Patent ID: 6098101
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a networked computer system, a method for producing reports about system usage, the networked computer system having a network server computer connected through physical ports to modems within a shared modem pool and connected to networked computers by a local area network, the modems connected to a telephone network and receiving incoming calls from the telephone network and transmitting outgoing calls to the telephone network, the network server computer having a receiving component that receives incoming calls from the modems and connects users making those incoming calls to the local area network so the users can send data to some networked computers attached to the local area network, the network server computer having a transmitting component that collects outgoing calls through the local area network via logical ports originating from networked computers attached to the local area network and directs those outgoing calls to the modems, the network server computer having an event viewer component that collects information from the receiving and transmitting components about both incoming and outgoing telephone calls, system and modem use, and error conditions, the method comprising:collecting information about incoming and outgoing telephone calls, system and modem use, and error conditions over a time interval using the event viewer component;archiving a portion of the collected information in archive files;extracting the collected information both from the event viewer component and from the archive files;placing the extracted information into a database; andgenerating the reports based on information in the database.