Traffic monitoring tool for bandwidth management

Claim 2

A computer system coupled to a network of computers, said computer system for monitoring and managing a plurality of flows of information, said computer system comprising: a graphical user interface component that generates a display, said display comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, said first portion comprising a graphical chart representing said flows of information, said second portion comprising text information describing each of said flows of information; an application programming interface (API) component coupled to said graphical user interface component; and a traffic control and management component, coupled to said application programming interface component, that controls an amount of bandwidth allocated to said plurality of flows of information, said traffic control and management component comprising: a first application, coupled to said API component, that classifies said plurality of flows of information into parameters and measures said parameters; a second application, coupled to said API component, that controls said plurality of flows of information into and out of the network of computers and allocates said bandwidth allocated to said plurality of flows of information; and a third application, coupled to said API component, that applies a traffic policy associated with one or more traffic rules in said first and second applications, and wherein the one or more traffic rules are adapted to be manually edited and/or created.

Claim 3

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said plot of bandwidth consumption is a plot of bandwidth consumed against time.

Claim 4

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said plot of bandwidth consumption is a plurality of plots, each of said plots representing consumed bandwidth against time.

Claim 5

The computer of claim 1 wherein each of said flows of information comprises one of a plurality of traffic classes.

Claim 6

The computer of claim 4 wherein said plurality of traffic classes comprise HTTP, FTP and SMTP.

Claim 7

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said graphical chart comprises a plot of failure rates against time.

Claim 8

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said graphical chart comprises a plot of delay rates against time.

Claim 9

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said display is outputted on a computer monitor.

Claim 10

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said display is a real-time display of a portion of said plurality of flows of information.

Claim 11

The computer system of claim 1 wherein said graphical chart is selected from a graph, a histogram, a bar chart, and a pie chart.

Claim 12

The computer of claim 1 wherein said graphical chart comprises a plot of bandwidth consumption.

Claim 13

A computer system connected to a network of computers, said computer system for monitoring and managing in real time a plurality of flows of information, each of said plurality of flows of information being of one of a plurality of traffic classes, said computer system comprising: a graphical user interface component that generates a display on a monitor, said display comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, said first portion comprising a graphical chart representing said traffic classes and said second portion comprising text information describing each of said traffic classes, wherein said graphical chart comprises a bandwidth consumption plot for each of said traffic classes; and a traffic control and management component, coupled to said graphical user interface component, said traffic control and management component comprising: a first module that monitors said plurality of flows of information to and from said network of computers by classifying information into a first set of parameters and measuring said first set of parameters; a second module that implements traffic control and manages bandwidth allocation by controlling said plurality of flows of information to and from said network of computers using a second set of parameters and allocating bandwidth based in part on said second set of parameters; and a third module that applies a traffic policy associated with one or more traffic rules in said first and second modules, and wherein the one or more traffic rules are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 14

A computer system connected to a network of computers, said computer system for monitoring and managing in real time a plurality of flows of information, each of said plurality of flows of information being of one of a plurality of traffic classes, said computer system comprising: a graphical user interface component that generates a display on a monitor, said display comprising at least a first portion and a second portion, said first portion comprising a graphical chart representing said traffic classes and said second portion comprising text information describing each of said traffic classes, wherein said graphical chart comprises a bandwidth consumption plot for each of said traffic classes; and a traffic control and management component, coupled to said graphical user interface component, said traffic control and management component comprising: a first module that monitors said plurality of flows of information to and from said network of computers by classifying information into a first set of parameters and measuring said first set of parameters; a second module that implements traffic control and manages bandwidth allocation by controlling said plurality of flows of information to and from said network of computers using a second set of parameters and allocating bandwidth based in part on said second set of parameters; and a third module that applies a traffic policy associated with one or more traffic rules in said first and second modules, and wherein the one or more traffic rules are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 15

The computer system of claim 12 wherein said bandwidth consumption is a plot of bandwidth consumed against time.

Claim 16

The computer system of claim 12 wherein said bandwidth consumption is a plurality of plots, each of said plots representing consumed bandwidth against time for each of said traffic classes.

Claim 17

The computer system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of traffic classes comprise FTP, HTTP, and SMTP.

