Network performance monitor

Abstract

Disclosed in this specification is a method for monitoring a network, such as the central monitoring station of a medical facility. Performance data from each of the network components of interest is monitored for compliance with certain component-specific criteria. Responses are generated if the performance data satisfies, or fails to satisfy, such criteria.

1 . A network monitoring system for monitoring a wireless network by performing the method comprising the steps of:
 a. receiving performance data over said network from a first network component, wherein the network includes a plurality of network components and in which said performance data relates to connectivity of said first network component in said network, said performance data being selected from at least one of the group consisting of number of retries, signal strength data, packet loss data, latency data and combinations thereof,   b. selecting at least one component-specific criteria relating to the performance of said network component, wherein the at least one component-specific criteria is selected from a plurality of component-specific criteria based upon the identity of the first network component, such that the selected component-specific criteria corresponds to the first network component,   c. comparing the performance data from the first network component to the selected component-specific criteria,   d. determining if the performance data from the first network component satisfies the selected component-specific criteria,   e. generating a first response if the performance data satisfies the selected component-specific criteria or generating a second response if the performance data does not satisfy the selected component-specific criteria wherein said system comprises at least one system monitor connected to said network components in said network, said at least one system monitor being configured to perform said method in conjunction with a plurality of network components.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the network monitoring system is installed on a central monitoring station of a medical facility. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the network monitoring system measures end-to-end latency across all network components connected to the central monitoring station. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising the step of displaying an alarm response selected from the group consisting of the first response and the second response, wherein the alarm response is displayed on a monitor of the central monitoring station. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising the step of displaying a second alarm on the first network component, wherein the second alarm corresponds to the alarm response. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising at least one access point disposed between the central monitoring station and the first network component. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selected component-specific criteria includes a hold-off delay period such that the performance data must satisfy the selected component-specific criteria for the hold-off delay period for the alarm condition to change state. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the selected component-specific criteria includes hysteresis. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of recording the performance data, thus producing recorded performance data. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the recorded data is extracted and analyzed. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a degree to which each of the network components from the plurality of network components deviates from their corresponding component-specific criteria. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of displaying a list that includes network components ordered by the degree to which the network components deviate from their corresponding component-specific criteria. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein only those network components which fail to satisfy their corresponding component-specific criteria are listed. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of requesting the performance data from the first network component. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of evaluating the performance data for the first network component and determining baseline values for the performance data. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , monitoring a trend in the performance data for the first network component as a function of time. 
     
     
         17 . A network monitoring system for monitoring a network by performing the method comprising the steps of:
 a. requesting performance data from a first network component over a network, wherein the network includes a plurality of network components, each of which are part of a central monitoring station of a medical facility and in which said performance data relates solely to connectivity of said component in said network, said performance data being selected from at least one of the group consisting of number of retries, signal strength data, packet loss data, latency data and combinations thereof,   b. receiving the performance data from the first network component,   c. selecting an alarm activation criteria and an alarm deactivation criteria from a plurality of component-specific criteria based upon the identity of the first network component said criteria relating solely to operational aspects of said component in said network, such that the selected activation criteria and the selected deactivation criteria correspond to the first network component,   d. determining if the performance data from the first network component satisfies the selected activation criteria,   e. activating an alarm condition if the performance data satisfies the selected activation criteria, wherein once the alarm condition has been activated:
 i. monitoring the performance data from the first network component, 
 ii. comparing the performance data to the selected deactivation criteria, 
 iii. deactivating the alarm condition if the performance data satisfies the selected deactivation criteria. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the activation criteria are different than the deactivation criteria. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of determining if the alarm condition is currently active. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the activation criteria includes a hold-off delay period such that the performance data must satisfy the selected activation criteria for the hold-off delay period for the alarm condition to be activated. 
     
     
         21 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the deactivation criteria includes a hold-off delay period such that the performance data must satisfy the selected deactivation criteria for the hold-off delay period for the alarm condition to be deactivated. 
     
     
         22 . A network monitoring system for monitoring a network by performing the method comprising the steps of:
 a. selecting a first wireless network component from a plurality of network components present on a network, said performance data being selected from at least one of the group consisting of number of retries, signal strength data, packet loss data, latency data and combinations thereof,   b. selecting at least one component-specific criteria from a plurality of component-specific criteria based upon the identity of the first network component, such that the selected component-specific criteria relating to performance characteristics of said component corresponds to the first network component,   c. requesting performance data about the first network component said performance data relating solely to connectivity of said component in said network,   d. receiving the performance data about the first network component,   e. comparing the performance data from the first network component to the selected-component-specific criteria,   f. determining if the performance data from the first network component satisfies the selected component-specific criteria,   g. generating a first response if the performance data satisfies the selected component-specific criteria or generating a second response if the performance data does not satisfy the selected component-specific criteria.   
     
     
         23 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the first network component is connected to the network monitoring system through an access point. 
     
     
         24 . The system as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the step of requesting performance data about the first network component is performed by requesting such performance data from the access point. 
     
     
         25 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of network components is a subset of all network components which are connected to the network. 
     
     
         26 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of network components is a subset of all network components which are exchanging data over the network. 
     
     
         27 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of network components is specified in a configuration file. 
     
     
         28 . The system as recited in  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of
 a. selecting a second wireless network component from the plurality of network components present on the network,   b. selecting a second component-specific criteria from the plurality of component-specific criteria based upon the identity of the second network component, such that the selected second component-specific criteria corresponds to the second network component,   c. requesting performance data about the second network component,   d. receiving performance data about the second network component,   e. comparing the performance data from the second network component to the selected second component-specific criteria,   f. determining if the performance data from the second network component satisfies the selected second component-specific criteria,   g. generating a third response if the performance data satisfies the selected second component-specific criteria or generating a fourth response if the performance data does not satisfy the selected second component-specific criteria.   
     
     
         29 . The system as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the first and second response identify the first network component as the source of the performance data, and the third and fourth response identify the second network component as the source of the performance data. 
     
     
         30 . The system as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the first network component and second network component are each network applications.