Patent Publication Number: US-2015088973-A1

Title: Network Management System, Network Path Control Module, And Network Management Method Thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a network management system and a network management method thereof; more particularly, the present invention relates to a network management system and a network management method thereof capable of adjusting a data transmission path. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With the progress of technology development, internet surfing has become an inevitable activity for each modern people; therefore, network environment applications in modern lives have become very common. In order to increase the network bandwidth, additional server equipment and a plurality of routers are usually installed to meet client demands in known prior arts, so as to directly process the transmission of network signals via the routers. When the client has a data transmission request, different routers would communicate with each other to directly allocate and transmit data. Therefore, the router in known prior arts has very powerful functions; however, it also leads to the increase in the manufacturing cost. As a result, because the cost of the router is expensive, the cost burden of a network company would be increased by installing additional routers, which is unaffordable for the network company, and thereby resulting in the limitation to the network development. 
     Therefore, there is a need to provide a network management system and a network management method thereof to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a network management system, which is capable of adjusting data transmission path efficiency. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a network management method used in the above network management system. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a network path control module used in the above network management system. 
     To achieve the abovementioned objects, the network management system of the present invention is used for transmitting a data between a client and a plurality of servers. The network management system comprises a network path control module and a plurality of transmission modules. The network path control module is electrically connected to the client. The plurality of transmission modules are electrically connected to the network path control module, and are used for electrically connecting between the client and the plurality of servers. The plurality of transmission modules are electrically connected to each other. When the data is transmitted, the network path control module chooses an appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules, so as to form a data transmission path between the client and the plurality of servers via the appointed transmission module. 
     The network management method of the present invention comprises the following steps: executing a data input procedure, including: transmitting an input data; choosing an appointed transmission module from a plurality of transmission modules; and transmitting the input data to one of the servers directly via the appointed transmission module; and executing a data output procedure, including: transmitting an output data; choosing the appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules; and transmitting the output data to the client directly via the appointed transmission module. 
     The network path control module of the present invention is used in a network management system, and is used for connecting to a client, a plurality of transmission modules, and a plurality of servers, such that a data can be transmitted between the client and the plurality of servers. The plurality of transmission modules are electrically connected to each other. The network path control module comprises a processor and a memory. The memory is electrically connected to the processor, and is used for storing a computer program. When the data needs to be transmitted, the processor chooses an appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules via the computer program, so as to form a data transmission path between the client and the plurality of servers. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for purposes of illustration only, and not as a definition of the invention. 
       In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a structural schematic drawing of a network management system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a schematic drawing showing connections of the network management system to a client and a plurality servers of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of a network management method executing a data input procedure according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a flowchart of the network management method executing a data output procedure according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  regarding related schematic drawings of a network management system, wherein  FIG. 1A  illustrates a structural schematic drawing of a network management system of the present invention, and  FIG. 1B  illustrates a schematic drawing showing connections of the network management system to a client and a plurality servers of the present invention. 
     The network management system  1  of the present invention is installed between a client  2  and a plurality of servers  3 , so as to form a data transmission path between the client  2  and the plurality of servers  3 . The network management system  1  comprises a network path control module  10 , a backup control module  10   a , and a plurality of transmission modules  20 . The network path control module  10  is electrically connected to the client  2 , and is connected to the plurality of transmission modules  20 , so as to control whether each transmission module is connected to the client  2  or the plurality of servers  3 . The network path control module  10  can comprise a processor  11  and a memory  12  with each other electrically connected. The memory  12  is stored with a computer program  121 . Therefore, the processor  11  can utilize the computer program  121  to execute all kinds of necessary procedures. The plurality of transmission modules  20  are electrically connected to the client  2 , and are connected to partial or all of the servers  3 . According to a first transmission module  21  to a fourth transmission module  24  as shown in  FIG. 1B , the first transmission module  21  is connected to a first server  3   a ; the second transmission module  22  is connected to the first server  3   a , a second server  3   b  and a third server  3   c ; the third transmission module  23  is connected to the second server  3   b  and the third server  3   c ; and finally the fourth transmission module  24  is connected to a fourth server  3   d . The transmission module  20  can be a well-known switch or router, which can be operated completely by the network path control module  10 . 
     When the data needs to be transmitted, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  chooses an appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules  20 , so as to form the data transmission path between the client  2  and the plurality of servers  3 . The plurality of transmission modules  20  are electrically connected to each other. Therefore, when one of the transmission modules has higher loading or is broken down, the processor  11  would choose another transmission module which has lower loading or is idle for transmitting signals, so as to form the data transmission path between the client  2  and the plurality of servers  3 , such as the data transmission paths P 1  to P 5  as shown from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 ; however, please note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 . 
