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US6101500A
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System and method for managing objects in a hierarchical data structure
Assignee: Oracle International Corp
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Filing: 1998-01-07
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Granted: 2000-08-08
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Expires: 2018-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A system for managing objects in a hierarchial structure, the system being implemented preferably in a network management program. The system determines a composite index for a network object in the hierarchical structure from one or more parameters. In addition, the system determines composite indices for parent objects based on composite indices for child objects. Preferably, parameters are based on a scale common to all objects. Parameters are defined in the range of zero to one inclusively. Multiple composite indices for an object may be determined and combined with multiple indices of other objects at a same level of the hierarchical structure to determine multiple composite indices for parent objects. Alternatively, multiple composite indices may be combined to determine an overall state index for a parent object. Further, multiple composite indices may be determined for a root object of the hierarchical structure. The system determines a next index value in time for an object based on past values of the index and a presently calculated value. Preferably, the system implements a memory effect whereby high index values are maintained longer than low index values. The system presents an indicator associated with a network to a network administrator. The indicator preferably is a flag having a color and showing the composite index for the network object. The color of the flag indicates a level of one or more properties of the object, and the index represents a degree of confidence that the object is at that level.
Inventors
- 👤 To-Choi Lau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/901; G06F16/9027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/955; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for managing a plurality of objects arranged in a hierarchical structure, the method comprising the steps of: a) combining a first and a second parameterized property both associated with a first object in accordance with a first predetermined manner to form a composite index of the first object, wherein the composite index represents a relative health of the first object and has a standardized value range; b) combining a third and a fourth parameterized property both associated with a second object in accordance with a second predetermined manner to form a composite index of the second object wherein the composite index of the second object represents a relative health of the second object and has a same standardized value range; and c) combining the composite indices of the first and second objects to obtain a first parent composite index corresponding to a parent object, wherein the first and second objects are child objects of the parent object and the first parent composite index has a value range which is the same as that of the first and second object composite indices.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for managing a plurality of objects arranged in a hierarchical structure, the method comprising the steps of: a) combining a first and a second parameterized property both associated with a first object in accordance with a first predetermined manner to form a composite index of the first object, wherein the composite index represents a relative health of the first object and has a standardized value range; b) combining a third and a fourth parameterized property both associated with a second object in accordance with a second predetermined manner to form a composite index of the second object wherein the composite index of the second object represents a relative health of the second object and has a same standardized value range; and c) combining the composite indices of the first and second objects to obtain a first parent composite index corresponding to a parent object, wherein the first and second objects are child objects of the parent object and the first parent composite index has a value range which is the same as that of the first and second object composite indices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: d) determining a second parent composite index for the parent object; and e) combining the first and second parent composite indices into a total state index for the parent object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of f) before said step e) weighting the first and second indices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: d) combining the first parent composite index with other parent composite indices at a same level of the hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure having a root object; and e) combining, for the root object, parent composite indices to obtain a final composite index, wherein the final composite index indicates a health of the hierarchical structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the composite indices of the first, second, and parent objects each have a standardized range of value in the range of zero to one, inclusively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said step c) comprises the steps of: 1) weighting the first index by a first weighting producing a first weighted index; 2) weighting the second index by a second weighting producing a second weighted index, wherein the first weighting is different than the second weighting; and 3) arithmetically combining the first and second weighted indices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: d) determining the composite index for the first object at one moment in time; e) determining a newer composite index at a later point in time; and f) computing a next composite index based on the composite index and the newer composite index.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the next composite index is an arithmetic average of the composite index and the newer composite index.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the next composite index is increased by a first fraction of a difference between squares of the composite index and the newer composite index if the newer composite index has a greater value than the composite index and wherein the next composite index is decreased by a second fraction of the difference between squares of the composite index and the newer composite index, if the newer composite index has a lesser value than the composite index.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the first fraction is greater than the second fraction, providing a rising response that is faster than a proportional falling response.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said step c) comprises the step of: 1) determining the arithmetic average of the first index, second index, and other indices of objects at a same level of the hierarchial structure.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
181 words
A system for managing a plurality of objects arranged in a hierarchical structure, the system comprising: means for combining a first and a second parameterized property both associated with a first object in accordance with a predetermined manner to form a composite index of the first object, wherein the composite index represents a health level of the first object and has a standardized value range; means for combining a third and a fourth parameterized property both associated with a second object in accordance with a second predetermined manner to form a composite index of the second object wherein the composite index of the second object represents a relative health of the second object and has a same standardized value range; and means for combining the composite indices of the first and second objects to obtain a first parent composite index corresponding to a parent object, wherein the first and second objects are child objects of the parent object and the parent composite index has a value range which is the same as that of the first and second object composite indices.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
181 words
