US6327677B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for monitoring a network environment
Assignee: BMC Helix Inc
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Filing: 1998-04-27
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Granted: 2001-12-04
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Expires: 2018-04-27
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided that monitors a network environment. The system collects recent data associated with operation of the network environment. The network environment is analyzed by comparing the collected data with historical data associated with the operation of the network environment. The system determines whether a problem or a potential problem exists based on the analysis of the network environment. The historical data associated with the operation of the network environment is represented in multiple cognitive signatures. The system regularly updates the historical data to include the recently collected data. The data collected may include network performance data, network configuration data, traffic flow data, network utilization data, or network error information. The system generates an alarm if it determines that a problem exists. The generation of an alarm may include generating an electronic mail message or pager message and communicating the message to a network administrator. The generation of an alarm may also include activating an application on a device within the network environment. The monitoring system is able to monitor one or more network environments, as well as individual network devices and components or sub-systems within an individual network device.
Inventors
- 👤 Atul R. Garg
- 👤 Dan Ketcham
- 👤 Minh Anh Do
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:37
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W24/00; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/06; H04L41/50; H04L41/5003; H04L41/5009; H04L43/00; H04L43/08; H04L43/0876; H04L41/0681; H04L43/04; H04L43/045; H04L43/0805; H04L43/0817; H04L43/10; H04L43/103; H04L43/16; H04W24/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method comprising: collecting recent data associated with operation of a network environment; analyzing the network environment by comparing the collected recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and determining whether a problem exists based on the analyzed network environment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
64 words
A method comprising: collecting recent data associated with operation of a network environment; analyzing the network environment by comparing the collected recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and determining whether a problem exists based on the analyzed network environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of whether a problem exists includes determining whether a potential problem exists based on the analyzed network environment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures represent normal operation modes for temporal network activity of the network environment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing of the network environment includes determining a signature correlation factor associated with one of the dynamically configured cognitive signatures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures include information related to a summary of previous performances of the network environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures include information related to performances of the network environment prior to the collection of the recent data associated with the operation of the network environment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: updating the dynamically configured cognitive signatures to include the collected recent data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected recent data includes network performance data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected recent data includes network configuration data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected recent data includes recent traffic flow through the network environment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected recent data includes recent utilization information of network resources operating within the network environment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the collected recent data includes network error information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating an alarm if a problem exists based on the analyzed network environment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating of the alarm includes generating an electronic mail message and sending the electronic mail message to a network administrator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating of the alarm includes generating a pager message and communicating the pager message to a pager.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the generating of the alarm includes activating an application on a device within the network environment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing of the network environment includes correlating multiple related events into a single event.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
64 words
A method comprising: collecting recent data associated with operation of a network device; analyzing the network device by comparing the collected recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network device; and determining whether a problem exists based on the analyzed network device.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
64 words
A method comprising: collecting recent data associated with operation of a network device; analyzing the network device by comparing the collected recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network device; and determining whether a problem exists based on the analyzed network device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the determining of whether a problem exists includes determining whether a potential problem exists based on the analyzed network device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures represent normal operation modes for temporal network activity of the network device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the analyzing of the network device includes determining a signature correlation factor associated with one of the dynamically configured cognitive signatures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures include information related to performances of the network device performances prior to the collection of the recent data associated with the operation of the network device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: updating the dynamically configured cognitive signatures to include the collected recent data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the collected recent data includes recent utilization of the network device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the collected recent data includes the performance of a component within the network device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the collected recent data includes performance data of a sub-system within the network device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: generating an alarm if a problem exists based on the analyzed network device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein the generating of the alarm includes generating an electronic mail message and sending the electronic mail message to a network administrator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein the generating of the alarm includes generating a pager message and communicating the pager message to a pager.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein the generating of the alarm includes activating an application on the network device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the analyzing of the network device includes correlating multiple related events into a single event.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
128 words
A network device comprising: a data collection module to collect recent data associated with operation of a network environment; a cognitive signature module coupled to the data collection module and to configure dynamically cognitive signatures associated with the network environment, the cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and an analysis module coupled to the data collection module and the cognitive signature module and to compare the data collected by the data collection module with the cognitive signatures associated with operation of the network environment; and wherein the analysis module is to determine whether a problem exists based on the comparison of the data collected by the data collection module with the cognitive signatures.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
128 words
A network device comprising: a data collection module to collect recent data associated with operation of a network environment; a cognitive signature module coupled to the data collection module and to configure dynamically cognitive signatures associated with the network environment, the cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and an analysis module coupled to the data collection module and the cognitive signature module and to compare the data collected by the data collection module with the cognitive signatures associated with operation of the network environment; and wherein the analysis module is to determine whether a problem exists based on the comparison of the data collected by the data collection module with the cognitive signatures.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network device of claim 32 , wherein the cognitive signature module is to associate temporally the cognitive signatures with the network environment.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network device of claim 33 , wherein the cognitive signature module is to update the cognitive signatures to include the data collected by the data collection module.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The network device of claim 32 , wherein the cognitive signatures include information related to performances of the network environment prior to the collection of recent data associated with the operation of the network environment.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network device of claim 32 , further comprising: an alarm generator to generate an alarm if the analysis module determines that a problem exists.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
84 words
A network device comprising: means for collecting recent data associated with operation of a network environment; means for analyzing the network environment by comparing the data collected by the means for collecting recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and means for determining whether a problem exists based on the analysis performed by the means for analyzing the network environment.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
84 words
A network device comprising: means for collecting recent data associated with operation of a network environment; means for analyzing the network environment by comparing the data collected by the means for collecting recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and means for determining whether a problem exists based on the analysis performed by the means for analyzing the network environment.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The network device of claim 37 , further comprising: means for temporally associating the dynamically configured cognitive signatures with the network environment.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network device of claim 37 , further comprising: means for updating the dynamically configured cognitive signatures to include the data collected by the means for collecting recent data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
The network device of claim 37 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures include information related to performances of the network environment prior to the collection of recent data associated with the operation of the network environment.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The network device of claim 37 , further comprising: means for generating an alarm if a problem exists.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer software product including a medium readable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, if executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation comprising: collecting recent data associated with operation of a network environment; analyzing the network environment by comparing the collected recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and determining whether a problem exists based on the analysis of the network environment.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
97 words
A computer software product including a medium readable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, if executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation comprising: collecting recent data associated with operation of a network environment; analyzing the network environment by comparing the collected recent data with dynamically configured cognitive signatures, the dynamically configured cognitive signatures being adjustable to account for selected network activity in order to represent normal operation modes of the network environment; and determining whether a problem exists based on the analysis of the network environment.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer software product of claim 42 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures are temporally associated with the network environment.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer software product of claim 42 , wherein the dynamically configured cognitive signatures include information related to a summary of previous performances of the network environment.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer software product of claim 42 , further including a sequence of instructions which, if executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation comprising: updating the dynamically configured cognitive signatures to include the recent data collected.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer software product of claim 42 , further including a sequence of instructions which, if executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation comprising: generating an alarm if a problem exists.
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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) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |