System, computer program, and method for network resource inventory
US6968373B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 28, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F21/16
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system (10), computer program, and method for automatically and periodically conducting an inventory of one or more network assets (12) or resources, such as, for example, servers, workstations, or firewalls, using an agent (16) running on each asset (12) to perform the inventory and collect inventory data which may thereafter be sent in a secure manner to a designated location where it can be parsed and from which pertinent information can be saved. Thereafter, the stored information may be used, for example, to generate inventory reports for determining network vulnerabilities, checking software licenses, and tracking network assets. In a preferred embodiment, the system (10) broadly comprises one or more separate instances of an inventory agent (16); one or more collection servers (18); a directory server (20); and a reporting server (22). The present invention also makes use of digital certificates for identification, authentication, and, optionally, encryption purposes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.