A system for managing a plurality of objects arranged in a hierarchical structure, the system comprising: means for combining a first and a second parameterized property both associated with a first object in accordance with a predetermined manner to form a composite index of the first object, wherein the composite index represents a health level of the first object and has a standardized value range; means for combining a third and a fourth parameterized property both associated with a second object in accordance with a second predetermined manner to form a composite index of the second object wherein the composite index of the second object represents a relative health of the second object and has a same standardized value range; and means for combining the composite indices of the first and second objects to obtain a first parent composite index corresponding to a parent object, wherein the first and second objects are child objects of the parent object and the parent composite index has a value range which is the same as that of the first and second object composite indices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for determining a second parent composite index for the parent object; and means for combining the first and second parent composite indices into a total state index for the parent object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second indices are weighted before being combined into the total state index.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for combining the first parent composite index with other parent composite indices at a same level of the hierarchical structure; and means for combining, at the top of the hierarchical structure, parent composite indices to obtain a final composite index.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the composite indices of the first, second, and parent objects each have a standardized range of value in the range of zero to one inclusively.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said means for combining includes: means for weighting the first index by a first weighting producing a first weighted index; means for weighting the second index by a second weighting producing a second weighted index, wherein the first weighting is different than the second weighting; and means for arithmetically combining the first and second weighted indices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 16, further comprising: means for determining the composite index for the first object at one moment in time; means for determining a newer composite index at a later point in time; and means for computing a next composite index based on the composite index and the newer composite index.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the next composite index is an arithmetic average of the composite index and the newer composite index.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the next composite index is increased by a first fraction of a difference between squares of the composite index and the newer composite index if the newer composite index has a greater value than the composite index and wherein the next composite index is decreased by a second fraction of the difference between squares of the composite index and the newer composite index, if the newer composite index has a lesser value than the composite index.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 20, wherein the first fraction is greater than the second fraction, providing a rising response that is faster than a proportional falling response.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said means for combining comprises: means for determining the arithmetic average of the first index, second index, and other indices of objects at a same level of the hierarchial structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
133 words
A network management system comprising: a network manager operable to retrieve at least one property value from one of a plurality of agents corresponding to a first object located in a hierarchical structure; a data correlator constructed and arranged to compute a relative health of the object based upon the at least one property value wherein the relative health of the object is represented by a first index having a standardized value range, and wherein said data correlator is operable to combine the index with a second index for a second object to produce a composite index of a parent object, the composite index having a same standardized value range as that of the first and second indices; and a graphical user interface for displaying the relative health of the network management system.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
133 words
A network management system comprising: a network manager operable to retrieve at least one property value from one of a plurality of agents corresponding to a first object located in a hierarchical structure; a data correlator constructed and arranged to compute a relative health of the object based upon the at least one property value wherein the relative health of the object is represented by a first index having a standardized value range, and wherein said data correlator is operable to combine the index with a second index for a second object to produce a composite index of a parent object, the composite index having a same standardized value range as that of the first and second indices; and a graphical user interface for displaying the relative health of the network management system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
The network management system of claim 23, wherein said data correlator includes: a state processor that determines a state of the object based on at least one object rule; and an interface processor which changes the color of an indicator based on the state of the object, the indicator being associated with the object within the graphical user interface and presenting the user with the health index of the object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The network management system of claim 24, wherein said interface processor generates the indicator associated with the object, and wherein the indicator is a flag containing a value of the health index.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
91 words
The network management system of claim 23, wherein said data correlator includes: a state processor that determines a state of a container object based on a relative health index of at least one of a plurality of objects located at a same hierarchical level in the hierarchical structure; and an interface processor which changes the color of an indicator based on the state of the object, the indicator being associated with the container object within the graphical user interface and presenting the user with the health index of the container object.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The network management system of claim 26, wherein said interface processor generates the indicator associated with the object, and wherein the indicator is a flag containing a value of the health index.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network management system of claim 23, wherein the first, second, and composite indices have a value in a range from 0 to 1.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
123 words
A controller for enabling a processor to manage network objects in a hierarchical structure, said controller comprising: a network manager for retrieving at least one property value from one of a plurality of agents corresponding to an object located in a hierarchical structure; and a data correlator for computing relative health of the object based upon the at least one property value wherein the relative health of the object is represented by a first index having a standardized value range, and for combining the index with a second index for a second object to produce a composite index of a parent object, the composite index having a standardized range that is the same as the standardized range of the first and second indices.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
123 words
A controller for enabling a processor to manage network objects in a hierarchical structure, said controller comprising: a network manager for retrieving at least one property value from one of a plurality of agents corresponding to an object located in a hierarchical structure; and a data correlator for computing relative health of the object based upon the at least one property value wherein the relative health of the object is represented by a first index having a standardized value range, and for combining the index with a second index for a second object to produce a composite index of a parent object, the composite index having a standardized range that is the same as the standardized range of the first and second indices.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
142 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorder thereon for enabling a processor in a network management system to manage objects in a hierarchical structure, said computer program product comprising: a network manager for retrieving at least one property value from one of a plurality of agents corresponding to an object located in a hierarchical structure; and a data correlator for computing relative health of the object based upon the at least one property value wherein the relative health of the object is represented by a first index having a standardized value range, and for combining the index with a second index for a second object to produce a composite index of a parent object, the composite index having a standardized range that is the same as the standardized range of the first and second indices.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
142 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorder thereon for enabling a processor in a network management system to manage objects in a hierarchical structure, said computer program product comprising: a network manager for retrieving at least one property value from one of a plurality of agents corresponding to an object located in a hierarchical structure; and a data correlator for computing relative health of the object based upon the at least one property value wherein the relative health of the object is represented by a first index having a standardized value range, and for combining the index with a second index for a second object to produce a composite index of a parent object, the composite index having a standardized range that is the same as the standardized range of the first and second indices.
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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) | 2003-08-08 | 2004-02-07 | 2004-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-08 | 2008-02-07 | 2008-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-08 | 2012-02-07 | 2012-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |