IP Library Granted Patent US 10,248,924
Granted Patent B2
US 10,248,924 · App. 15/040,793 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Network change auditing system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,248,924
App. No.
15/040,793
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network includes a workflow management system coupled to an administrator device, and servers coupled to a user device. A network change auditing system receives and stores workflow definitions from the workflow management system that are associated with respective workflows provided by the servers. The network change auditing system receives and stores activity events from the servers that are associated with instructions from user devices to the servers. The network change auditing system associates a first subset of the activity events with a first workflow based on the first subset of the activity events being defined by a first workflow definition. The network change auditing system receives an identification of a first activity event from an administrator device and, in response, provides an identification of the first workflow and at least one second activity event in the first subset of the activity events for display on the administrator device.

Claims (60)

1. An information handling system (IHS) network, comprising:

a workflow management system that is configured to couple to an administrator device;

a plurality of servers that are configured to couple to a user device; and

a network change auditing system that is coupled to the workflow management system and the plurality of servers, wherein the network change auditing system is configured to:

receive and store a plurality of workflow definitions from the workflow management system, wherein each of the plurality of workflow definitions are associated with a respective workflow provided by at least one of the plurality of servers;

receive and store a plurality of activity events from the at least one of the plurality of servers, where each activity event is associated with instructions provided by the user device to at least one of the plurality of servers;

associate a first subset of the plurality of activity events with a first workflow based on the first subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a first workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions;

receive an identification of a first activity event in the first subset of the plurality of activity events from the administrator device and, in response, provide an identification of the first workflow and at least one second activity event in the first subset of the plurality of activity events for display on the administrator device;

associate a second subset of the plurality of activity events with a second workflow based on the second subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a second workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions; and

receive a request to undo at least one of the second subset of the plurality of activity events from the administrator device and, in response, reverse the instructions that were provided by the user device to the at least one of the plurality of servers to produce the at least one of the second subset of activity events.

2. The IHS network of claim 1 , wherein the network change auditing system is configured to:

associate a third subset of the plurality of activity events with a third workflow based on the third subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a third workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions; and

receive an identification of the third workflow from the administrator device and, in response, provide an identification of each of the third subset of the plurality of activity events for display on the administrator device.

3. The IHS network of claim 1 , wherein the network change auditing system is configured to:

determine a third subset of the plurality of activity events is not associated with any workflow; and

provide an identification of the third subset of the plurality of activity events for display on the administrator device.

4. The IHS network of claim 1 , wherein the first workflow definition includes at least one workflow location, at least one workflow user, and at least one workflow time range.

5. The IHS network of claim 1 , wherein the network change auditing system is configured to:

receive a textual description of the first workflow and, in response, analyze the textual description to determine the first workflow definition.

6. The IHS network of claim 1 , wherein the workflow management system is configured to:

receive the plurality of workflow definitions from the administrator device; and

provide the plurality of workflow definitions to the network change auditing system.

7. A network change auditing system, comprising:

a communication system that is coupled to a plurality of servers;

a database storing a plurality of workflow definitions that are each associated with a respective workflow provided by at least one of the plurality of servers;

a processing system coupled to the database; and

a memory system that is coupled to the processing system and the communication system, wherein the memory system includes instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the processing system to provide a contextual grouping correlation engine that is configured to:

receive and store a plurality of activity events from the at least one of the plurality of servers through the communication system, where each activity event is associated with instructions provided by at least one user device to at least one of the plurality of servers;

associate a first subset of the plurality of activity events with a first workflow based on the first subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a first workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions;

receive an identification of a first activity event in the first subset of the plurality of activity events from an administrator device through the communication system and, in response, provide an identification of the first workflow and at least one second activity event in the first subset of the plurality of activity events through the communication system for display on the administrator device;

associate a second subset of the plurality of activity events with a second workflow based on the second subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a second workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions; and

receive a request to undo at least one of the second subset of the plurality of activity events from the administrator device through the communication system and, in response, reverse the instructions that were provided by the at least one user device to the at least one of the plurality of servers to produce the at least one of the second subset of activity events.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the contextual grouping correlation engine is configured to:

associate a third subset of the plurality of activity events with a third workflow based on the third subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a third workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions; and

receive an identification of the third workflow from the administrator device through the communication system and, in response, provide an identification of each of the third subset of the plurality of activity events for display on the administrator device.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the contextual grouping correlation engine is configured to:

determine a third subset of the plurality of activity events is not associated with any workflow; and

provide an identification of the third subset of the plurality of activity events through the communication system for display on the administrator device.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first workflow definition includes at least one workflow location, at least one workflow user, and at least one workflow time range.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the contextual grouping correlation engine is configured to:

receive a textual description of the first workflow and, in response, analyze the textual description to determine the first workflow definition.

12. A method for auditing changes in a network, comprising:

receiving and storing, by a network change auditing system, a plurality of workflow definitions from a workflow management system, wherein each of the plurality of workflow definitions are associated with a respective workflow provided by at least one of a plurality of servers;

receiving and storing, by the network change auditing system, a plurality of activity events from the at least one of the plurality of servers, where each activity event is associated with instructions provided by a user device to at least one of the plurality of servers;

associating, by the network change auditing system, a first subset of the plurality of activity events with a first workflow based on the first subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a first workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions;

receiving, by the network change auditing system, an identification of a first activity event in the first subset of the plurality of activity events from an administrator device and, in response, providing an identification of the first workflow and at least one second activity event in the first subset of the plurality of activity events for display on the administrator device;

associating, by the network change auditing system, a second subset of the plurality of activity events with a second workflow based on the second subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a second workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions; and

receiving, by the network change auditing system, a request to undo at least one of the second subset of the plurality of activity events from the administrator device and, in response, reversing the instructions that were provided by the user device to the at least one of the plurality of servers to produce the at least one of the second subset of activity events.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

associating, by the network change auditing system, a third subset of the plurality of activity events with a third workflow based on the third subset of the plurality of activity events being defined by a third workflow definition of the plurality of workflow definitions; and

receiving, by the network change auditing system, an identification of the third workflow from the administrator device and, in response, providing an identification of each of the third subset of the plurality of activity events for display on the administrator device.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining, by the network change auditing system, a third subset of the plurality of activity events is not associated with any workflow; and

providing, by the network change auditing system, an identification of the third subset of the plurality of activity events for display on the administrator device.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first workflow definition includes at least one workflow location, at least one workflow user, and at least one workflow time range.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, by the network change auditing system, a textual description of the first workflow and, in response, analyzing the textual description to determine the first workflow definition.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, by the network change auditing system, the plurality of workflow definitions from the administrator device; and

providing, by the network change auditing system, the plurality of workflow definitions to the network change auditing system.

Assignments (27)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073606/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2025
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073613/0326 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0649 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0001 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059105/0479 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 058945/0778 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058952/0279 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059096/0683 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0486 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0347 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 040581/0850 Recorded May 22, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 046211/0735 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 21, 2018
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 045660/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2018
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 045355/0817 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040587 FRAME: 0624. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0598 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040587/0624 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 9, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040581/0850 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
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RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040039/0642) Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0016 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038665 FRAME 0041 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040028/0375 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040030/0187 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
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RELEASE OF REEL 038664 FRAME 0908 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0390 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038665 FRAME 0001 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040021/0348 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
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SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: JURY, DEREK ALFRED; ALI, SOHAIL; SEIGEL, JAKE
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
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