Jeffrey Dale Hicks

US Patent:

6625648, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Jan 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/479565

Inventors:

Peter James Schwaller - Raleigh NC
Joan Marie Bellinghausen - Cary NC
Dana Scott Borger - Cary NC
Jeffrey Todd Hicks - Cary NC
Steven Thomas Joyce - Raleigh NC
Mark Eric McCorry - Raleigh NC
Christopher David Selvaggi - Cary NC
Mark Clarence Zelek - Cary NC

Assignee:

NetIQ Corporation - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 15173

US Classification:

709224, 709223, 709228, 370230, 370466

Abstract:

Methods, systems and computer program products for testing the performance of a communication network including a plurality of endpoint nodes executing application programs which utilize the communications network are provided. A console node is provided on the network which may initiate operations by test agents executing on one or more of the plurality of endpoint nodes. The agents may generate network performance information using passive application monitoring and/or active endpoint pair based network testing responsive to scheduling instructions from the console node. Specific application programs may be designated for passive monitoring and active test protocols may be provided based on an expected type of application communication traffic. In another aspect of the present invention, one of a plurality of types of transaction models defining the beginning and ending reference point for a transaction timing measurement may be provided to the endpoint nodes for use in passive application monitoring. In a further aspect of the present invention, the endpoint nodes may be automatically discovered by the console node.

US Patent:

7274670, Sep 25, 2007

Filed:

Sep 27, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/259564

Inventors:

Jeffrey Todd Hicks - Cary NC, US
John Lee Wood - Raleigh NC, US
Gary Michael Weichinger - Cary NC, US
Steven Thomas Joyce - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

NetIQ Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04L 12/26

US Classification:

370252, 370356

Abstract:

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for evaluating performance of a network that supports packetized communications. A network test protocol that is associated with the packetized communication is initiated and network performance data is obtained based on the initiated network test protocol. An overall network quality rating is generated based on the obtained performance data and a network impairment indicator is calculated based on the overall network quality rating.

US Patent:

7283568, Oct 16, 2007

Filed:

Sep 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/951031

Inventors:

Jeffrey Todd Hicks - Cary NC, US
John Lee Wood - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

NetIQ Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04J 3/06

US Classification:

370503, 327144, 375356

Abstract:

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for synchronizing clocks in a computer network. A first node clock is synchronized to a second node clock by establishing an initial value of a virtual second node clock at the first node. The initial value may be established based on the first node clock and a timing record received from the second node. A frequency bias adjustment factor is determined for the virtual second node clock based on a plurality of clock requests from the first node and a plurality of corresponding responses from the second node spaced apart in time. The responses from the second node include the timing record based on the second node clock. A time of the virtual second node clock is provided based on the frequency bias adjustment factor responsive to requests for the virtual second node clock at a time between requests.

US Patent:

7742426, Jun 22, 2010

Filed:

Aug 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/462086

Inventors:

Michael Tod Schumacher - Raleigh NC, US
Jeffrey Todd Hicks - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

Netiq Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01R 31/08

US Classification:

370248, 370392, 370254, 370390, 370255, 370256, 370400, 370401, 370402, 370403, 370404, 370331, 370389, 370410, 370451

Abstract:

A system, method, and computer-readable medium for performing network system diagnostics is provided. The method includes obtaining a respective identification of a first target device and a second target device deployed in a network; iteratively querying neighbor devices of at least one node in a communications path between the first and second target devices, wherein the neighbor devices and the first and second target device may comprise heterogeneous network nodes; and generating a layer 2 path trace that comprises identification of network devices interconnected on a physical path between the first and second target devices. A computer-readable medium includes instructions for execution by a processing system, wherein the instructions are configured to perform the foregoing method. A system includes a data processing system including a processor device for executing a diagnostics engine implemented as a set of computer-executable instructions configured to perform the foregoing method.

US Patent:

20030093513, May 15, 2003

Filed:

Sep 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/951050

Inventors:

Jeffrey Hicks - Cary NC, US
John Wood - Raleigh NC, US
Carl Sommer - Raleigh NC, US
Edward Robie - Raleigh NC, US

International Classification:

G06F015/173

US Classification:

709/224000

Abstract:

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for testing a network that supports packetized voice communications. Execution of a network test protocol associated with the packetized voice communications is initiated and obtained performance data for the network based on the initiated network test protocol is automatically received. The obtained performance data is mapped to terms of an overall transmission quality rating. The overall transmission quality rating is generated based on the mapped obtained performance data.

US Patent:

20070143471, Jun 21, 2007

Filed:

Dec 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/312910

Inventors:

Jeffrey Hicks - Cary NC, US
Jeffrey McRee - Raleigh NC, US
John Wood - Knoxville TN, US

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709224000

Abstract:

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for evaluating suitability of a network for packetized communications, including identifying devices on the network and obtaining a plurality of assessment rules selected to evaluate the suitability of the network. Configuration data is obtained from the identified devices and the plurality of assessment rules are automatically evaluated using the obtained configuration data to evaluate the suitability of the network.