Hewlett-Packard Company

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.p.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Deborah L Caswell

Srinivas Ramanathan

Mark D Smith

Scott S Neal

Jeffrey Alan Morgan

Venkatesh Krishnan

Preeti N Bhoj

James David Hunter

Marc Nijdam

Sreenivasa N Rao

Frederick A Sieker

A system for authenticating the location of a client system accessing a web server system associated with a physical entity includes a location beacon adjacent to the physical entity. The location beacon transmits a first beacon signal containing a web address of the web server system and a token that expires within a predetermined time period. A beacon receiver in the client system receives the first beacon signal, and sends a first request having the token and a key generated by a random number generator in the client system to the web server system. A location authentication module in the web server system retrieves the key from the first request if the token has not expired. A location authentication beacon adjacent to the physical entity transmits a second beacon signal containing the web address and a customized token encrypted using the key. The beacon receiver receives the second beacon signal and uses the key to decrypt the customized token. A web browser in the client system sends a second request having the web address and the customized token to the web server system if the beacon receiver can decrypt the customized token with the key. A method of authenticating locations of clients accessing a web server system is also described.

Location authentication of requests to a web server system linked to a physical entity

A method and system of modeling a selected service within a network environment includes forming a service model template that is not specific to the network environment, but identifies anticipated network elements and network services that cooperate to enable the selected service. The service model template includes specifications related to linking the anticipated network elements and network services. When the service model template is combined with discovered instance information that is specific to actual network elements and actual network services, a service model instance is generated for the selected service. The service model instance includes identifications of dependencies among the elements and services. Preferably, the service model instance also includes identification of the &ldquo;health&rdquo; of the different elements and services. A view generator may be used to configure the service model instance as a hierarchical graph of nodes that are linked to identify the dependencies among the nodes. The discovered instance information may be acquired using a discovery template that orchestrates the process. The discovery template may identify auto-discovery modules that are to be used to detect actual network elements and services and may identify dependencies among the modules. A user-configurable discovery engine accesses the discovery template and deploys the modules in order to acquire the discovered instance information.

Template-driven approach for generating models on network services

A method for identifying services, service elements and dependencies among the services and service elements includes executing first and second phases of discovery. In the first phase, the services and service elements are detected, as well as a first set of dependencies. The second phase is based on results of the first phase and is focused upon detecting inter-service dependencies, i.e., conditions in which proper operation of one service relies upon at least one other service. Various techniques may be used in executing the first phase, including accessing information in a domain name service (DNS) of the network to identify dependencies, as well as services and service elements. Discovery within the first phase may also be based upon recognizing naming conventions. Regarding the second phase, one approach to discovering inter-service dependencies is to deploy discovery agents implemented in computer software to access content of configuration files of applications detected in the first phase. Discovery agents may also be used to monitor connections completed via specified service elements detected in the first phase, such that other inter-service dependencies are identified. As an alternative or additional approach, network probes may be deployed to access information of data packets transmitted ted between service elements detected in the first phase, with the accessed packet information being used to detect inter-service dependencies. When information of the DNS is accessed in the first phase, the information is used as a basis for determining at least some of (1) groups of service elements that are generally equivalent with respect to executing a particular service within the network, (2) hosts supporting virtual hosting, (3) hosts supporting virtual servers, and (4) name servers.

Method and system for automatic discovery of network services

A method and system for modeling services available via a network include selecting a core service that is to be modeled, forming a discovery template that is specific to the selected core service, and automatically discovering the elements which cooperate to provide the core service. The discovery template includes instructions for implementing automated techniques for discovering service elements, and preferably services, which are anticipated as being cooperative in executing the core service. The system includes a number of discovery modules for generating outputs indicative of the services and service elements. A discovery engine is responsive to the discovery template to invoke the modules that are identified in the template as being relevant to discovering specified services and service elements. The template also identifies dependencies among the modules, so that the proper sequence of processing can be determined. In one embodiment, the discovery template is organized into sections, with each section (1) being specific to a type of service or service element, (2) specifying at least one discovery routine for identifying the specified type of service or service elements, and (3) specifying dependencies of the identified discovery routine on outputs of other discovery routines. Preferably, each section also includes instructions for configuring the data that is output from the identified discovery routine.

Automated service elements discovery using core service specific discovery templates

The dependancies of a computer service are modeled. The modeling hierarchically defines the relationships between the computer service and the hardware and software services which the computer service depends. These relationships may be contained in data structures defining a directed acyclic graph. The model also defines which measurements need to be taken to determine health and performance of the computer service and the health and performance of all the computer services upon which the computer service depends. Software agents that take these measurements may be deployed using the model to determine the measurement locations and functions. Data from measurement agents may be propagated up the model hierarchy. The model may also be visualized by a graphical interface to communicate the dependancies and the health and status of the services upon which the modeled service depends.

Modeling of internet services

A diagnostic system for a data access networked system (e.g., an Internet/Intranet access networked system) is described. The data access networked system includes a number of data service systems coupled together. Each of the data service systems is independently administrated. The diagnostic system includes a number of diagnostic modules, each running a number of diagnostic tests within one of the data service systems upon receiving a diagnostic request. The diagnostic modules also transmit the diagnostic request and diagnostic results to one another using an open standard communication protocol. The diagnostic system also includes a diagnostic terminal that is coupled to a first diagnostic module of the diagnostic modules to generate the diagnostic request to the first diagnostic module and to display the diagnostic results received from the first diagnostic module. A diagnostic system for a data service system of a data access networked system is also described.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Deborah L Caswell