# US 12,113,677 B2 · Efficient transfer of collected discovery data > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,677 B2 - Document ID: US12113677B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/095,737 - Filed: 2023-01-11 - Published: 2024-07-11 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-01-11 - Assignees: ServiceNow, Inc. - Applicants: ServiceNow, Inc. - Inventors: Steven W. Francis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113677B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies - H04L 41/085: Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A collection group of computer system attributes is identified, and a first digest value associated with the collection group is obtained. A second digest value associated with the collection group is determined by performing a discovery scan of the collection group, wherein the second digest value is based on discovered values of the computer system attributes. A determination is made that the first digest value is different from the second digest value and an indication is prepared that one or more attribute values of the collection group have changed from a previously collected data of the collection group. The indication and at least a subset of the discovered values of the computer system attributes are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: identifying a plurality of different collection groups of computer system attributes, wherein the computer system attributes have been assigned to the plurality of different collection groups based at least in part on historical change behaviors of the computer system attributes weighed at least based on recency, and wherein an update to the plurality of different collection groups is initiated based at least in part on a determination that a change frequency of at least one of the plurality of different collection groups exceeds a threshold; obtaining a first digest value associated with a first collection group of the plurality of different collection groups; determining a second digest value associated with the first collection group by performing a discovery scan of the first collection group, wherein the second digest value is based on discovered values of the computer system attributes of the first collection group; determining that the first digest value is different from the second digest value; preparing an indication that at least one or more attribute values of the first collection group have changed from a previously collected data of the first collection group; and providing the indication and at least a subset of the discovered values of the computer system attributes of the first collection group included in the plurality of different collection groups. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein in an event any computer system attribute of a group of specific plurality of computer system attributes of a specific collection group included in the plurality of different collection groups has changed, the entire group of specific plurality of computer system attributes of the specific collection group including an unchanged computer system attribute is to be provided together as a change update. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first digest value is based on the previously collected data of the first collection group. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second digest value is based on the discovered values of the computer system attributes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication includes the second digest value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the discovered values of the computer system attributes are stored in a configuration management database. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the discovered values of the computer system attributes are associated with a database entry in a configuration management database. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a time value associated with performing the discovery scan of the first collection group. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the indication and the subset of the discovered values of the computer system attributes are provided to a cloud service. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the cloud service hosts a discovery service and a configuration management database service. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first collection group of the computer system attributes is configured using the discovery service. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first digest value is determined by the discovery service. ### Claim 13 A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the memory is configured to provide the one or more processors with instructions which when executed cause the one or more processors to: identify a plurality of different collection groups of computer system attributes, wherein the computer system attributes have been assigned to the plurality of different collection groups based at least in part on historical change behaviors of the computer system attributes weighed at least based on recency, and wherein an update to the plurality of different collection groups is initiated based at least in part on a determination that a change frequency of at least one of the plurality of different collection groups exceeds a threshold; obtain a first digest value associated with a first collection group of the plurality of different collection groups; determine a second digest value associated with the first collection group by performing a discovery scan of the first collection group, wherein the second digest value is based on discovered values of the computer system attributes of the first collection group; determine that the first digest value is different from the second digest value; prepare an indication that at least one or more attribute values of the first collection group have changed from a previously collected data of the first collection group; and provide the indication and at least a subset of the discovered values of the computer system attributes of the first collection group included in the plurality of different collection groups. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein in an event any computer system attribute of a group of specific plurality of computer system attributes of a specific collection group included in the plurality of different collection groups has changed, the entire group of specific plurality of computer system attributes of the specific collection group including an unchanged computer system attribute is to be provided together as a change update. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first digest value is based on the previously collected data of the first collection group. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the second digest value is based on the discovered values of the computer system attributes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the indication includes the second digest value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the indication and the subset of the discovered values of the computer system attributes are provided to a cloud service. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the cloud service hosts a discovery service and a configuration management database service. ### Claim 20 A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for: identifying a plurality of different collection groups of computer system attributes, wherein the computer system attributes have been assigned to the plurality of different collection groups based at least in part on historical change behaviors of the computer system attributes weighed at least based on recency, and wherein an update to the plurality of different collection groups is initiated based at least in part on a determination that a change frequency of at least one of the plurality of different collection groups exceeds a threshold; obtaining a first digest value associated with a first collection group of the plurality of different collection groups; determining a second digest value associated with the first collection group by performing a discovery scan of the first collection group, wherein the second digest value is based on discovered values of the computer system attributes of the first collection group; determining that the first digest value is different from the second digest value; preparing an indication that at least one or more attribute values of the first collection group have changed from a previously collected data of the first collection group; and providing the indication and at least a subset of the discovered values of the computer system attributes of the first collection group included in the plurality of different collection groups.