     The plurality of transmission modules  20  can have a plurality of transmission tables  201 , such as MAC tables or routing tables. The processor  11  of the network path control module  10  controls the plurality transmission modules  20  for changing the plurality of transmission tables  201  in order to form the data transmission path. In another aspect, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  can also control the plurality of transmission modules  20  via a multi-protocol label switching protocol in order to form the data transmission path. However please note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above description. Because the principle of the above mentioned multi-protocol label switching protocol is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art, and is not the major improvement related to the present invention, there is no need for further description. 
     Moreover, the network management system  1  can further comprise the backup control module  10   a . The backup control module  10   a  has the same function as the network path control module  10  does, and is also electrically connected to the client  2  and the plurality of transmission modules  20 . The backup control module  10   a  can be used for supporting the network path control module  10 , and can substitute the network path control module  10  when the network path control module  10  is broken down. 
     Please note that each of the above modules not only can be configured as a hardware device, a software program, firmware or a combination thereof, but also can be configured as a circuit loop or any other appropriate formation. Further, each module can be in either an independent-type configuration or a combined-type configuration. In a preferred embodiment, each module is a software program stored in the memory, and the function of the present invention can be achieved by utilizing the processor to execute each module. Moreover, each of the above modules can be electrically connected to each other via a wired connection (such as an optical fiber or a cable) or a wireless connection (such as Wifi or 3G) so as to establish a network. Furthermore, the embodiment section only describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, all possible variations and combinations are not described in detail in order to avoid redundant description. However, one of ordinary skill in the art should be aware that not all of the above mentioned modules or components are essential; also, in order to implement the present invention, other more detailed known modules or components may be utilized. Each module or component can be skipped or modified according to different requirements, and other modules or components might possibly exist between every two modules. 
     As for the embodiments that the network path control module  10  controls the plurality of transmission modules  20 , please refer to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6  for more details. Please note that the embodiments illustrated from  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6  are only for exemplary purposes without limiting the scope of the present invention. Further, because the backup control module  10   a  acts similarly as the network path control module  10  does, the following  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6  skip the description corresponding to the backup control module  10   a . Firstly, please refer to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     When the client  2  needs to transmit an input data to the plurality of servers  3 , the input data would has a first package signal. The network path control module  10  firstly receives the first package signal, so as to choose the appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules  20  according to the first package signal, and therefore to transmit the input data to one of the servers directly via the appointed transmission module. For example, if the client  2  needs to transmit the input data to the second server  3   b , the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  firstly knows that the input data needs to be transmitted to the second server  3   b  according to the first package signal. Therefore, according to the computer program  121 , the processor  11  chooses the second transmission module  22  directly connected to the second server  3   b  as the appointed transmission module, so as to control the second transmission module  22  to directly connect to the client  2  for receiving the input data, and then to transmit the input data to the second server  3   b . As a result, the network path control module  10  can form a data transmission path P 1  for transmitting data. 
     Then, please refer to  FIG. 3 , which illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     Besides choosing the appointed transmission module according to a physical linking status of the plurality of transmission modules  20 , the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  can also choose the appointed transmission module according to a flow of respective loading of the plurality of transmission modules  20 . For example, if the client  2  needs to transmit the input data to the second server  3   b , but the second server  3   b  has too much loading; then according to the computer program  121 , the processor  11  would firstly transmit the input data of the client  2  to the first transmission module  21  having relatively low loading, then transmit to the second transmission module  22 , and finally transmit to the second server  3   b . As a result, the network path control module  10  can form another data transmission path P 2 , such that the input data of the client  2  can still be successfully transmitted to the second server  3   b.    
     Next, please refer to  FIG. 4 , which illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     When the plurality of servers  3  transmits an output data, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  chooses the appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules  20  according to the computer program  121 , so as to transmit the output data to the client  2  directly via the appointed transmission module. For example, if the fourth server  3   d  needs to transmit the output data to the client  2 , the output data of the fourth server  3   d  would be directly transmitted to its connected fourth transmission module  24 , and at this time the network path control module  10  chooses the fourth transmission module  24  as the appointed transmission module, and therefore forms a data transmission path P 3  for transmitting the output data. 
     Then, please refer to  FIG. 5 , which illustrates a structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Similarly, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would choose the appointed transmission module according to a flow of respective loading of the plurality of transmission modules  20 . If the fourth server  3   d  needs to transmit the output data, but the fourth transmission module  24  has higher loading whereas the second transmission module  22  has lower loading; then according to the computer program  121 , the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would control the output data to be transmitted to the second transmission module  22  directly via the fourth transmission module  24  and the third transmission module  23 , and finally to be output to the client  2  via the second transmission module  22 . Therefore, the network path control module  10  forms a new data transmission path P 4  to substitute the original data transmission path P 3 . 
