US6192034B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for network integrity management
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-06-30
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Granted: 2001-02-20
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Expires: 2017-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for network integrity management are provided. A plurality of network elements ( 108 ) and software elements ( 114 ) are interconnected in a network. Each network element ( 108 ) and software element ( 114 ) includes an SNMP agent ( 110, 116 ) operable to create and maintain a management information base ( 112, 118 ) that stores information representing a current status of the associated network element ( 108 ) or software element ( 114 ). The SNMP agent ( 110, 116 ) is further operable to communicate the management information base ( 112, 118 ) across the network, and a remote monitor ( 102 ) is operable to collect the management information bases ( 112, 118 ) communicated by the SNMP agents ( 110, 116 ). A management client ( 120 ) is operable to connect to the remote monitor ( 102 ) and to receive the management information bases ( 112, 118 ) collected by the remote monitor ( 102 ). The management client ( 120 ) is further operable to determine the current status of the network elements ( 108 ) and the software elements ( 114 ) based upon the management information bases ( 112, 118 ), to identify problems based upon the current status of the network elements ( 108 ) and the software elements ( 114 ), and to notify a user of any identified problems.
Inventors
- 👤 Francis Hsieh
- 👤 Brad Manring
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/08; H04L41/0866; H04L41/04; H04L41/046; H04L41/052; H04L41/085; H04L41/0853; H04L41/0856; H04L69/00; H04L69/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for network integrity management, comprising: a plurality of network elements interconnected in a network, each network element comprising: an SNMP agent operable to create and maintain a management information base, the management information base storing information representing a current status of the network element; the SNMP agent further operable to communicate the information in the management information base across the network a plurality of software elements interconnected in the network, each software element comprising: an SNMP agent operable to create and maintain a management information base for the software element, the management information base storing information representing a current status of the software element; the SNMP agent further operable to communicate the information in the management Information base across the network; a remote monitor interconnected in the network with the plurality of network elements and the plurality of software elements, the remote monitor operable to collect the information from the management information bases communicated by the SNMP agents in the plurality of network elements and the plurality of software elements; and a management client operable to connect to the remote monitor and to receive the information from the management information bases collected by the remote monitor; the management client further operable to determine the current status of the network elements and the software elements based upon the information from the management information bases, to identify problems based upon the current status of the network elements and the software elements, and to notify a user of any identified problems.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for network integrity management, comprising: a plurality of network elements interconnected in a network, each network element comprising: an SNMP agent operable to create and maintain a management information base, the management information base storing information representing a current status of the network element; the SNMP agent further operable to communicate the information in the management information base across the network a plurality of software elements interconnected in the network, each software element comprising: an SNMP agent operable to create and maintain a management information base for the software element, the management information base storing information representing a current status of the software element; the SNMP agent further operable to communicate the information in the management Information base across the network; a remote monitor interconnected in the network with the plurality of network elements and the plurality of software elements, the remote monitor operable to collect the information from the management information bases communicated by the SNMP agents in the plurality of network elements and the plurality of software elements; and a management client operable to connect to the remote monitor and to receive the information from the management information bases collected by the remote monitor; the management client further operable to determine the current status of the network elements and the software elements based upon the information from the management information bases, to identify problems based upon the current status of the network elements and the software elements, and to notify a user of any identified problems.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote monitor is further operable to allow connection of a point-to-point session, such that the point-to-point session can receive the information from the management information bases collected by the remote monitor, determine the current status of the network elements and the software elements based upon the information from the management information bases, and display to a user the current status.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the point-to-point session is operable only to receive the information from the management information bases relevant to the users participation in the network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein the network is an electronic commerce network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the point-to-point session comprises an SNMP agent operable to create and maintain a management information base storing information representing a current status of the user's computer environment, the SNMP agent further operable to communicate the information in the management information base across the network to the remote monitor, such that the management client can identify problems with the user's computer environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of network elements includes hardware for a processing node in an electronic commerce network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of software elements include a processing engine, a regional server and a regional mirror server executing on the hardware for the processing node.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for network integrity management, comprising: operating an SNMP agent in each of a plurality of network elements interconnected in a network, where each SNMP agent: creates and maintains a management information base storing information representing a current status of an associated network element; and communicates the information in the management information base across the network; operating an SNMP agent in each of a plurality of software elements interconnected in the network, where each SNMP agent: creates and maintains a management information base storing information representing a current status of an associated software element; and communicates the information in the management information base across the network; collecting the information from the management information bases communicated by the SNMP agents in the plurality of network elements and the plurality of software elements; determining the current status of the network elements and the software elements based upon the information from the management information bases; identifying problems based upon the current status of the network elements and the software elements; and providing notification of any identified problems.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for network integrity management, comprising: operating an SNMP agent in each of a plurality of network elements interconnected in a network, where each SNMP agent: creates and maintains a management information base storing information representing a current status of an associated network element; and communicates the information in the management information base across the network; operating an SNMP agent in each of a plurality of software elements interconnected in the network, where each SNMP agent: creates and maintains a management information base storing information representing a current status of an associated software element; and communicates the information in the management information base across the network; collecting the information from the management information bases communicated by the SNMP agents in the plurality of network elements and the plurality of software elements; determining the current status of the network elements and the software elements based upon the information from the management information bases; identifying problems based upon the current status of the network elements and the software elements; and providing notification of any identified problems.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving the information from the management information bases communicated by the SNMP agents in a point-to-point session, such that the point-to-point session can determine the current status of the network elements and the software elements based upon the information from the management information bases and display the current status to a user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein only the information from the management information bases relevant to the users participation in the network are received.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the network is an electronic commerce network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising: creating and maintaining a management information base storing information representing a current status of the user's computer environment; and communicating the information in the management information base across the network; such that problems with the user's computer environment can be identified.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of network elements includes hardware for a processing node in an electronic commerce network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of software elements include a processing engine, a regional server and a regional mirror server executing on the hardware for the processing node.
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) | 2004-02-20 | 2004-08-21 | 2005-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-20 | 2008-08-21 | 2009-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-20 | 2012-08-21 | 2013-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |