System and method for measuring communication-system infrastructure usage
First Claim
1. A method for measuring usage of a communication-system infrastructure that facilitates transmission of messages between a plurality of computers communicatively connected to the infrastructure via communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
- monitoring a plurality of channels for messages that are transmitted through the plurality of the channels, using a plurality of first programs;
generating, with each of the plurality of first programs, summarized statistics associated with a plurality of messages transmitted through the respectively monitored channels;
transmitting the summarized statistics from each of the first programs to a second program;
compiling the summarized statistics with the second program; and
outputting the compiled statistics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a communication-system infrastructure usage measurement system and related methods with minimal overhead, message usage statistics are aggregated at a communication-channel level by emitter programs before sending them to a collector program upon an occurrence of an event. An example of an event is an expiration of a predetermined interval. In between event occurrences, message usage statistics are aggregated, and a summary message is transmitted to the collector at the next event occurrence. The collector program compiles the statistics and may generate billing information from the compiled statistics. The billing information may include charges associated with an entity that uses the infrastructure.
114 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for measuring usage of a communication-system infrastructure that facilitates transmission of messages between a plurality of computers communicatively connected to the infrastructure via communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a plurality of channels for messages that are transmitted through the plurality of the channels, using a plurality of first programs;
generating, with each of the plurality of first programs, summarized statistics associated with a plurality of messages transmitted through the respectively monitored channels;
transmitting the summarized statistics from each of the first programs to a second program;
compiling the summarized statistics with the second program; and
outputting the compiled statistics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for measuring usage of a communication-system infrastructure that facilitates transmission of messages between a plurality of computers communicatively connected to the infrastructure via communication channels, the system comprising:
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a first computer that executes a first emitter program that causes the first computer to at least (a) monitor a first channel of the communication channels for messages that pass through the first channel, (b) generate first summarized statistics associated with messages transmitted through the first channel, and (c) output the first summarized statistics upon an occurrence of a first event;
a second computer that executes a second emitter program that causes the second computer to at least (a) monitor a second channel of the communication channels for messages that pass through the second channel, (b) generate second summarized statistics associated with messages transmitted through the second channel, and (c) output the second summarized statistics upon an occurrence of a second event; and
a third computer, communicatively connected to the first computer and the second computer, that executes a collector program that causes the third computer to at least compile the first and the second summarized statistics output from the first and the second computers and to output the compiled statistics. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for measuring usage of a communication-system infrastructure that facilitates transmission of MQ messages between a plurality of computers communicatively connected to the infrastructure via communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring, with a plurality of first programs, a plurality of communication channels for MQ messages that are transmitted through the plurality of communication channels, wherein the plurality of first programs are input/output callback functions;
generating, with each of the plurality of first programs, summarized statistics associated with a plurality of messages transmitted through respectively monitored channels, wherein each of the first programs stores its summarized statistics in a local computer-accessible memory;
transmitting the summarized statistics from each of the plurality of first programs to a second program, wherein each of the first programs deletes its summarized statistics from its local computer-accessible memory upon transmission of its summarized statistics;
compiling the summarized statistics with the second program;
generating billing information based at least upon the compiled statistics, wherein the billing information includes charges associated with an entity that uses the infrastructure; and
outputting the billing information.
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Specification