Cisco Technology, Inc.

Cisco Systems Inc.

John K Ahlstrom

Stephen I Schleimer

Mehryar Khalili Garakani

Jochen Weppner

Paul L Hickman

Gerard Berthet

After completion of a voice-over IP call, for example, first information representing a Layer 3 path of a packet flow of a completed call that has passed through a packet-switched network is created. Second information representing a Layer 2 path of a packet flow of the completed call is also created. One or more selected phone call detail records are retrieved, which are associated with the completed call. Thus, the likely path of a troubled call is determined, and phone call detail records associated with key points in the path are located. The first information, second information, and selected phone call detail records are provided to a user for use in evaluating one or more problems experienced in the completed call.

Method and apparatus for determining troubleshooting information for completed calls in a telecommunications network

A method is disclosed for creating and storing troubleshooting information for diagnosing one or more problems experienced in one or more completed voice calls that are carried by a packet-switched data network. After completion of a voice-over IP call, for example, first information representing a Layer 3 path of a packet flow of a completed call that has passed through the data network is created and stored. Second information representing a Layer 2 path of a packet flow of a completed call that has passed through the data network is also created and stored. From a phone call detail record database, one or more selected phone call detail records are retrieved, which are associated with the completed call from a database of phone call detail records for a large plurality of completed calls. Thus, the likely path of a troubled call is determined, and phone call detail records associated with key points in the path are located. The first information, second information, and selected phone call detail records are provided to a user for use in evaluating one or more problems experienced in the completed call. Based on this information, the user can troubleshoot the call and identify responsive action. In one embodiment, IP path segments of the voice over IP flow are identified and media termination points are identified for each path segment. Layer 2 and Layer 3 path tracing is performed for each IP segment of the voice over IP flow.

A method and apparatus are provided for verifying policies that govern a policy-based system. The method and apparatus may be implemented as a policy verifier that acts upon one or more policies. Each policy comprises a condition and a consequent. The policy verifier acquires configuration information about the system under management, thereby acquiring an understanding of the system. The policy verifier determines whether all the policies are feasible for the system, and if not, reports problems or errors that cause the policies to be non-feasible. The policy verifier also verifies that a configuration required by a particular policy consequent can be actually carried out by the managed system. In one embodiment, the policy verifier operates on network management policies, of a policy-based network management system. As a result, the invention improves the accuracy and safety of policies prepared for a network that previously did not use policy-based management.

Automatically verifying the feasibility of network management policies

A method and apparatus are provided for recognizing and processing conflicts in policies that govern a policy-based system. The method and apparatus may be implemented as a policy verifier that acts upon one or more policies. Each policy is formally defined and comprises a condition and a consequent, each of which are further formally defined in terms of component elements. A conflict among two or more policies is formally defined to occur when the condition of a first policy and the condition of a second policy may be simultaneously true, and when the consequent of the first policy and the consequent of the second policy may not be carried out simultaneously. When a policy conflict is detected, the conflict is resolved by bringing it to the attention of a user or external system, and receiving information that corrects one of the policies or specifies a precedence relationship among the policies.

Recognizing and processing conflicts in network management policies

A method and apparatus are provided for verifying policies that govern a policy-based system. The method and apparatus may be implemented as a policy verifier that acts upon one or more policies. Each policy comprises a condition and a consequent. The policy verifier acquires configuration information about the system under management, thereby acquiring an understanding of the system. The policy verifier determines whether all the policies can be satisfied by the system, and if not, reports problems or errors in the policies that cause the policies to be non-satisfiable. The policy verifier determines whether all the policies are feasible for the system, and if not, reports problems or errors that cause the policies to be non-feasible. The policy verifier also verifies that a configuration required by a particular policy consequent can be actually carried out by the managed system. In one embodiment, the policy verifier operates on network management policies, of a policy-based network management system. As a result, the invention improves the accuracy and safety of policies prepared for a network that previously did not use policy-based management.

Verifying that a network management policy used by a computer system can be satisfied and is feasible for use

A network browsing system includes a host computer coupled to a client computer by a network. A network browser process implemented on the client computer is capable of establishing a connection with the host computer and of generating a request for desired data from the host computer which is to generate desired images on the display of the client computer. A server process implemented on the host computer services the request for desired data received from the client computer by modifying the desired data into modified data such that no additional connection between the client computer and the host computer is required to receive the entirety of the modified data. The browser process of the client computer can generate the desired images from the modified data to the same extent that it could from the originally requested desired data.

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Cupertino, CA, United States of America

John K Ahlstrom