System, method and computer program product for constructing a network-based filtering and aggregating platform

Abstract

A system with accompanying method and computer program product are provided for aggregating network usage information from a plurality of network devices in a user-specified manner. First included is a graphical user interface for defining an enhancement procedure. This is accomplished by listing a plurality of available functions, allowing a user to choose at least one of a plurality of fields, and allowing the user to choose at least one of the listed functions to be applied to the chosen field(s). Also included is a plurality of information source modules for collecting network communications usage information in real-time from a plurality of network devices. Gatherers are coupled to the information source modules. Such gatherers are adapted for aggregating the network communications usage information in accordance with the enhancement procedure. Coupled to the gatherers is a central event manager for completing a plurality of data records from the filtered and aggregated network communications usage information, where the plurality of data records correspond to network usage by a plurality of users. A database is coupled to the central event manager for storing the plurality of data records.