     Next, please refer to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates structural schematic drawing of the network management system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     Further, if one transmission module of the plurality of transmission modules  20  is broken down, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would further choose another appointed transmission module, so as to reform the data transmission path. For example, if the third transmission module  23  is broken down and unable to transmit data, the fourth transmission module  24  would not be able to transmit data from the third transmission module  23  to the second transmission module  22 . At this time, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would, via the computer program  121 , choose the fourth transmission module  24  to pass through the first transmission module  21  in order to transmit to the second transmission module  22 , and finally output the data from the second transmission module  22  to the client  2 . As a result, the network path control module  10  can form a different data transmission path P 5 . 
     Then, please refer to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  regarding flowcharts of a network management method according to the present invention, wherein  FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart of the network management method executing a data input procedure according to the present invention, and  FIG. 8  illustrates a flowchart of the network management method executing a data output procedure according to the present invention. Please note that in the following embodiment, although the network management system  1  having the network path control module  10  is used as an example to explain the network management method of the present invention, the scope of the network management method of the present invention is not limited to be used in the network path control module  10 . 
     Firstly, the method performs step  701 : receiving a first package signal of an input data. 
     When the client  2  needs to transmit a data to the plurality of servers  3 , the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  firstly knows to which server of the plurality of servers  3  the input data needs to be transmitted according to the first package signal of the input data. 
     Then, the method performs step  702 : choosing an appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules according to the first package signal. 
     Then, according to content in the first package signal, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  knows to which server the data needs to be transmitted. Therefore, according to physical linking paths among the plurality of transmission modules  20  and the plurality of servers  3 , the network path control module  10  chooses the appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  chooses the second transmission module  22  as the appointed transmission module via the computer program  121 . 
     Meanwhile, the method performs step  703 : choosing the appointed transmission module according to a flow of respective loading of the plurality of transmission modules, so as to form the data transmission path. 
     Besides choosing the appointed transmission module according to the physical linking paths, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  can also choose the appointed transmission module according to a flow of respective loading of the plurality of transmission modules  20 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , if the second transmission module  22  has too much loading, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would, via the computer program  121 , appoint the first transmission module  21  having relatively low loading to connect to the client  2 . If one transmission module is broken down, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  can also re-adjust the data transmission path. 
     Finally, the method performs step  704 : transmitting the input data to one of the servers directly via the appointed transmission module. 
     Finally, after being through the above steps  702  and  703 , the network path control module  10  can establish the data transmission path between the client  2  and the plurality of servers  3 , so as to successfully transmit the input data to the plurality of servers. 
     Moreover, if the plurality of servers  3  needs to transmit an output data, the method firstly performs step  801 : choosing the appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules when transmitting an output data. 
     When the plurality of servers  3  transmits the output data, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  chooses the appointed transmission module from the plurality of transmission modules  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , if the fourth server  3   d  needs to transmit the output data to the client  2 , the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would, via the computer program  121 , directly choose the fourth transmission module  24  connected to the fourth server  3   d  as the appointed transmission module. 
     Then, the method performs step  802 : choosing the appointed transmission module according to a flow of respective loading of the plurality of transmission modules, so as to form the data transmission path. 
     Similar to step  703 , the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would choose the appointed transmission module according to a flow of respective loading of the plurality of transmission modules  20 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , if the fourth transmission module  24  has higher loading, the network path control module  10  would directly choose the second transmission module  22  having lower loading as the appointed transmission module. 
     Meanwhile, the method performs step  803 : when one transmission module of the plurality of transmission modules is broken down, further choosing another appointed transmission module, so as to reform the data transmission path. 
     Further, if one transmission module of the plurality of transmission modules  20  is broken down, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would further choose another appointed transmission module, so as to reform the data transmission path. As shown in  FIG. 6 , if the third transmission module  23  is broken down, the processor  11  of the network path control module  10  would avoid the third transmission module  23 , and instead appoint the first transmission module  21  to transmit the output data to the second transmission module  22 , so as to form a different data transmission path P 5 . 
     Finally, the method performs step  804 : transmitting the output data to the client directly via the appointed transmission module. 
     Finally, after being through the above steps  801  to  803 , the network path control module  10  can choose the appointed transmission module, so as to transmit the output data to the client  2 . 
     Please note that the network management method of the present invention is not limited to the above mentioned step orders. It is understood that the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. 
     According to the network management system  1  and the network management method of the present invention, the objects of outputting and inputting data can be achieved by means of utilizing a network path control module  10  associated with a plurality of transmission modules  20 . Further, the plurality of transmission modules  20  are only used for a simple function of transmitting data, and therefore can effectively reduce the maintenance fee or cost of increasing the plurality of transmission modules  20 . 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.