Patent ID: 7028228

Claim:
In a computer system having a processor, memory and a network interface, an apparatus for monitoring a plurality of device or process objects operatively coupled to the computer system over a computer network, the apparatus comprising: (a) a performance poller for sending performance queries to the plurality of monitored objects and for receiving responses therefrom; (b) a status poller for sending fault queries to the plurality of monitored objects and for receiving responses thereto; (c) a fault trapper for receiving fault traps generated by the monitored objects; (d) a decision engine responsive to decision requests from any of the fault trapper, status poller and performance poller indicating that one of the plurality of monitored objects has abnormal status, the decision engine further configured to send a verification query to said one of the plurality of monitored objects identified in the decision request and for receiving a response to the verification query from said one of the plurality of monitored objects confirming or denying abnormal status thereof; (e) a database for storing data relating to the monitored objects and the status thereof, wherein the database stores a plurality of virtual state-machines relating to the monitored objects; and (f) a case management module for receiving case management requests from the decision engine.