Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is a method, apparatus and computer program product for discovering the nodes and other network information of a computer network (the target network) from a device or node that is not part of the target network (the discovery node) when the discovery node uses a different network protocol than the target network. The invention involves identifying one or more additional nodes (the target nodes) that have access to network information about the target network and with whom the discovery node can communicate. This target network information can include the identification of nodes which are present on the network, the topology of the network, the services provided by the network or by the nodes on the network, status information as the network changes such as information about network and node events or alarms, etc. The discovery node may also have stored information on the types of nodes, services, and other information which may be found on a network using the network protocol of the target network. The discovery node can use the target nodes to receive target network information in various ways, including requesting information from a target node, invoking target network functionality at a target node or target network node to identify target network information, and accessing target network information previously stored at a target node or target network node. After receiving target network information, the discovery node models it using software objects that are created by the discovery node. These software objects are discovery node representations of target network nodes and objects. The discovery node makes the created objects available as representations of the network information from the target network, and can maintain the accuracy of the represented target network information over time.

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First Claim