Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing – Network resource allocating
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-30
2001-04-17
Rinehart, Mark H. (Department: 2756)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
Network resource allocating
C709S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219708
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to management of network resources, and more particularly to management and control of network resources by a remote client using existing network protocols and languages.
MICROFICHE APPENDIX ATTACHED
A microfiche appendix is attached to this detailed description.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Network computing has become increasingly popular. For example, a number of new devices have been introduced for use on a variety of networks from local area networks to the Internet and World Wide Web. The increasing complexity of network communications raises the issue of improved network resource management. For the purposes of this specification, any device or system associated with the network is a “resource” of the network.
Typical network operations are limited to the transmission of electronic mail and the retrieval of data. A variety of standard network protocols and languages have been introduced to communicate over the networks. For example, in an ethernet based system, a protocol called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is used to transfer information over the network. Some TCP/IP-compatible file transfer protocols have been devised to transfer information, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). These protocols allow programmers to create browsers which accept predefined languages, such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), however, these protocols and languages were not designed for network resource management.
One effort to define a language for network resource management resulted in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), however, SNMP requires special knowledge to use effectively and lacks certain device management features. A system using SNMP requires a special program executing at the client to perform system management. This program increases the cost and complexity of performing system management. With the proliferation of devices and users on the network there are increasing demands for improved network management of resources.
There is a need in the art for a system for network resource management which is cost effective and requires little or no specialized knowledge to use. The system should communicate using existing network commands and the system should operate with existing client browsers to eliminate the need for additional network resource management software at the client. The system should provide a homogeneous interface to perform network resource management using existing client-based network access software. The system should also be configurable to support nonstandard network resource management operations using existing network protocols and languages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved system for network resource management. The present system provides network management functions using existing network user software. In one embodiment, clients perform platform independent network management using existing browser software. This embodiment enables a client to perform network management without the requirement of learning a specialized network management protocol or language.
In one embodiment, a client directly manages a network resource using any TCP/IP network by selecting specialized options using existing browser software. For instance, in an HTML environment a network resource is managed using an existing browser, such as NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR, MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, NCSA MOSAIC, or any HTTP-compatible browser. According to one embodiment, the network resource is programmed with a network module having an options database which provides one or more options to a client as it accesses the network resource. The options are tailored to the network resource device being controlled. The client selects options to request performance of operations by the network resource. In one embodiment, the network module is programmed with one or more native network resource instructions. These instructions are stored in a native resource instruction library. Options selected by the client are transmitted as messages over the network to the network resource and are interpreted by an instruction module by comparing each message to the one or more instructions in the native resource instruction library. The network module processes each received message to decide the appropriate operation. In one embodiment, the options presented to the client are updated and other fault/status information is available to the client to enhance the resource management by the client.
One environment in which the present invention is demonstrated is in a rack modem system. Device specific operations are demonstrated to illustrate the operation and flexibility of one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, an ethernet interface is added to the rack modem system controller to provide network based management and control of the rack modem system. The ethernet interface enables users to manage the system using existing browser or web page protocols and languages. This enables a user to manage and control the system using existing software and without having to learn a specialized management protocol or language. This system enables management using any TCP/IP platform, including, but not limited to, UNIX, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, DOS, Solaris, or Apple platforms.
Additional applications and embodiments are described. For example, if the network resource is a modem, then the client will receive options for configuration of the modem and fault/status reporting. If the network resource is a router, then options may include routing commands for programming the routing of packets passing through the router. Therefore the options presented to a client are programmable and are not limited to a predefined set of operations.
A variety of option presentation methods are described. One embodiment provides flexibility in presentation of options to the client, since existing network protocols and languages support a variety of presentation methods, such as a checkbox list and image mapping. Existing protocols and languages also provide more advanced graphical user interfaces (GUIs). For example, Java applets and HTML extensions may be incorporated to create a GUI for platform independent browser based management. Any client having a compatible browser is enabled to perform network resource management without having to learn a specialized language or purchase additional software. The browsers, protocols, and languages described herein are intended to demonstrate the present network resource management system, and are not intended in a limiting or exclusive sense.
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Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
Rinehart Mark H.
Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth P.A.
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