Abstract: In a computer network, a process of discovery of the network, including discovery of network phones, and means for retrieving an icon relating to the phones and displaying a network map including network phones in the network map.

Abstract: A technique for discovering the topology of a computer network and which relies on initially resolving the positions of end stations on the network and subsequently resolving the topology of remaining devices. This technique specifically involves querying a port of a managed device for a first address of any packet which it received; querying the same port for a second address of any other packet which the device received; if there is no such second packet, then returning data to a manager and determining if there is another port on the device; if there is such a second address, determining if there is another port on the device; repeating the preceding steps for the other port of the device; and if no such other port exists, repeating all the preceding steps for another managed device on the network.

Abstract: In a computer network, a process for discovering devices in the network, including network phones, and constructing a topological map of the network; and associated apparatus for retrieving an icon relating to the phones and displaying the map including the phones therein.

Abstract: In a computer network, a method to graphically distinguish on a network map a path between two points on a network. This is particularly useful in diagnosing problems, by tracing a path between two devices. While path tracing may be a relatively simple matter where there are relatively few devices, in a complex network, the paths between two devices will not be immediately obvious and indeed it is desirable to be able to ascertain whether there is more than one such path. There is disclosed a method for selecting a path or paths between two selected points in a network, said network comprising a plurality of points interconnected by links, comprising the steps of deleting from the method all points other than the selected two points having a single link to the remainder of the network to produce a reduced network, and repeating the deletion step until there are no points, other than the two selected points, which are connected to the remaining network by a single link.

Abstract: Network supervising apparatus for graphically distinguishing a path between two points on a network, and a method therefor, and computer program for carrying out the method, comprising: a memory (21), in use, storing information relating to the components (12, 13, 14) of the network and the links (16) between those components; a visual display apparatus (18) connectable with said memory and including processor apparatus (19) to convert the information in said memory into a visual display on said visual display apparatus representing the components of the network and the links between these components; a manually operable selector (22) to select two components or links displayed on said visual display apparatus; said signal processor apparatus processing the signals to said visual display apparatus to visually distinguish a set of components and/or links forming a link between the selected components or links and the other components and links.

Abstract: Supervising a network (10), which network comprises a plurality of components (12, 13, 14) having ports at least some of which ports are connected by links to ports on other components, at least one component including means to ascertain the source addresses of the remote component or port to which each of its ports is connected when data is received from that remote component, including: interrogating said at least one component to establish which ports of the component have received the address of the ports of the relevant remote component to which they are connected by a link; and in respect of at least one of the other ports of said component, remotely polling the remote component to which it is connected via said port to cause said remote component to return a signal including the address to that port, whereby the source address of the relevant remote component or its port can be identified.

Abstract: A method for providing a data set relating to a network by merging a first data set relating to the network at a first time and a second data set relating to the network at a s second, later, time, said first data set comprising data acquired by interrogation of the network and other data, and said second data set comprising data acquired by interrogation of the network, said method comprising: comparing the data in the first data set with the second data set, and updating the first data set to include additional data present in the second data to set which is not present in the first data set.

Abstract: Network supervising apparatus, computer program, and method of supervising a network comprising: applying an algorithm to information relating to the devices of the network to provide a stress value, comparing the stress value with a predetermined limit, retrieving graphic symbol signals from a signal store and providing the graphic symbol on a visual display apparatus when the stress value reaches the predetermined limit, manually selecting the graphic symbol and causing said visual display apparatus to provide an image indicating where the stress value has reached the predetermined limit.

Abstract: Network supervising apparatus comprising a store (21), in use, storing information relating to the components (12, 13, 14) of the network, the links (16) between those components, and the type of each link, a visual display apparatus (18) connectable with said store and including processor apparatus (19) to convert the information in said store into a visual display on said visual display apparatus, the visual display representing the physical relationship between the components and the links of the network, said processor apparatus processing the signals to said visual display to visually distinguish at least some of said links according to type.

Abstract: A network management apparatus is described which includes a port for connecting to a network for receiving management data from network devices on the network. The network management apparatus includes a processor for processing the received management data and for determining substantially a complete topology of the network and providing image data representative of the network topology. The apparatus further includes a display for receiving the image data and displaying a graphical representation of the network. The processor is adapted to process the received management data to obtain object data for each network object (i.e. device or link) on the network. The object data is provided to the display, for display in graphical form by means of an object tip or tool tip, when the user points to a predetermined part of the graphical representation of the corresponding network object on the display.

Abstract: In a computer network, a process of discovery of the network, including discovery of network phones, and means for retrieving an icon relating to the phones and displaying a network map including network phones in the network map.