Normalizing Network Performance Indexes

One or more computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:

• storing data that groups devices in a network into groups according to their estimated life cycles;
• store data representing a time window specific to each group based on the respective estimated life cycle for devices in that group;
• store data representing a count of the number of devices in the network within each group during a given unit of time, over successive units of time;
• generate a sliding window group count representing the number of devices within each group in the network as of a current unit of time and prior units of time within the time window specific to each group based on the stored data representing the count of the number devices within each group during successive units of time;
• generate a total group count by adding the sliding window group counts for each of the groups;
• and
• generate a normalized network performance index by dividing a network performance index by the total group count.

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface unit configured to enable network communications;
• a memory configured to store data that groups devices in a network into groups according to their estimated life cycles, data representing a time window specific to each group based on the respective estimated life cycle for devices in that group, and data representing a count of the number of devices in the network within each group during a given unit of time, over successive units of time;
• a processor coupled to the memory and network interface unit, wherein the processor is operable to:
• generate a sliding window group count representing the number of devices within each group in the network as of a current unit of time and prior units of time within the time window specific to each group based on the stored data representing the count of the number devices within each group during successive units of time;
• generate a total group count by adding the sliding window group counts for each of the groups;
• and
• generate a normalized network performance index by dividing a network performance index by the total group count.