Abstract: Methods and/or systems for identifying and/or representing information appliances on a communication system retrieve data sets and store signature data for later identification of individual information systems.

Abstract: A system to automatically gather attribute data about elements such as networks, network interface cards, operating systems, device types, installed software, processes in execution, financial data, etc. in an organization or a designated subset of the organization. Fingerprint files are used, each fingerprint file corresponding to an element of a specific type and each containing a list of attributes that will be found if that element exists in the system. Each fingerprint contains or points to one or more collection instructions which control a data collector process to attempt to gather attribute data. Each fingerprint contains or points to rules that are used to analyze the attribute data gathered to calculate the probability that the element exists. The rules can be fired sequentially, in if-then-else fashion or can be incorporated in a script in loops and with mathematical manipulations, tests and branching for more sophisticated analysis.

Abstract: A computer system to reconcile hard assets carried on the financial data reporting computer systems of a corporation or government entity with actual inventory assets discovered on the networks of said entity. Automatic discovery of inventory assets is performed by executing scripts specified in fingerprints of the types of machines the system can recognize. When a machine is found at a live P address, the fingerprint scripts determine the operating system type and extract data from the operating system regarding the attributes of the machine. Hard assets are then imported from the financial data reporting computer system, and automatic reconciliation rules are drafted by a user and run on the asset data to find inventory assets which match hard assets. Linking or pointer data is established to record each match. Then unmatched inventory and hard assets are displayed and manual matching occurs where in the user points to and selects inventory assets which match particular hard assets.

Abstract: Methods and/or systems for identifying and/or representing information appliances on a communication system retrieve data sets and store signature data for later identification of individual information systems.

Abstract: A process and apparatus to remotely gather data about cellphone hardware and software configurations and usage. The system uses agents which are resident on the phones and which can be remotely launched by a data collection server by sending a message to a public P address of the phone and addressed to a special port designated for launch. The agent specifies the launch port and a data collection port upon installation and registration with the cellphone operating system. Data on hardware configuration, software version and phone usage can be gathered. Data collection sessions are established by the data collection server sending a message addressed to the public P address of the cellphone and the data collection port specified by the agent process upon registration with the operating system. Many alternative embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus to remotely gather data about cellphone hardware and software configurations and usage. The system uses agents which are resident on the phones and which can be remotely launched by a data collection server by sending a message to a public IP address of the phone and addressed to a special port designated for launch. The agent specifies the launch port and a data collection port upon installation and registration with the cellphone operating system. Data on hardware configuration, software version and phone usage can be gathered. Data collection sessions are established by the data collection server sending a message addressed to the public IP address of the cellphone and the data collection port specified by the agent process upon registration with the operating system. Many alternative embodiments are also disclosed.