System using a series of event processors for processing network events to reduce number of events to be displayed

A method of monitoring a network, the method comprising the steps of,

• on receipt of information at a first event processor of a series of event processors, the information relating to a new network event, determining if the new event is one of potentially related events processed by the first event processor;
• if it is not, passing the event information to the next event processor of the series of event processors or an event log for display;
• if it is, determining if there is already an event outstanding on a link to which the event relates;
• if there is not already an event outstanding on the link to which the event relates, passing the event information to the next event processor of the series of event processors or the event log for display;
• if there is already an event outstanding on the link to which the event relates, determining if the informational value of the new event is greater than the informational value of the equivalent event in the event log;
• if the informational value of the new event is not greater than the informational value of the equivalent event in the event log, discarding the information regarding the new event;
• and
• if the informational value of the new event is greater than the informational value of the equivalent logged event, replacing the relevant event in the event log with the new event for display.

A method of processing network events to reduce the number of events to be displayed, comprising:

• receiving information relating to network events;
• passing information regarding a network event to a first event processor of a plurality of event processors, wherein each of the plurality of event processors passes information along according to a given series arrangement;
• determining if the information passed to the first event processor relates to a type of event processed by the first event processor;
• processing said information in the first event processor if the information received relates to a type of event processed by the first event processor, wherein processing said information includes discarding said information if information on a related event having the same or greater information value to a user has already been received and processed by the first event processor, whereby the event relating to the discarded information is not displayed;
• and
• passing said information on to a further event processor according to the given series arrangement if the information received does not relate to a type of event processed by the first event processor.

A monitor for monitoring a network, said monitor comprising:

• a network event monitor for monitoring the network to determine network events;
• a plurality of network event processors for processing network events to reduce the number of events to be displayed, wherein each of the plurality of network event processors passes information along according to a given series arrangement;
• means for passing information regarding a network event to a first network event processor of the plurality of network event processor;
• means for determining if the information passed to the first network event processor relates to a type of event processed by that event processor;
• and
• means for passing the information to a next network event processor of the plurality of network event processors, according to the given series arrangement, if the information received at the first network event processor does not relate to a type of event processed by the first network event processor,
• wherein the first network event processor processes the information, including discarding the information so that the network event associated with the information is not displayed, if information on a related event having the same or greater informational value to a user has already been received by the first network that event processor.

A monitor for monitoring a network, said monitor comprising:

• a network event monitor for monitoring the network to determine network events;
• and
• a plurality of network event processors adapted to be used in a series arrangement,
• wherein the network event monitor is adapted to pass information regarding a network event to a first network processor of the plurality of network event processors;
• and
• wherein the first event processor is configured to determine if the information passed to it relates to a type of event processed by the first event processor, whereby the first event processor processes said information in the first event processor if the information received relates to a type of event processed by said first event processor, and
• wherein the first event processor passes said information on to a second event processor of the plurality of event processors according to the series arrangement if the information received does not relate to a type of event processed by the first event processor.