Managing Computer Network Resources

Abstract

Software agents are assigned goals in accordance with network policies that define a desired operational characteristic of a computer network. A software agent achieves its assigned goal by executing a predefined task. An assigned goal may be dynamically modified as necessary based on the actual operational characteristics of the network. The software agent may request further policy if it cannot achieve its assigned goal by performing the predefined task.

1 . A method of managing a computer network, comprising:
 assigning a goal to a software agent, wherein the goal is a programmatic expression of a predefined task for the software agent; and   dynamically modifying the assigned goal of the software agent according to a desired operational characteristic of the computer network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigned goal of the agent is expressed as a policy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining information about a network component by the software agent in performing the predefined task; and   constructing a topological representation of the computer network from the information.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring an operational characteristic of the network by the software agent in performing the predefined task; and   determining an appropriate modification to the assigned goal based on the monitoring and the desired operational characteristic.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the determining uses a numerical method. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the numerical method comprises Kohonen Self Organizing maps. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the numerical method comprises a Dijkstra Self Stabilization Algorithm. 
     
     
         8 . A computer network, comprising:
 a software agent having an assigned goal which is a programmatic expression of a predefined task for the software agent;   an agent support mechanism to provide support to the agent; and   a network control mechanism operable to dynamically modify the assigned goal of the agent based on a desired operational characteristic of the network.   
     
     
         9 . The computer network of  claim 8 , wherein the software agent comprises a discovery agent having the assigned goal to discover information about a network component. 
     
     
         10 . The computer network of  claim 9 , wherein the network control mechanism constructs a topological representation of the network from the information. 
     
     
         11 . The computer network of  claim 8 , wherein the software agent comprises a monitoring agent having the assigned goal to monitor an operational characteristic of the network. 
     
     
         12 . The computer network of  claim 8 , wherein the assigned goal of an agent is expressed as a policy. 
     
     
         13 . The computer network of  claim 8 , wherein the network control mechanism comprises a communications mechanism to facilitate communications with agents. 
     
     
         14 . The computer network of  claim 13 , wherein the communications mechanism comprises a secure communications protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The computer network of  claim 14 , wherein the secure communications protocol encrypts a payload of a data packet. 
     
     
         16 . The computer network of  claim 14 , wherein the secure communications protocol utilizes multiple data channels to transmit data packets. 
     
     
         17 . The computer network of  claim 16 , wherein the data channels are randomly changed.