IP Library Granted Patent US 9,208,051
Granted Patent B2
US 9,208,051 · App. 13/727,017 · Granted Dec 8, 2015

Automatic creation of graph time layer of model of computer network objects and relationships

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,208,051
App. No.
13/727,017
Granted
Dec 8, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system create a model of a set of relationships between a set of parent computer network objects and a set of corresponding child computer network objects, over a period of time, and output a user interface graphing the model in a single view to illustrate the set of relationships over the period of time. The parent computer network objects include virtual machines and the child computer network objects include hosts. The user interface includes a search option to provide for a search of problems with the child computer network objects over the period of time.

Claims (50)

1. A method comprising:

creating, by a microprocessor of a computing device, a model of a set of relationships between a set of parent virtual machines and a corresponding set of child hosts, over a time period;

displaying, on a display of the computing device, a user interface graphing the model in a single view to illustrate the set of relationships over the time period;

in response to receiving an indication to present historical data corresponding to at least one child host, generating for the user interface, an updated view of an updated model for a portion of the set of relationships, the updated view including:

a plurality of parent virtual machines serviced by the at least one child host during intervals over the time period; and

graphical data that indicates a status for a relationship between each of the plurality of parent virtual machines and the at least one child host during the intervals, the graphical data indicating one or more changes in status corresponding to one or more parent virtual machines switching from receiving services from the at least one child host in a first interval to receiving services from another child host in a second interval, the switching being based on the at least one child host determined to be associated with a warning status or a critical status during the first interval; and

displaying the updated view overlaid as a layer over the single view in the user interface of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of a specific time period during at least one of the intervals to limit the display of the model in the updated view to the specific time period.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the specific time period is adjustable.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display occurs upon receiving a selection of a graphical user interface element associated with one of the set of parent virtual machines.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a status of at least one of the set of child hosts when the at least one of the set of child hosts has a causal impact on one of the set of parent virtual machines.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

animating the updated view as a video display over the time period.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

filtering which of the set of child hosts are displayed.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

filtering which of the set of relationships are displayed.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

filtering a number of child layers.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a search option to provide for a search of issues with the child hosts in a specific time frame.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a status of each of the set of relationships in the single view, wherein the status is associated with a causal pattern in the model.

12. A method comprising:

creating, by a microprocessor of a computing device, a model of a set of relationships between a set of parent computer network objects and a corresponding set of child computer network objects, over a time period;

displaying, on a display of the computing device, a graph time layer graphing the model and a status of each of the set of relationships, wherein each status is depicted at intervals over the time period and the graph layer includes:

a plurality of parent computer network objects serviced by at least one child computer network object during the intervals;

graphical data that indicates a status for a relationship between each of the plurality of parent computer network objects and the at least one child computer network object during the intervals, the graphical data indicating one or more changes in status corresponding to one or more parent computer network objects switching from receiving services from the at least one child computer network object in a first interval to receiving services from another child computer network object in a second interval, the switching being based on the at least one child computer network object determined to be associated with a warning status or a critical status during the first interval; and

displaying, on the display, a search option to provide for a search of problems with the set of child computer network objects over the time period.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of a specific time period to limit the model in the graph time layer to the specific time period.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

filtering which of the set of child computer network objects are displayed.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

filtering which of the set of relationships are displayed.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

storing the model in a database of the computing device.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the set of parent computer network objects includes at least one of a router, a switch, an application, or a server.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the creating is based on a collection of information automatically collected by a server.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the collection of information is automatically updated by the server without user input.

20. A system comprising:

a display;

a memory including executable instructions; and

a processor operably coupled to the memory and configured to execute the executable instructions to cause the system to:

access a model of a set of relationships between a set of parent virtual machines and a set of corresponding child hosts, over a time period; and

output on the display a user interface graphing the model in a single view to illustrate the set of relationships over the time period and a status of each of the set of relationships, wherein each status is depicted at intervals over the time period, and generating for the user interface, an updated view of an updated model for a portion of the set of relationships, the updated view including:

a plurality of parent virtual machines serviced by the at least one child host during intervals over the time period; and

graphical data that indicates a status for a relationship between each of the plurality of parent virtual machines and the at least one child host during the intervals, the graphical data indicating one or more changes in status corresponding to one or more parent virtual machines switching from receiving services from the at least one child host in a first interval to receiving services from another child host in a second interval, the switching being based on the at least one child host determined to be associated with a warning status or a critical status during the first interval; and

displaying the updated view overlaid as a layer over the single view in the user interface.

Assignments (15)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
To: BMC HELIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 070442/0197 →
GRANT OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 13, 2024
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069352/0628 →
GRANT OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 13, 2024
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069352/0568 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052844/0646) Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 068339/0408 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (052854/0139) Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 068339/0617 →
OMNIBUS ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTERESTS IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Mar 4, 2024
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS RESIGNING COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066729/0889 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 1, 2024
From: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
To: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 066567/0283 →
GRANT OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Sep 30, 2021
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 057683/0582 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2020
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052854/0139 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2020
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052844/0646 →
RELEASE OF PATENTS Recorded Oct 5, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.; BMC ACQUISITION L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 047198/0468 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2018
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE, AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047185/0744 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2017
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043351/0189 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 11, 2013
From: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.; BLADELOGIC, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031204/0225 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2013
From: POSTON, RICKY; COOPER, MICHAEL
To: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
Reel/Frame 029563/0213 →