Apparatus and method for managing the performance of an electronic device

• US 20040122647A1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Monroe, Howard Marshall, Mee, Thomas Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis

Abstract

The present invention provides a performance management system and method for generating a plurality of forecasts for one or more electronic devices. The forecasts are generated from stored performance data and analyzed to determine which devices are likely to experience performance degradation within a predetermined period of time. A single forecast is extracted for further analysis such that computer modeling may be performed upon the performance data to enable the user to predict when device performance will begin to degrade. In one embodiment, graphical displays are created for those devices forecasted to perform at an undesirable level such that suspect devices may be subjected to further analysis.

Claims

1. A method of managing one or more electronic devices comprising the steps of:

collecting performance data relating to said electronic device;

storing said performance data on a storage device;

analyzing said performance data for the purpose of generating a plurality of forecasts designed to predict future performance of said electronic device; and

,

selecting a single forecast from said plurality.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional steps of:

assigning a performance threshold value; and

selecting said single forecast based upon a forecasted date at which said performance data will exceed said threshold value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of:

generating a graphical display of one or more of said forecasts.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said performance data comprises capacity utilization data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of forecasts are generated via statistical analysis of said performance data.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the additional steps of:

modeling performance data provided by said selected forecast; and

adjusting said threshold value based upon the results of said modeling.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the additional step of:

subjecting said electronic device to additional analysis utilizing said adjusted threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected forecast comprises the forecast representing an acceptable level of performance degradation associated with said electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected forecast comprises the most conservative forecast of said plurality of forecasts.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said threshold value comprises a capacity utilization threshold at which the performance of said electronic device is expected to degrade.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the additional step of:

validating said selected forecast.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising the additional steps of:

determining a device type associated with said electronic device being analyzed; and

adjusting the statistical analysis being applied to said electronic device based upon said device type.

13. A method of managing one or more electronic devices comprising the steps of:

collecting performance data relating to a plurality of electronic devices;

storing said performance data upon a storage device;

analyzing said performance data for the purpose of generating a plurality of forecasts for each electronic device being analyzed, said forecasts being designed to predict the future performance of said electronic devices;

selecting, from said plurality, a single forecast relating to each of said electronic devices;

combining said single forecasts into a first set of forecasts; and

utilizing said first set of forecasts, predicting the future performance of said plurality of electronic devices operating in combination.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the additional step of:

utilizing the predicted future performance of said electronic devices, distributing the overall workload across each of said devices.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the additional steps of:

collecting anticipated workload fluctuation data relating to said electronic devices;

storing said data upon said storage device; and

analyzing said performance data and said fluctuation data in combination for the purpose of predicting future performance of said electronic devices.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the additional step of:

sorting said first set of selected forecasts by date.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the additional step of:

generating a report of said first set of forecasts, said report providing a best or worst case estimate of the future performance of said plurality of devices operating in combination.

18. A computer system for managing one or more electronic devices comprising:

a processing unit for;

collecting performance data relating to said electronic device;

storing said performance data on a storage device coupled to said processing unit;

analyzing said performance data for the purpose of generating a plurality of forecasts designed to predict future performance of said electronic device; and

,

selecting a single forecast from said plurality.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said processing unit is for:

assigning a performance threshold value; and

selecting said single forecast based upon a forecasted date at which said performance data will exceed said threshold value.

20. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said processing unit is for:

generating a graphical display of one or more of said forecasts

21. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said performance data comprises capacity utilization data.

22. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said plurality of forecasts are generated via statistical analysis of said performance data.

23. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said processing unit is for:

modeling electronic data provided by said selected forecast; and

adjusting said threshold value based upon the results of said modeling.

24. The computer system of claim 23, wherein said processing unit is for:

subjecting said electronic device to additional analysis utilizing said adjusted threshold.

25. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said selected forecast comprises the forecast representing an acceptable level of performance degradation associated with said electronic device.

26. The computer system of claim 18, wherein said selected forecast comprises the most conservative forecast of said plurality of forecasts.

27. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said threshold value comprises a capacity utilization threshold at which the performance of said electronic device is expected to degrade.

28. The computer system of claim 21, wherein said processing unit is for:

determining a device type associated with said electronic device being analyzed; and

adjusting the statistical analysis being applied to said electronic device based upon said device type.