Managing Computer Network Resources

US 20100332630A1
Filed: 05/27/2010
Published: 12/30/2010
Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A method of managing a computer network, comprising:

assigning a goal to a software agent, wherein the goal is a programmatic expression of a predefined task for the software agent; and

dynamically modifying the assigned goal of the software agent according to a desired operational characteristic of the computer network.

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Abstract

Software agents are assigned goals in accordance with network policies that define a desired operational characteristic of a computer network. A software agent achieves its assigned goal by executing a predefined task. An assigned goal may be dynamically modified as necessary based on the actual operational characteristics of the network. The software agent may request further policy if it cannot achieve its assigned goal by performing the predefined task.

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49 Claims

1. A method of managing a computer network, comprising:
- assigning a goal to a software agent, wherein the goal is a programmatic expression of a predefined task for the software agent; and
  
  dynamically modifying the assigned goal of the software agent according to a desired operational characteristic of the computer network.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigned goal of the agent is expressed as a policy.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
    - obtaining information about a network component by the software agent in performing the predefined task; and
      
      constructing a topological representation of the computer network from the information.
  - 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
    - monitoring an operational characteristic of the network by the software agent in performing the predefined task; and
      
      determining an appropriate modification to the assigned goal based on the monitoring and the desired operational characteristic.
  - 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining uses a numerical method.
  - 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the numerical method comprises Kohonen Self Organizing maps.
  - 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the numerical method comprises a Dijkstra Self Stabilization Algorithm.

8. A computer network, comprising:
- a software agent having an assigned goal which is a programmatic expression of a predefined task for the software agent;
  
  an agent support mechanism to provide support to the agent; and
  
  a network control mechanism operable to dynamically modify the assigned goal of the agent based on a desired operational characteristic of the network.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- - 9. The computer network of claim 8, wherein the software agent comprises a discovery agent having the assigned goal to discover information about a network component.
  - 10. The computer network of claim 9, wherein the network control mechanism constructs a topological representation of the network from the information.
  - 11. The computer network of claim 8, wherein the software agent comprises a monitoring agent having the assigned goal to monitor an operational characteristic of the network.
  - 12. The computer network of claim 8, wherein the assigned goal of an agent is expressed as a policy.
  - 13. The computer network of claim 8, wherein the network control mechanism comprises a communications mechanism to facilitate communications with agents.
  - 14. The computer network of claim 13, wherein the communications mechanism comprises a secure communications protocol.
  - 15. The computer network of claim 14, wherein the secure communications protocol encrypts a payload of a data packet.
  - 16. The computer network of claim 14, wherein the secure communications protocol utilizes multiple data channels to transmit data packets.
  - 17. The computer network of claim 16, wherein the data channels are randomly changed.
  - 18. The computer network of claim 8, wherein the agent support mechanism comprises an agent runtime environment configured for a particular network component.
  - 19. The computer network of claim 18, wherein the agent runtime environment controls an operation of the software agent based on predetermined criteria.
  - 20. The computer network of claim 19, wherein the operation is selected from the group comprising of spawn, kill and suspend.
  - 21. The computer network of claim 18, wherein the agent runtime environment maintains a registry of all agents in the runtime environment.
  - 22. The computer network of claim 21, wherein the agent runtime environment allows only verified agents to enter the runtime environment.
  - 23. The computer network of claim 12, further comprising a policy database to store the policy for the agent.
  - 24. The computer network of claim 23, further comprising a modeler to model network behavior for a given policy for optimization.
  - 25. The computer network of claim 24, wherein the agent control mechanism includes the graphical user interface.
  - 26. The computer network of claim 24, wherein the modeler comprises Kohonen Self Organizing maps.
  - 27. The computer network of claim 24, wherein the modeler comprises a Dijkstra Self Stabilization Algorithm.
  - 28. The computer network of claim 24, wherein the modeler comprises a predictive algorithm to predict a failure of a network component.
  - 29. The computer network of claim 28, wherein the modeler determines appropriate policy modifications based on the prediction.
  - 30. The computer network of claim 8, wherein the software agent comprises a mobile agent operable to migrate to various locations in the network.
  - 31. The computer network of claim 29, wherein the software agent comprises an autonomous agent operable to request further policy when it lacks an ability to perform the predefined task.
  - 32. The computer network of claim 31, wherein the further policy is selected from the group comprising new policy and modified policy.
  - 33. The computer network of claim 32, wherein the autonomous agent requests the further policy from another software agent in a common functional domain.
  - 34. The computer network of claim 33, wherein the autonomous agent requests the further policy from the policy database only if the other software agent in the common functional domain is not able to supply the further policy.
  - 35. The computer network of claim 12, wherein the software agent comprises an intelligent software agent operable to perform the predetermined task without having to request further policy.

36. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform a method comprising:
- assigning a goal to a software agent wherein the goal is a programmatic expression of a predefined task for the software agent; and
  
  dynamically modifying the assigned goal of the software agent according to a desired operational characteristic of the computer network.
- View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
- - 37. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the assigned goal of the agent is expressed as a policy.
  - 38. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the method further comprises obtaining information about a network component by the software agent in performing the predefined task;
    - andconstructing a topological representation of the computer network from the information.
  - 39. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, further comprising:
    - monitoring an operational characteristic of the network by the software agent in performing the predefined task; and
      
      determining an appropriate modification to the assigned goal based on the monitoring and the desired operational characteristic.
  - 40. The machine-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the determining uses a numerical method.
  - 41. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the numerical method comprises Kohonen Self Organizing maps.
  - 42. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the numerical method comprises a Dijkstra Self Stabilization Algorithm.

43. A software agent comprising:
- a database defining an operational capability of the software agent;
  
  a control unit to determine when the operational capability of the agent has been exceeded; and
  
  a communication mechanism to request an update of the operational capability if the operational capability has been exceeded.
- View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
- - 44. The software agent of claim 43, wherein the operational capability of the agent is expressed as a policy.
  - 45. The software agent of claim 44, wherein the database further comprises a knowledge of a hierarchy of entities from which the agent can request the update.
  - 46. The software agent of claim 45, wherein the request for the update is sent first to a lowest entity in the hierarchy of entities and only in the event of that entity being unable to provide the update is the request sent progressively to higher entities in the hierarchy.
  - 47. The software agent of claim 46, wherein the lowest entity in the hierarchy is defined by an agent runtime environment in which the agent operates.

48. A method of operating a network comprising:
- detecting a situation requiring an appropriate action in response;
  
  determining if a software agent has a relevant policy to perform the appropriate action;
  
  if the software agent lacks the relevant policy then obtaining the relevant policy; and
  
  performing the appropriate action based on the relevant policy.
- View Dependent Claims (49)
- - 49. The method of claim 48, wherein obtaining the relevant policy comprises requesting it from other network entities which define a hierarchical policy repository within the network, wherein a request is sent progressively to each network entity in accordance with the hierarchy until the relevant policy is received from the network entity.

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Current Assignee
NetFuel, Inc.
Original Assignee
NetFuel, Inc.
Inventors
Harlow, James D.

Granted Patent

US 8,131,851 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

709/221
CPC Class Codes

C09B 43/06   by oxidation

H04L 41/048   mobile agents

H04L 41/12   Discovery or management of ...

H04L 41/147   for predicting network beha...

H04L 41/149   for prediction of maintenance

H04L 43/0817   by checking functioning

H04L 43/50   Testing arrangements

Managing Computer Network Resources

First Claim

1 Assignment

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

67 Citations

49 Claims

Specification

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Managing Computer Network Resources

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Subscription Required

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

67 Citations

49 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links