# US 2014/0195661 A1 · Computer System Identification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0195661 A1 - Document ID: US20140195661A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/738,955 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Bashir Y. Moosani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140195661A1 ## CPC - H04L 43/10: Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route - H04L 61/5007: Internet protocol [IP] addresses - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an approach is provided in which a computer system receives an internet protocol (IP) test message that includes an internet protocol (IP) address. The computer system compares the included IP address with the computer system's assigned IP address and, when the two IP addresses match, the computer system activates a visual indicator proximate to the computer system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving an internet protocol (IP) test message at a computer system, wherein the IP test message includes a first internet protocol (IP) address; retrieving a second IP address that identifies the computer system; determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address; and activating a visual indicator proximate to the computer system in response to determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the IP test message is an internet control message protocol (ICMP) echo request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address is performed internal to the computer system, the method further comprising: generating a visual activation signal internal to the computer system; and sending the visual activation signal to an external port located on the computer system, wherein the external port is adapted to provide the visual activation signal to an external visual activation module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 further comprising: receiving, from the external port, the visual activation signal at the external visual activation module; and performing the activation of the visual indicator by the external visual activation module in response to receiving the visual activation signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the first IP address corresponds to a IP subnet, the method further comprising: determining whether the second IP address is included in the IP subnet; and activating the visual indicator in response to determining that the second IP address is included in the IP subnet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the IP test message is sent to a plurality of computer systems included in the subnet, and wherein a first one of the plurality of computer systems fails to activate a corresponding visual indicator in response to the first computer system having a faulty network connection. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: changing the second IP address of the computer system to a third IP address; assigning the second IP address to a different computer system; receiving, at the different computer system, a different IP test message, wherein the IP test message includes the first internet protocol (IP) address; and activating a different visual indicator proximate to the different computer system in response to determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address assigned to the different computer system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining whether a visual indicator timer has expired; and deactivation the visual indicator in response to determining that the visual indicator has expired. ### Claim 9 An information handling system comprising: one or more processors; a memory coupled to at least one of the processors; a set of computer program instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processors in order to perform actions of: receiving an internet protocol (IP) test message, wherein the IP test message includes a first internet protocol (IP) address; retrieving a second IP address that identifies the information handling system; determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address; and activating a visual indicator proximate to the information handling system in response to determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the IP test message is an internet control message protocol (ICMP) echo request. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions, when executed by one or more of the processors, further performs actions of: generating a visual activation signal internal to the information handling system; sending the visual activation signal to an external port located on the information handling system, wherein the external port is adapted to provide the visual activation signal to an external visual activation module; receiving, from the external port, the visual activation signal at the external visual activation module; and performing the activation of the visual indicator by the external visual activation module in response to receiving the visual activation signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the first IP address corresponds to a IP subnet, and wherein the set of instructions, when executed by one or more of the processors, further performs actions of: determining whether the second IP address is included in the IP subnet; and activating the visual indicator in response to determining that the second IP address is included in the IP subnet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The information handling system of claim 12 wherein the IP test message is sent to a plurality of information handling systems included in the subnet, and wherein a first one of the plurality of information handling systems fails to activate a corresponding visual indicator in response to the first information handling systems having a faulty network connection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the set of instructions, when executed by one or more of the processors, further performs actions of: determining whether a visual indicator timer has expired; and deactivation the visual indicator in response to determining that the visual indicator has expired. ### Claim 15 A computer program product stored in a computer readable storage medium, comprising computer program code that, when executed by an information handling system, causes the information handling system to perform actions comprising: receiving an internet protocol (IP) test message, wherein the IP test message includes a first internet protocol (IP) address; retrieving a second IP address that identifies the information handling system; determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address; and activating a visual indicator proximate to the information handling system in response to determining that the first IP address matches the second IP address. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the IP test message is an internet control message protocol (ICMP) echo request. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer program code, when executed by the information handling system, cause the information handling system to further performs actions of: generating a visual activation signal internal to the information handling system; sending the visual activation signal to an external port located on the information handling system, wherein the external port is adapted to provide the visual activation signal to an external visual activation module; receiving, from the external port, the visual activation signal at the external visual activation module; and performing the activation of the visual indicator by the external visual activation module in response to receiving the visual activation signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the first IP address corresponds to a IP subnet, and wherein the computer program code, when executed by the information handling system, cause the information handling system to further performs actions of: determining whether the second IP address is included in the IP subnet; and activating the visual indicator in response to determining that the second IP address is included in the IP subnet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the IP test message is sent to a plurality of information handling systems included in the subnet, and wherein a first one of the plurality of information handling systems fails to activate a corresponding visual indicator in response to the first information handling systems having a faulty network connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer program code, when executed by the information handling system, cause the information handling system to further performs actions of: determining whether a visual indicator timer has expired; and deactivation the visual indicator in response to determining that the visual indicator has expired.