to machines in the computer network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the parameters of the machines are configuration parameters of software to be executed on the machines.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the parameters of the machines are security configuration parameters indicating permitted and prohibited communication paths between machines in the network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1, wherein machines are organized by groups and rules defining configuration parameters may be defined for a group, wherein such configuration parameters are inherited by all machines within the group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 4, wherein a group is defined by a common physical connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 4, wherein a group contains a collection of machines that are not within the same physical group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 4, wherein the groups may be defined as groups of groups of machines, wherein rules defined by one group are inherited by all machines within any subgroups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer system for simultaneously configuring parameters of devices in a computer network, comprising: means for defining a hierarchy of logical groups of objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network; means for defining rules associated with the objects, wherein a rule specifies a type of traffic, a communication protocol, and indication of whether the rule is associated with the object acting as a sender or as a receiver of information, wherein each object inherits all rules associated with each group in which it is a member; means for processing the defined rules to produce a set of control parameters for machines in the computer network; and means for applying the control parameters to machines in the computer network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer system for simultaneously configuring parameters of devices in a computer network, comprising: means for defining a hierarchy of logical groups of objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network; means for defining rules associated with the objects, wherein a rule specifies a type of traffic, a communication protocol, and indication of whether the rule is associated with the object acting as a sender or as a receiver of information, wherein each object inherits all rules associated with each group in which it is a member; means for processing the defined rules to produce a set of control parameters for machines in the computer network; and means for applying the control parameters to machines in the computer network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 8, wherein the parameters of the machines are configuration parameters of software to be executed on the machines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 8, wherein the parameters of the machines are security configuration parameters indicating permitted and prohibited communication paths between machines in the network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer system of claim 8, wherein machines are organized by groups and rules defining configuration parameters may be defined for a group, wherein such configuration parameters are inherited by all machines within the group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein a group is defined by a common physical connection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein a group contains a collection of machines that are not within the same physical group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the groups may be defined as groups of groups of machines, wherein rules defined by one group are inherited by all machines within any subgroups.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for configuring a computer network, comprising the steps of: defining a hierarchy of logical groups of distributed network objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network, defining configuration rules associated with the network objects, processing the defined rules to produce a set of parameters for the machines and groups of machines in the computer network; and simultaneously applying the parameters to two or more machines in the computer network.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for configuring a computer network, comprising the steps of: defining a hierarchy of logical groups of distributed network objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network, defining configuration rules associated with the network objects, processing the defined rules to produce a set of parameters for the machines and groups of machines in the computer network; and simultaneously applying the parameters to two or more machines in the computer network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 15, wherein each rule is a security rule which specifies a type of traffic, a communication protocol, and indication of whether the rule is associated with the network object acting as a sender or as a receiver of information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15, wherein a network object defines a logical group of distributed network objects.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17, wherein network objects are defined as a hierarchy of logical groups.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18, wherein a logical group may include another logical group.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, where a rule specifies a configuration of the machine or group connected to the object associated with the rule.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer system for configuring a computer network, comprising: means for defining a hierarchy of logical groups of distributed network objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network, means for defining configuration rules associated with the network objects, means for processing the defined rules to produce a set of parameters for the machines and groups of machines in the computer network; and means for simultaneously applying the parameters to two or more machines in the computer network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer system for configuring a computer network, comprising: means for defining a hierarchy of logical groups of distributed network objects corresponding to machines and groups of machines in the computer network, means for defining configuration rules associated with the network objects, means for processing the defined rules to produce a set of parameters for the machines and groups of machines in the computer network; and means for simultaneously applying the parameters to two or more machines in the computer network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer system of claim 21, wherein each rule is a security rule which specifies a type of traffic, a communication protocol, and indication of whether the rule is associated with the network object acting as a sender or as a receiver of information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 21, wherein a network object defines a logical group of distributed network objects.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 23, wherein network objects are defined as a hierarchy of logical groups.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 24, wherein a logical group may include another logical group.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 21, where a rule specifies a configuration of the machine or group connected to the object associated with the rule.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5327560A
Cited
US5414812A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-21 | 2003-09-20 | 2004-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-21 | 2007-09-20 | 2008-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-21 | 2011-09-20 | 2012-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |