# US 10,320,611 B2 · Guided configuration item class creation in a remote network management platform

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- Number: US 10,320,611 B2
- Document ID: US10320611B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/890,017
- Filed: 2018-02-06
- Published: 2019-04-04
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-04
- Assignees: ServiceNow, Inc.
- Applicants: ServiceNow, Inc.
- Inventors: Vivian Tero; Chinna Polinati; Madhavi Puvvada; Purushottam Amradkar; Manish Gupta; Brandon Trudel; Guarav Yakhmi; Jesus Antonio Castro Cisneros; Viral Shah
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320611B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/06314: {Calendaring for a resource}
- G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
- G06F 3/0486: Drag-and-drop
- G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces
- G06F 9/461: {Saving or restoring of program or task context}
- G06F 9/4881: {Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues}
- G06F 9/5038: {considering the execution order of a plurality of tasks, e.g. taking priority or time dependency constraints into consideration (scheduling strategies G06F9/4881 and subgroups)}
- G06F 9/547: {Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services}
- G06F 11/14: Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in operations (error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16)
- G06F 11/3006: {where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems (multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50)}
- G06F 11/3452: {Performance evaluation by statistical analysis}
- G06F 16/1873: {Versioning file systems, temporal file systems, e.g. file system supporting different historic versions of files}
- G06F 16/2423: {Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema}
- G06F 16/24578: {using ranking}
- G06F 16/2474: {Sequence data queries, e.g. querying versioned data}
- G06F 16/2477: {Temporal data queries}
- G06F 16/248: Presentation of query results
- G06F 16/27: Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
- G06F 16/30: of unstructured textual data (document management systems G06F16/93)
- G06F 16/904: Browsing; Visualisation therefor (for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957)
- G06F 16/951: Indexing; Web crawling techniques
- G06F 40/18: of spreadsheets (form-filling G06F40/174)
- G06F 40/186: Templates
- G06Q 10/06315: {Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis}
- G06Q 10/0635: Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
- G06Q 10/06393: {Score-carding, benchmarking or key performance indicator [KPI] analysis}
- G06Q 10/067: Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06Q 30/018: Certifying business or products
- G06Q 30/0603: {Catalogue creation or management}
- G06Q 30/0635: {replenishment orders; recurring orders}
- G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping}
- G06Q 40/12: Accounting
- G06Q 50/184: {Intellectual property management}
- H04L 41/0803: Configuration setting
- H04L 41/0843: {based on generic templates}
- H04L 41/0859: by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
- H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- H04L 41/5006: Creating or negotiating SLA contracts, guarantees or penalties
- H04L 43/045: for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
- H04L 43/50: Testing arrangements
- H04L 63/10: {for controlling access to devices or network resources}
- H04L 63/1433: {Vulnerability analysis}
- H04L 63/20: {for managing network security; network security policies in general (filtering policies H04L63/0227)}
- H04L 67/55: Push-based network services
- H04L 67/60: Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources (admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70)
- G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
- G06F 9/44505: {Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files}
- G06F 21/53: by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
- G06F 21/577: {Assessing vulnerabilities and evaluating computer system security}
- H04L 41/0879: {Manual configuration through operator}
- H04L 41/5016: {based on statistics of service availability, e.g. in percentage or over a given time}
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A system may include a database disposed within a remote network management platform, a server device disposed in the platform, and a client device. The database may contain representations of configuration items, such as computing devices and software applications associated with the managed network. The server device may provide a graphical user interface including a sequence of panes to the client device. The sequence of panes may include an identifier pane, an identification rules pane, and a reconciliation pane. Each pane may include data entry fields that are operable to define a new class of configuration item. The server device may receive, by way of the graphical user interface, a definition of the new class that uniquely identifies configuration items of a particular type using at least the attributes. The server may store, in the database, the definition of the new class.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a database disposed within a remote network management platform, wherein the database contains representations of configuration items associated with a managed network, wherein the configuration items represent at least computing devices and software applications disposed within the managed network; and
a server device disposed within the remote network management platform, wherein the server device is configured to (i) provide a graphical user interface including a sequence of panes, (ii) receive, by way of the graphical user interface, a definition of a new class that uniquely identifies configuration items of a particular type, and (iii) store, in the database, the definition of the new class,
wherein an identifier pane of the sequence of panes includes first data entry fields for specification of an identifier of the new class,
wherein an identification rules pane of the sequence of panes includes second data entry fields for specification of configuration item attributes that are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class,
wherein a reconciliation pane of the sequence of panes includes:
third data entry fields for specification of authoritative devices; and
fourth data entry fields for specification of a relative priority between the authoritative devices, wherein the authoritative devices are permitted to modify, within the database, one or more configuration item attributes of configuration items of the new class based at least in part on the relative priority, and
wherein the identifier pane appears before the identification rules pane in the sequence of panes, and wherein the identification rules pane appears before the reconciliation pane in the sequence of panes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a hierarchy pane of the sequence of panes allows specification of a parent class of configuration item for the new class, and wherein the hierarchy pane appears before the identifier pane in the sequence of panes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second data entry fields allow specification of a set of configuration item attributes that are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class, and an indication of a precedence level associated with the set of configuration item attributes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the new class is associated with a parent class of configuration item, wherein the identification rules pane of the sequence of panes includes indications of parent configuration item attributes associated with the parent class of configuration item, and wherein the second data entry fields allow specification of one or more of the parent configuration item attributes that, in combination with the set of configuration item attributes, are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein allowing specification of the set of configuration item attributes that are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class comprises:
reading, from the database, a list of all configuration item attributes associated with the new class, and wherein the second data entry fields allow configuration item attributes in the set of configuration item attributes to be selected from the list.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sequence of panes further includes an attributes pane that appears between the identifier pane and the identification rules pane, wherein the attributes pane allows specification of a plurality of configuration item attributes associated with the new class.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the new class is associated with a parent class of configuration item, and wherein the attributes pane includes indications of which configuration item attributes associated with the new class are derived from the parent class.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sequence of panes further includes a dependencies pane provided between the identification rules pane and the reconciliation pane, wherein the dependencies pane allows specification of an association between the new class and a further class of configuration item defined for the managed network, wherein configuration items of the new class depend upon configuration items of the further class in order to operate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the sequence of panes is sequentially enforced by the server device such that providing, by the server device, a subsequent pane of the sequence is performed responsive to receiving data by way of a data entry field that corresponds to a displayed pane of the sequence.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a proxy server application operable on a proxy server device that is disposed within the managed network, wherein the server device is further configured to:
receive, by way of the proxy server application, representations of configuration items of the new class, wherein the representations include values of at least some attributes associated with each of the configuration items; and
store the representations in the database.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the server device is further configured to:
receive, by way of the proxy server application, an indication that a representation of a particular configuration item of the new class is to be modified;
verify that the proxy server application is an authoritative device, as specified by way of the reconciliation pane, that is permitted to modify the particular configuration item; and
write a modification of the particular configuration item to the database.

