Automated Data Flow Visualization in Enterprise IT
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for documenting and visualizing data flows in complex enterprise IT environments are prone to errors due to manual processes and require intrusive instrumentation, making it difficult to accurately depict data flows in large and dynamic networks.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that collects, filters, maps, and visualizes network connections and data flows using a processor and memory, accessing network topology and component dependencies to identify and mark data flows, enabling accurate visualization and analysis of data flows across network components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual methods are used to create data flow diagrams, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but accuracy and reliability deteriorate due to human errors in information collection and diagram drawing
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-documentation of data flows by having IT assets automatically publish their own data flow information through embedded software agents, eliminating the need for manual information collection and diagram creation while improving accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes of information collection and diagram drawing with automated software-based systems that systematically gather data from IT assets and generate accurate data flow diagrams without human intervention
2Measurement precision
If automated systems are used to visualize network connections, then productivity increases, but measurement precision deteriorates because they only show network connections rather than actual data flows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces software agents as intermediaries between IT assets and the analysis system. These agents automatically collect precise data flow information from assets and transmit it to the visualization system, enabling accurate data flow depiction without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates accurate copies of actual data flow information by having software agents replicate the data flow metadata from IT assets and transmit it to the central system, which then generates precise visual representations of data flows
3Measurement precision
If intrusive instrumentation is used to track data flows, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to required API installations and authorization
Solution Approach 1:
IT assets automatically publish their own data flow information through embedded software agents without requiring external instrumentation or intrusive APIs, enabling accurate tracking while simplifying implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The software agents are designed to be universally applicable across different IT asset types (physical and virtual servers, databases, applications) without requiring type-specific instrumentation or complex authorization configurations
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology enables identification, visualization, and analysis of data flows via network components in complex enterprise IT environments including but not limited to servers, workstations, switches, routers, wireless access points, traffic shapers, firewalls, storage systems and SAN systems. A method and system provide accessing collected information, filtering network connections from the information, identifying data flows over the filtered network connections, mapping the data flows to network components to find paths, marking the data flows and the network components associated with the paths with attributes, and displaying a networked computer environment including the filtered network connections, and the marked data flows and the marked network components associated with the paths.