# US 12,119,998 B2 · Network topology planning and validation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,998 B2 - Document ID: US12119998B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/575,472 - Filed: 2022-01-13 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-23 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: Hong Yuan; HongGang Liu; Yining Chu; Zhe Huang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119998B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies - H04L 43/045: for graphical visualisation of monitoring data - H04L 43/0811: by checking connectivity - H04L 41/22: comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] - H04L 41/344: Out-of-band transfers - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract An information handling system may include at least one processor and a memory. The information handling system may be configured to: receive information regarding equipment that is to be communicatively coupled to a data network; determine a topology for communicatively coupling the equipment to the data network, wherein the topology includes information regarding which equipment ports of the equipment are to be coupled to data network ports of the data network; and transmit information regarding the topology to a user. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An information handling system comprising: at least one processor; and a memory; wherein the information handling system is configured to: receive information regarding equipment that is to be communicatively coupled to a data network; receive information regarding connectivity rules specifying connectivity details, port details, and virtual local area network (VLAN) details for the equipment; determine a topology for communicatively coupling the equipment to the data network, wherein the topology includes information regarding which equipment ports of the equipment are to be coupled to data network ports of the data network, and wherein the topology is determined to satisfy the connectivity rules; and transmit information regarding the topology to a user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the equipment includes at least one information handling system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the equipment includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of a network switch and a network router. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the data network is a preexisting data network. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the information handling system is further configured to, after transmitting the information regarding the topology: receive information regarding connectivity of the equipment in the data network; verify whether or not the connectivity is in accordance with the topology; and transmit an indication to the user regarding the verification. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The information handling system of claim 5, wherein the indication includes a color-coded graphical representation of the connectivity. ### Claim 7 A method comprising: receiving, at an information handling system, information regarding equipment that is to be communicatively coupled to a data network; receiving information regarding connectivity rules specifying connectivity details, port details, and virtual local area network (VLAN) details for the equipment; determining, by the information handling system, a topology for communicatively coupling the equipment to the data network, wherein the topology includes information regarding which equipment ports of the equipment are to be coupled to data network ports of the data network, and wherein the topology is determined to satisfy the connectivity rules; and transmitting information regarding the topology from the information handling system to a user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the equipment includes at least one information handling system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the equipment includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of a network switch and a network router. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the data network is a preexisting data network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising, after transmitting the information regarding the topology: receiving information regarding connectivity of the equipment in the data network; verifying whether or not the connectivity is in accordance with the topology; and transmitting an indication to the user regarding the verification. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the indication includes a color-coded graphical representation of the connectivity. ### Claim 13 An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory, computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon that are executable by a processor of an information handling system for: receiving information regarding equipment that is to be communicatively coupled to a data network; receiving information regarding connectivity rules specifying connectivity details, port details, and virtual local area network (VLAN) details for the equipment; determining a topology for communicatively coupling the equipment to the data network, wherein the topology includes information regarding which equipment ports of the equipment are to be coupled to data network ports of the data network, and wherein the topology is determined to satisfy the connectivity rules; and transmitting information regarding the topology to a user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The article of claim 13, wherein the equipment includes at least one information handling system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The article of claim 13, wherein the equipment includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of a network switch and a network router. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The article of claim 13, wherein the data network is a preexisting data network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The article of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable for, after transmitting the information regarding the topology: receiving information regarding connectivity of the equipment in the data network; verifying whether or not the connectivity is in accordance with the topology; and transmitting an indication to the user regarding the verification. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The article of claim 17, wherein the indication includes a color-coded graphical representation of the connectivity.