Method and apparatus for event distribution and event handling in an enterprise

• US 20020010804A1
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sanghvi, Ashvinkumar J., Kenny, Patrick R., Thatcher, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

An event distribution and event handling system receives a first event at a first event filter. The first event filter has a set of associated filter criteria, which is applied to the first event. If the first event satisfies the filter criteria, the first event is transformed into a second event and the second event is communicated to a second event filter having a set of associated filter criteria. The second event filter is associated with an event consumer, which performs an action if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter. The second event includes an event header having a standard format and a payload having multiple payload objects.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first event at a first event filter, the first event filter having an associated filter criteria;

applying the filter criteria associated with the first event filter to the first event;

if the first event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the first event filter, then;

transforming the first event into a second event; and

communicating the second event to a second event filter having an associated filter criteria, the second event filter being associated with an event consumer, wherein the event consumer performs an action if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second event includes a header having a plurality of parameters, wherein the event header has a standard data format regardless of event source.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second event includes a payload including a plurality of payload objects.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second event filter has no knowledge of the first event.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the second event to a second event filter further comprises communicating the second event to a plurality of event filters, each of the plurality of event filters having an associated filter criteria.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating the second event to a second event filter further comprises communicating the second event to a plurality of event filters, each of the plurality of event filters having an associated filter criteria and each of the plurality of event filters being associated with one of a plurality of event consumers, wherein each of the plurality of event consumers performs an action if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the corresponding event filter.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the action performed by the event consumer if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter is logging the second event to a storage device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the action performed by the event consumer if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter is forwarding the second event to a destination.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the action performed by the event consumer if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter is generating an email message.

10. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a first event having a first format;

transforming the first event into a second event having a second format, wherein transforming the first event into a second event comprises;

generating an event header having a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters are arranged in a standard data format; and

generating an event payload having a plurality of payload objects, wherein the plurality of payload objects identify at least one action to perform in response to the event.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising applying the plurality of parameters in the event header to a filter to determine whether the associated event meets criteria associated with the filter.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the plurality of parameters are arranged in a standard data format regardless of the first event source.

14. A method as recited in claim 11 further comprising:

applying the second event to an event filter having an associated filter criteria; and

communicating the second event to an event consumer if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the event filter.

15. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 11.

16. An apparatus comprising:

an event transformer to receive a first event and transform the first event into a second event, the second event having a standard data format regardless of the first event data format;

a plurality of event filters coupled to the event transformer, the event filters to apply filter criteria to the second event; and

a plurality of event consumers coupled to the plurality of event filters, the event consumers to perform an action if the second event satisfies the filter criteria applied by the event filters.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the event transformer operates independently of the event filters and independently of the event consumers.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the second event includes an event header having a plurality of parameters arranged in a standard data format.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the second event includes an event header having a plurality of parameters arranged in a standard data format, and wherein the plurality of parameters in the event header are applied to the event filters to determine whether the associated event satisfies the filter criteria.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the second event includes an event payload having a plurality of payload objects.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein the second event includes an event payload having a plurality of payload objects, and wherein the plurality of payload objects identify at least one action to perform in response to the event.

22. One or more computer-readable media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

receive a first event having a first data format;

filter the first event using a first filter criteria;

transform the first event into a second event having a second data format if the first event satisfies the first filter criteria, wherein the second data format includes an event header having a plurality of parameters and an event payload having a plurality of payload objects; and

communicate the second event to an event action handler if the first event satisfies the first filter criteria.

23. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 22 wherein the plurality of parameters in the event header are arranged in a standard format.

24. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 22 wherein the plurality of parameters in the event header are used to filter the second event.

25. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 22 wherein the plurality of payload objects in the event payload are used to identify at least one action to perform in response to the second event.

26. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 22 wherein the plurality of payload objects in the event payload are used by an event consumer that receives the second event to identify an action to perform in response to the second event.

27. One or more computer-readable media as recited in claim 22 wherein the event action handler performs at least one action in response to the second event.