Claim 18

The computer system of claim 12 wherein said graphical chart further comprises a plot of failure rates against time or a plot of delay rates against time.

Claim 19

The computer system of claim 12 wherein said graphical chart is selected from a graph, a histogram, a bar chart, and a pie chart.

Claim 22

The method of claim 18 wherein said data rate is a baud rate.

Claim 23

The method of claim 18 wherein said visual representation is a real time histogram of said data rate.

Claim 24

The method of claim 18 wherein said plurality of traffic classes comprise HTTP, FTP, and SMTP.

Claim 25

A computer system comprising a bandwidth profiling and management tool for monitoring and managing a plurality of flows of information between one or more sources coupled to a network of computers, each of said plurality of flows of information comprising one of a plurality of traffic classes, said bandwidth profiling and management tool being stored in computer memory, said computer memory comprising: a first code that is directed to allocating bandwidth to said plurality of flows of information; a second code that is directed to measuring a data rate for each one of said flows of information; a third code that is directed to categorizing each of said plurality of flows of information into one of a plurality of traffic classes; a fourth code that is directed to measuring a parameter for said each one of said flows of information associated with said one of said plurality of traffic classes; a fifth code that is directed to applying a time stamp to said parameter to correlate said one of said plurality of traffic classes with a time; a sixth code that is directed to determining a data rate for each one of said plurality of traffic classes; a seventh code that is directed to outputting a visual representation of said data rate of at least one of said plurality of traffic classes in graphical form on a display; and an eighth code that is directed to outputting a text representation of said at least one of said plurality of traffic classes on said display; and a ninth code that is directed to applying a traffic policy associated with one or more traffic rules for said each one of said flows of information, and wherein the one or more traffic rules are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 26

A computer system comprising a bandwidth profiling and management tool for monitoring and managing a plurality of flows of information between one or more sources coupled to a network of computers, each of said plurality of flows of information comprising one of a plurality of traffic classes, said bandwidth profiling and management tool being stored in computer memory, said computer memory comprising: a first code that is directed to allocating bandwidth to said plurality of flows of information; a second code that is directed to measuring a data rate for each one of said flows of information; a third code that is directed to categorizing each of said plurality of flows of information into one of a plurality of traffic classes; a fourth code that is directed to measuring a parameter for said each one of said flows of information associated with said one of said plurality of traffic classes; a fifth code that is directed to applying a time stamp to said parameter to correlate said one of said plurality of traffic classes with a time; a sixth code that is directed to determining a data rate for each one of said plurality of traffic classes; a seventh code that is directed to outputting a visual representation of said data rate of at least one of said plurality of traffic classes in graphical form on a display; and an eighth code that is directed to outputting a text representation of said at least one of said plurality of traffic classes on said display; and a ninth code that is directed to applying a traffic policy associated with one or more traffic rules for said each one of said flows of information, and wherein the one or more traffic rules are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 29

A computer-readable medium comprising: instructions and data written thereon said instructions and data containing information for the practice of the method of claim 23 .

Claim 30

Electromagnetic signals travelling over a computer network comprising: said electromagnetic signals carrying information for the practice of the method of claim 23 .

Claim 31

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; software executing on said computer, said software having, a graphical user interface component that generates a display, said display having a chart representing said flows of information passing through said computer, and a traffic control and management component that controls and applies an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, and wherein the traffic control and management component is based on one or more traffic rules that are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 32

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; software executing on said computer, said software having, a graphical user interface component that generates a display, said display having a chart representing said flows of information passing through said computer, and a traffic control and management component that controls and applies an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, and wherein the traffic control and management component is based on one or more traffic rules that are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 33

The computer of claim 26 further comprising: said software having a component that classifies said plurality of flows of information into parameters, and measures said parameters.

Claim 34

The computer of claim 26 further comprising: said software having a component that allocates bandwidth to said plurality of flows as they pass between said wide area network and said local area network.

Claim 35

The computer of claim 26 further comprising: said software has a component that effectuates a traffic policy by allocating bandwidth to said plurality of flows.

Claim 36

The computer of claim 26 further comprising: said software has an application programming interface (API) component coupled to said graphical user interface and to other components of said software.

