Method and apparatus for manager/agent communications

• US 20060095519A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Harold, Ward K., Childress, Rhonda L., Pennell, Neil R., Minyen, Reid Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for programmatic communications via an instant messaging network. A connection is established to the instant messaging network. A script is received though the connection. The script is then executed.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for programmatic communications via an instant messaging network, the method comprising:

establishing a connection to the instant messaging network;

after establishing the connection, receiving the programmatic communication through the connection, wherein the programmatic communications is a script originating from the instant messaging network; and

executing the script.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the executing step includes:

executing at least one of a command and a program in the script.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

returning a response after executing the script.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the script is executed using a script engine located in an agent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the script is received from a management agent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing step, the receiving step, and the executing step are performed by an agent.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the agent monitors a resource to generate system management information for use in managing the resource.

8. A system management environment comprising:

a manager, wherein the manager connects to an instant messaging system; and

a set of agents, wherein each agent has an agent script execution engine used to connect to the instant messaging system,

wherein the manager sends scripts to the set of agents through the instant messaging system, the set of agents execute the scripts, and the set of agents return responses to the manager.

9. The system management environment of claim 8, wherein the manager communicates with the set of agents through a chat session.

10. The system management environment of claim 8 further comprising:

an instant messaging program used to interface with the manager.

11. A data processing system for programmatic communications via an instant messaging network, the data processing system comprising:

establishing means for establishing a connection to the instant messaging network;

receiving means, responsive to establishing the connection, for receiving the programmatic communication through the connection, wherein the programmatic communications is a script originating from the instant messaging network; and

executing means for executing the script.

12. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the executing means includes:

means for executing at least one of a command and a program in the script.

13. The data processing system of claim 11 further comprising:

returning means for returning a response after executing the script.

14. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the script is executed using a script engine located in an agent.

15. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the script is received from a management agent.

16. The data processing system of claim 11, wherein the establishing means, the receiving means, and the executing means are located in an agent.

17. The data processing system of claim 16, wherein the agent monitors a resource to generate system management information for use in managing the resource.

18. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for programmatic communications via an instant messaging network, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for establishing a connection to the instant messaging network;

second instructions, responsive to establishing the connection, for receiving the programmatic communication through the connection, wherein the programmatic communications is a script originating from the instant messaging network; and

third instructions for executing the script.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the computer program product includes:

sub instructions for executing at least one of a command and a program in the script.

20. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising:

fourth instructions for returning a response after executing the script.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the script is executed using a script engine located in an agent.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the script is received from a management agent.

23. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the first instructions, the second instructions, and the third instructions are executed by an agent.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the agent monitors a resource to generate system management information for use in managing the resource.