System and method for advanced event request management for networks

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention pertains to a system and method for managing a network of devices.
A network manager is connected to the network and tracks the activity of the various devices.
The network manager utilizes a query response model where the network manager generates event requests and where a mid-level managing agent (or mid-level manager) responds to the requests.
An event request is a request that directs the mid-level manager to poll a device during a prescribed interval to ascertain an attribute of the device against one or more error conditions.
If the error condition is met, the event is generated.
The mid-level manager also generates an event report that is forwarded to the network manager indicating the value of the polled attribute.
The network manager can respond to the event in a number of ways.
First, the network manager can initiate a stop event request that directs the mid-level manager to cease polling the device.
This will alleviate the affected device from continuously generating redundant event reports during the polling interval.
In addition, the network manager can generate one or more additional event requests to ascertain the nature of the event.
Each subsequent event request can retrieve an additional attribute of the device that can be used to troubleshoot the cause of the event.
Furthermore, the network manager can send event requests through an alternate proxy agent (mid-level manager).
This is useful in determining whether the device or an element in the path to the device has a problem.