Claim 37

The computer of claim 26 further comprising: said graphical user interface displays text as well as said graphical chart.

Claim 38

A communication network comprising at least one node according to claim 26 .

Claim 39

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; means for controlling and applying an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, said control effectuated by said computer, and wherein the means for controlling and applying is based on one. or more traffic rules that are adapted to be edited and/or created; and means for generating a display by said computer, said display having a chart representing said flows of information passing through said computer, and representing said amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows.

Claim 40

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; means for controlling and applying an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, said control effectuated by said computer, and wherein the means for controlling and applying is based on one. or more traffic rules that are adapted to be edited and/or created; and means for generating a display by said computer, said display having a chart representing said flows of information passing through said computer, and representing said amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows.

Claim 41

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; software executing on said computer, said software having, a traffic monitoring and management component to control an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, wherein the traffic-monitoring and management component uses one or more traffic rules that are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 42

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; software executing on said computer, said software having, a traffic monitoring and management component to control an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, wherein the traffic-monitoring and management component uses one or more traffic rules that are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 43

The computer of claim 34 further comprising: a graphical user interface component of said software that generates a display, said display having a chart representing said flows of information passing through said computer.

Claim 44

The computer of claim 35 further comprising: said graphical user interface displays text as well as said graphical chart.

Claim 45

The computer of claim 34 further comprising: said software having a component that classifies said plurality of flows of information into parameters, and measures said parameters.

Claim 46

The computer of claim 34 further comprising: said software having a component that allocates bandwidth to said plurality of flows as they pass between said wide area network and said local area network.

Claim 47

The computer of claim 34 further comprising: said software has a component that effectuates a traffic policy by allocating bandwidth to said plurality of flows.

Claim 48

The computer of claim 34 further comprising: said software has an application programming interface (API) component coupled to a graphical user interface and to other components of said software.

Claim 49

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; means for monitoring an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, said monitoring effectuated by said computer; and means for applying a traffic policy associated with one or more traffic rules, wherein the one or more traffic rules are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 50

A computer comprising: a first connection to a wide area network; a second connection to a local area network, said computer serving as a firewall computer for a plurality of flows of information passing between said wide area network and said local area network; means for monitoring an amount of bandwidth allocated to said flows of information, said monitoring effectuated by said computer; and means for applying a traffic policy associated with one or more traffic rules, wherein the one or more traffic rules are adapted to be edited and/or created.

Claim 51

The computer of claim 41 further comprising: means for displaying a chart representing said flows of information passing through said computer.

Claim 54

The method of claim 43 , further comprising: monitoring said flows to control allocation of bandwidth to said flows.

Claim 55

Computer readable media having instructions written therein for the practice of the method of claim 43 .

Claim 56

Electromagnetic signals propagating on a computer network, said electromagnetic signals carrying information for the practice of the method of claim 43 .

Claim 59

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: a process to manage bandwidth of said flow in response to the type of flow.

Claim 60

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: a process to apply an admissions policy to said flow.

Claim 61

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: means for increasing allocated bandwidth if said flow has a high priority.

Claim 62

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: means for decreasing allocated bandwidth if said received packet has a low priority.

Claim 63

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: said first network is a local network and said second network is a remote network.

Claim 64

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: said first network is a remote network and said second network is a local network.

Claim 65

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: a graphical user interface for a person to monitor activity of said computer.

Claim 66

The apparatus as in claim 47 , further comprising: a graphical user interface for a person to control operation of said computer.

Claim 69

The method as in claim 56 , further comprising: adjusting said bandwidth allocation so that said allocation depends upon a type of said flow.

Claim 70

The method as in claim 56 , further comprising: applying an admissions policy to incoming flows by adjustment of allocated bandwidth.

Claim 71

The method as in claim 56 , further comprising: raising allocated bandwidth if said flow has a high priority.

Claim 72

The method as in claim 56 , further comprising: reducing allocated bandwidth if said flow has a low priority.

Claim 73

The method as in claim 56 , further comprising: displaying on a graphical user interface data for monitoring operation of said computer.

Claim 74

The method as in claim 56 , further comprising: controlling operation of said computer by use of a graphical user interface.