Network Management Tool for Complete Topology Visualization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Managing large and dynamic enterprise networks is challenging due to the complexity of tracking and maintaining diverse computing systems across various geographic locations, with administrators facing difficulties in capturing and visualizing the network layout, especially when multiple administrators are involved and systems undergo frequent changes.

Innovation Solution

A management tool that inventory and generate customizable reports and maps of the network, including hardware and software configurations, physical locations, and network topology, allowing administrators to view a complete network layout and reduce management time by providing a centralized system for monitoring and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If administrators manually track and maintain computing systems in large networks, then they can monitor system status and configurations, but the time and effort required for network management increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork management capabilityVSAvoidadministration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the entire network topology and system states in a database, allowing administrators to query and analyze network information without physically inspecting each system. The management system maintains a replicated representation of all computing systems, their configurations, and relationships, enabling rapid retrieval and analysis of network data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a centralized management system as an intermediary between administrators and the distributed computing systems. This mediator collects, stores, and processes network information centrally, then provides queried results to administrators, eliminating the need for direct interaction with each individual system and reducing administrative time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the network spans multiple geographic locations and uses diverse hardware and software, then the network becomes more versatile and adaptable, but the complexity of tracking and maintaining the network increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork configuration flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network information into distinct database records for each computing system, with separate fields for hardware configurations, software configurations, geographic locations, and network relationships. This segmentation allows the system to handle diverse and varying network elements through a standardized structured format, reducing management complexity despite network versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal database schema that can accommodate diverse computing systems with different hardware, software, and locations through a standardized structure. The same database framework and query mechanisms work across all network elements regardless of their specific configurations, providing a unified approach to managing heterogeneous network resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple administrators are involved in network management, then the network can be monitored from different perspectives, but coordination and communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork monitoring coverageVSAvoidcoordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the information sources and monitoring perspectives of multiple administrators into a single centralized database. All administrators query the same unified data structure, ensuring consistent views of network status and reducing coordination overhead while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage through the collective input of multiple administrators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of information

If administrators need to capture and view the entire network layout, then they gain complete visibility for better decision-making, but the difficulty of understanding and analyzing the network increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork information completenessVSAvoidnetwork analysis difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables administrators to query the centralized database for specific local views of the network relevant to their tasks, such as systems in particular geographic locations, specific hardware types, or defined network segments. This allows complete information availability while presenting only relevant portions to each administrator, reducing analysis difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8219611B2Systems and methods for providing a complete view of large computing networks

Publication Date: 2012.07.10 RED HAT INC

AI summary

The management tool can determine and store all information that is relevant to the computing systems in the network. The management tool can generate and provide reports that are customizable by a requester. The management tool can receive a request to generate a report which specifies the information relevant to the computing systems to be included in the report. The management tool can search the stored information and generate the report with the stored information that matches the request. The reports can include network topology maps based on the request and geographic maps based on the request.