System and method for monitoring event based systems

• US 20040153329A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Casati, Fabio, Shan, Ming-Chien, Murthy, Rama Chandra
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A method and apparatus of monitoring business metrics, the method and apparatus providing an interface with which a user can specify what metrics to monitor, what type of visual element to use to display monitored information, and how to position the visual element on a screen

Claims

1. A method of monitoring business metrics, the method comprising:

providing an interface with which a user can specify what business metrics to monitor, what type of visual element to use to display monitored information, and how to position the visual element on a screen.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the user can specify how often the visual information should be refreshed.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the visual element is selectable from multiple possible types of visual elements, the types of visual elements including gauges.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the visual element is selectable from multiple possible types of visual elements, the types of visual elements including trend charts.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the visual element is selectable from multiple possible types of visual elements, the types of visual elements including traffic lights.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the visual element is selectable from multiple possible types of visual elements, the types of visual elements including bar charts, pie charts, and tables.

7. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein a user can specify multiple items to monitor, visual elements to use for respective items, and a size for each visual element.

8. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein a user can specify multiple items to monitor, visual elements to use for respective items, and a position for each element.

9. A method of monitoring at least one of business and information technology metrics, the method comprising:

providing an interface with which a user can specify what metrics to monitor, what type of visual element to use to display monitored information, and how to position the visual element on a screen; and

providing a mapping template that can be reused with different values of parameters, the mapping template being configured to convert data to a form useable by a visual element.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 and comprising providing a plurality of mapping templates.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9 and comprising applying a mapping template to business data.

12. A method in accordance with claim 9 and further comprising defining the mapping template using XML.

13. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the mapping template is configured to convert raw data into boolean data.

14. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the mapping template is configured to convert raw data into numeric data.

15. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the mapping template includes a human readable description about the purpose of the template and about how to use it.

16. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the mapping template provides information for use by a graphical user interface.

17. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the mapping template includes a target entity attribute that specifies the kind of element that is measured, whether event instances or actions.

18. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the mapping template includes a return type attribute that specifies data type returned by the template, whether numeric or boolean.

19. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein the mapping template includes a parameter name, data type of the parameter, and a textual description to convey the semantics of the parameter.

20. A method in accordance with claim 9 and further comprising creating a monitoring template for use in monitoring the at least one of business metrics and information technology metrics, wherein creating a monitoring template comprises:

retrieving a predefined HTML page template, the template including specifications relating to size of cells defining a grid for use in specifying positions of the visual elements and refresh rate;

setting page level properties, including size of cells and refresh rate;

inserting code to calculate metrics to be shown using the visual elements; and

for each visual element;

sorting a report to compute the state of the visual element;

inserting code to dynamically produce the visual element;

inserting code to enable editing of a configuration parameter for the visual element; and

inserting links for drill down.

21. A method in accordance with claim 9, and further comprising rendering information to an end user using a monitoring template, the monitoring template being for use in monitoring the at least one of business metrics and information technology metrics, wherein rendering information comprises:

for each visual element;

retrieving a description of a report to be displayed using a visual element;

accessing and executing reporting logic based on the report description;

packaging the result of the execution of the reporting logic for consumption by a visualization element;

retrieving a visual element; and

displaying the visual element.

22. A system of monitoring business metrics, the system comprising:

a server configured to provide an interface with which a user can specify what metrics to monitor, what type of visual element to use to display monitored information, and how to position the visual element on a screen, wherein the server is configured to receive an input from a user as to how often the visual element should be refreshed, wherein the visual element is selectable from multiple possible types of visual elements, the types of visual elements including gauges, charts, and traffic lights.

23. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein the types of visual elements further include bar charts, pie charts, and tables.

24. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein a user can specify multiple items to monitor, visual elements to use for respective items, and a size for each visual element.

25. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein a user can specify multiple items to monitor, visual elements to use for respective items, and a position for each element.

26. A system for monitoring at least one of business and information technology metrics, the system comprising:

means for providing an interface with which a user can specify what metrics to monitor, what type of visual element to use to display monitored information, and how to position the visual element on a screen; and

means for providing a mapping template that can be reused with different values of parameters, the mapping template being configured to convert data to a form useable by a visual element.

27. A system in accordance with claim 26 and comprising means for providing a plurality of mapping templates.

28. A system in accordance with claim 26 and comprising means for applying a template to business data.

29. A system in accordance with claim 26 and further comprising means for defining the mapping template using XML.

30. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the template is configured to convert raw data into boolean data.

31. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the mapping template is configured to convert raw data into numeric data.

32. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the mapping template includes a human readable description about the purpose of the template and about how to use it.

33. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the mapping template provides information for use by a graphical user interface.

34. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the mapping template includes a target entity attribute that specifies the kind of element that is measured, event instances or actions.

35. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the mapping template includes a return type attribute that specifies data type returned by the template, whether numeric or boolean.

36. A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein the mapping template includes a parameter name, data type of the parameter, and a textual description to convey the semantics of the parameter.

37. A computer readable media bearing computer program code for use in monitoring at least one of business and information technology metrics, the program code being configured to:

provide an interface with which a user can specify what metrics to monitor, what type of visual element to use to display monitored information, and how to position the visual element on a screen; and

provide a mapping template that can be reused with different values of parameters, the mapping template being configured to convert data to a form usable by a visual element.

38. A computer readable media in accordance with claim 37 and comprising providing a plurality of mapping templates.

39. A computer readable media in accordance with claim 37 and comprising applying a mapping template to business data.