Patent ID: 7801130
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of integrating data in a communications network received at provider (P) routers from provider edge (PE) routers having a plurality of different configurations, comprising: configuring global collection and export parameters for the P routers; configuring a collector associated with the P routers to maintain a netflow exported data table for the P routers based on the global collection and the export parameters received from the P routers; configuring P router text files, the P router text files identifying all P routers associated with the collector using internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with each of the P routers; and locating destination PE routers for a selected P router based on the IP addresses in a P router text file associated with a selected P router input interface index (IfIndex) such that the IP address of a selected P router interface is matched with an open shortest path first (OSPF) router identification of a destination PE router, wherein configuring the collector comprises: creating key fields for export (EXP) bits that define a class of service, a destination address of the destination PE router and an interface index of the P router; enabling value fields for byte count, packet count and flow count; and configuring the collector to call a user customized program so as to allow user customization of data records stored at the collector.