### Claim 12

A method comprising:
providing, by a server device disposed within a remote network management platform to a client device associated with a managed network, a graphical user interface including a sequence of panes,
wherein an identifier pane of the sequence of panes includes first data entry fields for specification of an identifier of a new class of configuration item,
wherein an identification rules pane of the sequence of panes includes second data entry fields for specification of configuration item attributes that are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class, wherein the configuration items represent at least computing devices and software applications disposed within the managed network,
wherein a reconciliation pane of the sequence of panes includes:
a third data entry field for specification of authoritative devices; and
a fourth data entry field for specification of a relative priority between the authoritative devices, wherein the authoritative devices are permitted to modify, within a database, one or more configuration item attributes of configuration items of the new class based at least in part on the relative priority, and
wherein the identifier pane appears before the identification rules pane in the sequence of panes, and wherein the identification rules pane appears before the reconciliation pane in the sequence of panes;
receiving, by the server device by way of the graphical user interface, a definition of the new class of configuration item that uniquely identifies configuration items of a particular type; and
storing, in the database, the definition of the new class of configuration item, wherein the database is disposed within the remote network management platform that contains representations of configuration items associated with the managed network.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein a hierarchy pane of the sequence of panes allows specification of a parent class of configuration item for the new class, and wherein the hierarchy pane appears before the identifier pane in the sequence of panes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the second data entry fields allow specification of a set of configuration item attributes that are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class, and an indication of a precedence level associated with the set of configuration item attributes.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the new class is associated with a parent class of configuration item, wherein the identification rules pane of the sequence of panes includes indications of parent configuration item attributes associated with the parent class of configuration item, and wherein the second data entry fields allow specification of one or more of the parent configuration item attributes that, in combination with the set of configuration item attributes, are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the sequence of panes further includes an attributes pane that appears between the identifier pane and the identification rules pane, wherein the attributes pane allows specification of a plurality of configuration item attributes associated with the new class.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the sequence of panes further includes a dependencies pane provided between the identification rules pane and the reconciliation pane, wherein the dependencies pane allows specification of an association between the new class and a further class of configuration item defined for the managed network, wherein configuration items of the new class depend upon configuration items of the further class in order to operate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
receiving, by the server device, by way of a proxy server application operable on a proxy server device that is disposed within the managed network, representations of configuration items of the new class, wherein the representations include values of at least some attributes associated with each of the configuration items; and
storing, by the server device, the representations in the database.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
receiving, by the server device, by way of the proxy server application, an indication that a representation of a particular configuration item of the new class is to be modified;
verifying, by the server device, that the proxy server application is an authoritative device, as specified by way of the reconciliation pane, that is permitted to modify the particular configuration item; and
writing, by the server device, a modification of the particular configuration item to the database.

### Claim 20

An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a server device that is disposed within a remote network management platform, cause the server device to perform operations comprising:
providing, to a client device associated with the managed network, a graphical user interface including a sequence of panes,
wherein a an identifier pane of the sequence of panes includes first data entry fields for specification of an identifier of a new class of configuration item,
wherein an identification rules pane of the sequence of panes includes second data entry fields for specification of configuration item attributes that are operable to uniquely identify configuration items of the new class, wherein the configuration items represent at least computing devices and software applications disposed within the managed network,
wherein a reconciliation pane of the sequence of panes includes:
a third data entry field for specification of authoritative devices; and
a fourth data entry field for specification of a relative priority between the authoritative devices, wherein the authoritative devices are permitted to modify, within a database, one or more configuration item attributes of configuration items of the new class based at least in part on the relative priority, and
wherein the identifier pane appears before the identification rules pane in the sequence of panes, and wherein the identification rules pane appears before the reconciliation pane in the sequence of panes;
receiving, by the server device by way of the graphical user interface, a definition of the new class of configuration item that uniquely identifies configuration items of a particular type; and
storing, in the database, the definition of the new class of configuration item, wherein the database is disposed within the remote network management platform that contains representations of configuration items associated with the managed network.