System and method for hardware and software monitoring with integrated resource acquisition

Abstract

A method, system, and network providing hardware and software inventorying and monitoring provide the status of a local network of interconnected information technology devices. A user downloads and installs a local network monitoring software program from an online source onto a host computer system. The local network monitoring software system initiates an inventory of all information technology devices associated with said local network of information technology devices. Also, the local network monitoring software determines the operational status of the information technology devices and the status of software programs installed on the information technology devices. The results of the inventory and status determinations are presented to the host computer system. The presented information permits the user of said host computer system to initiate maintenance and support actions for the information technology devices in response to the operational status and status of software programs using the local network monitoring software.

1 . A method for providing the status of a local network of interconnected information technology devices, comprising the steps of:
 downloading a local network monitoring software program from an online source onto a host computer system associated with said local network;   installing said local network monitoring software on said host computer;   initiating an inventory of all information technology devices associated with said local network of information technology devices;   determining the operational status of a plurality of said information technology devices;   determining the status of software programs installed on said information technology devices;   presenting to the host computer system information relating to the operational status and status of software programs on said information technology devices; and   permitting the user of said host computer system to initiate maintenance and support actions in response to said operational status and said status of software programs using said local network monitoring software.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inventory initiating step further comprises the step of initiating an inventory of all computer systems associated with said local network. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inventory initiating step further comprises the step of initiating an inventory of all peripheral printing devices associated with said local network. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said inventory initiating step further comprises the step of initiating an inventory of all server devices associated with said local network. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step of determining the operational status of a plurality of said information technology devices further comprises the step of determining changing conditions of a computer system memory device for a computer associated with said local network. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step of determining the operational status of a plurality of said information technology devices further comprises the step of determining the installation of software of a plurality of computing systems associated with said local network. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step of determining the operational status of a plurality of said information technology devices further comprises the step of determining the installation of software of a plurality of computing systems associated with said local network. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step of determining the operational status of a plurality of said information technology devices further comprises the step of determining the presence of antivirus software on computer stations associated with said local network. 
   
   
       9 . A system for providing the status of a local network of interconnected information technology devices, comprising:
 a host computer for operating computing instructions and storing said computing instructions on a computer readable medium, said host computer associated with a local network of information technology devices;   instructions for downloading from a local network monitoring software program from an online source onto said host computer system;   instructions for installing said local network monitoring software on said host computer;   instructions operable on said host computer for communicating between said host computing system and said information technology devices for initiating an inventory of all information technology devices associated with said local network of information technology devices;   instructions operable on said host computing system and said information technology devices for determining the operational status of a plurality of said information technology devices;   instructions operable on said host computing system for communicating with said information technology devices for determining the status of software programs installed on said information technology devices;   instructions operable on said host computing system for presenting information relating to the operational status and status of software programs on said information technology devices; and   instructions operable on said host computing system for permitting a user of said host computer system to initiate maintenance and support actions in response to said operational status and said status of software programs using said local network monitoring software.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said instructions for initiating an inventory further comprise instructions for initiating an inventory of all computer systems associated with said local network. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said instructions for initiating an inventory further comprise instructions for initiating an inventory of all peripheral printing devices associated with said local network. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said instructions for initiating an inventory further comprise instructions for initiating an inventory of all server devices associated with said local network. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for determining the operational status of said information technology devices further comprises instructions for determining changing conditions of a computer system memory device for a computer associated with said local network. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for determining the operational status of said information technology devices further comprises instructions for determining the installation of software of a plurality of computing systems associated with said local network. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for determining the operational status of said information technology devices further comprises instructions for determining the installation of software of a plurality of computing systems associated with said local network. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for determining the operational status of said information technology devices further comprises instructions for determining the presence of antivirus software on computer stations associated with said local network. 
   
   
       17 . A local network of information technology devices having the ability to inventory and determine the status of interconnected information technology devices, comprising:
 a plurality of communication paths forming a local network of interconnected information technology devices comprising a host computer and a plurality of computer workstations and at least one peripheral device;   said host computer for operating computing instructions and storing said computing instructions on a computer readable medium, said host computer associated through said local network of information technology devices;   instructions for downloading from a local network monitoring software program from an online source onto said host computer system;   instructions operable on said host computer for communicating between said host computing system and said information technology devices for initiating an inventory of all information technology devices associated with said local network of information technology devices;   instructions operable on said host computing system and said information technology devices for determining the operational status of a plurality of said information technology devices;   instructions operable on said host computing system for communicating with said information technology devices for determining the status of software programs installed on said information technology devices;   instructions operable on said host computing system for presenting information relating to the operational status and status of software programs on said information technology devices; and   instructions operable on said host computing system for permitting a user of said host computer system to initiate maintenance and support actions in response to said operational status and said status of software programs using said local network monitoring software.   
   
   
       18 . The local network of information technology devices of  claim 17 , wherein said instructions for initiating an inventory further comprise instructions for initiating an inventory of all computer systems associated with said local network. 
   
   
       19 . The local network of information technology devices of  claim 17 , wherein said instructions for initiating an inventory further comprise instructions for initiating an inventory of all peripheral printing devices associated with said local network. 
   
   
       20 . The local network of information technology devices of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions for determining the operational status of said information technology devices further comprises instructions for determining the installation of software of a plurality of computing systems associated with said local network.