Method and apparatus for verifying and managing a client system network and network devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9577888-B2
Application number	US-201414466633-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2014
Priority date	Aug 22, 2014
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

An approach is provided for managing and verifying configuration of a client network and the network devices by assessing or sharing network/device information. The approach includes querying a client system to determine one or more information items associated with a network and one or more network devices in the client system. The approach further includes generating a verified profile for the network and the one or more network devices. The approach also includes analyzing a modification in an active profile associated with the network and the one or more network devices. Further, the approach includes initiating an update to the verified profile or to the active profile based on a validation of the modification.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
querying a client system to determine one or more information items associated with a network and one or more network devices in the client system;
requesting configuration information, based on the one or more information items, from one or more vendors associated with the network, the one or more network devices, or a combination thereof;
receiving the requested configuration information;
generating, based on the received configuration information, a verified profile for the network and the one or more network devices;
analyzing a modification in an active profile associated with the network and the one or more network devices;
initiating an update to the verified profile or to the active profile based on a validation of the modification; and
transmitting an update message to one or more other client systems that utilize a same type of network devices as the one or more network devices, to the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof based on the validation of the modification.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
comparing configuration information associated with the client system to configuration information associated with the one or more other client systems;
determining performance data associated with the client system and the one or more other client systems; and
transmitting results of the comparison and the performance data to the one or more vendors.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting an alert notification to a service provider, the client system, the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof based on the validation of the modification.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a client system profile history based on the validation of the modification associated with the verified profile, the active profile, or a combination thereof.

5. A method, comprising:
querying a client system to determine one or more information items associated with a network and one or more network devices in the client system;
generating a verified profile for the network and the one or more network devices;
analyzing a modification in an active profile associated with the network and the one or more network devices;
determining functional compatibilities between the one or more network devices and one or more new network devices in the network; and
initiating, based on the determined functional compatibilities, an update to the verified profile or to the active profile based on a validation of the modification.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
requesting configuration information, based on the one or more information items, from one or more vendors associated with the network, the one or more network devices, or a combination thereof to generate the verified profile.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
transmitting an alert notification to a service provider, the client system, the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof based on the validation of the modification.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving new configuration information from the one or more vendors associated with the network, the one or more network devices, or a combination thereof; and
initiating the update based on a validation of the new configuration information.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
generating a client system profile history based on the validation of the modification associated with the verified profile, the active profile, or a combination thereof.

10. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
query a client system to determine one or more information items associated with a network and one or more network devices in the client system;
request configuration information, based on the one or more information items, from one or more vendors associated with the network, the one or more network devices, or a combination thereof to generate the verified profile;
receive the requested configuration information;
generate, based on the configuration information, a verified profile for the network and the one or more network devices;
analyze a modification in an active profile associated with the network and the one or more network devices;
initiate an update to the verified profile or to the active profile based on a validation of the modification; and
transmit an update message to one or more other client systems that utilize a same type of network devices as the one or more network devices, to the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof based on the validation of the modification.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
compare configuration information associated with the client system to configuration information associated with the one or more other client systems;
determine performance data associated with the client system and the one or more other client systems; and
transmit results of the comparison and the performance data to the one or more vendors.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
transmit an alert notification to a service provider, the client system, the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof based on the validation of the modification.

13. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory including computer program code for one or more programs, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:
query a client system to determine one or more information items associated with a network and one or more network devices in the client system;
generate a verified profile for the network and the one or more network devices:
analyze a modification in an active profile associated with the network and the one or more network devices;
determine functional compatibilities between the one or more network devices and one or more new network devices in the client system; and

initiate, based on the functional capabilities, an update to the verified profile or to the active profile based on a validation of the modification.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
request configuration information, based on the one or more information items, from one or more vendors associated with the network, the one or more network devices, or a combination thereof to generate the verified profile.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
transmit an alert notification to a service provider, the client system, the one or more vendors, or a combination thereof based on the validation of the modification.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
receive new configuration information from the one or more vendors associated with the network, the one or more network devices, or a combination thereof; and
initiate the update based on a validation of the new configuration information.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
generate a client system profile history based on the validation of the modification associated with the verified profile, the active profile, or a combination thereof.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of processor-exe

Assignees

• Verizon Patent & Licensing Inc

Inventors

• Hilden Michael
• Mccarty Donna G
• Evans John H
• Smith Stephen R

Classifications

• H04L41/0869

  Validating the configuration within one network element · CPC title

• H04L41/082

  the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality · CPC title

• H04L41/0853 Primary

  by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information · CPC title