US Patent 7869382 Network management assisted discovery

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for network management assisted discovery, includes performing a discovery of network devices in a network; and sending gathered information associated with a first device that supports a first discovery protocol to a second device that supports a second discovery protocol. In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for network management assisted discovery, includes a management computer configured to perform a discovery of network devices in a network, and to send gathered information associated with a first device that supports a first discovery protocol to a second device that supports a second discovery protocol.