Dynamic system control via messaging in a network management system

• US 5,991,806 A
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: McHann, Stanley E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US08/871,467
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.53, 395/200.54, 395/750, 395/674, 395/672, 709/223, 709/224, 709/238, 709/250, 709/104, 709/100
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression

Abstract

A transactional event management structure is implemented in a network computer system. A dynamic system controller resolves proprietary and standard event and message structures into a common format for use by a system for many management purposes. A dynamic system controller in a computer is connected with a plurality of subsystems in the computer for receiving messages from the subsystems, analyzing the messages and determine an effective utilization of the messages as directed by a user or network administrator. The dynamic system controller receives messages in different message formats, organizes the messages, and converts the messages into a common format that assists a user, system administrator, or network administrator in utilizing the information contained in the messages. The converted messages in a common format are distributed at the discretion of a user, network administrator, or system administrator based on user needs or message importance to other system administration applications via a selected communication method. The network administrator controls the type of messages that are communicated over the network. A dynamic system controller supports the conversion of messages into the common format to facilitate particular control applications. In one example, the conversion of message to a common format facilitates sophisticated power management operations. The power management operations facilitated by the conversion of messages to a common format enable portable and laptop computers to manage power consumption based on user demand rather than system timing.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a network media for connection to a network device, the network media for transmitting messages in a plurality of message formats;

a message router coupled to the network media for receiving messages in the plurality of message formats and converting the messages in a plurality of formats into a common message format;

a message repository coupled to the message router for storing the message in the common message format; and

an application processor coupled to the message router for receiving a message in the common message format, the application processor for executing an executable supervisory program that manages resource allocation during execution of a supervised application, the supervisory program including;

a routine that tracks actions performed by the supervised application and resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application;

a routine that tags by message type;

a routine that filters tagged messages by type so that even irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered; and

a routine that activates and deactivates resources respectively according to the tracked resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application, based on the filtered message to the supervised application.

2. A network system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data compressor coupled to the message router that compresses data from the message router and conserves storage resources in the message repository.

3. A network system according to claim 1, wherein:

the application processor is a power management application processor for executing an executable supervisory program including;

a routine that monitors messages communicated in a computer system;

a routine that analyzes the messages to determine which subsystems within the computer system are idle during execution of previously scheduled operations; and

a routine that deactivates idle subsystems within the computer system.

4. A network system according to claim 1, wherein:

the application processor is a power management application processor for executing a power management application executable supervisory program including;

a routine that monitors messages communicated in a network including power event messages;

a routine that interrogates and analyzes a power state of devices;

a routine that analyzes the power state of the devices and the power event messages;

a routine that selects a new power state for the devices in response to the analysis of the power state of the devices and the received power event; and

a routine that activates and deactivates selected subsystems within the interface based on the analysis.

5. A network system according to claim 1, wherein:

the application processor is a supervisory application processor for executing a supervisory application executable program including;

a routine that reads data from the message repository;

a routine that analyzes the message repository to determine operations that are currently executing and resources that are used by the executing operations; and

a routine that controls execution of the currently executing programs based on the analysis of the message repository.

6. A network system according to claim 1, wherein:

the message router includes a processor for executing an executable code that converts the messages in a plurality of formats into a common message format that is a simple network management protocol (SNMP) format.

7. A network system according to claim 1, wherein:

the message router includes a processor for executing an executable code that converts the messages in a plurality of formats into a common message format that is a user-defined format.

8. A network system according to claim 1, wherein:

the message router further includes;

a processor;

a message scanner coupled to the processor;

a routing program executable on the processor and including;

a routine that receives a message from the message scanner;

a routine that converts the message to the common message format; and

a routine that analyzes the message.

9. A computer program product for executing in a network system including a network media for connection to a network device and for transmitting messages in a plurality of message formats, a message router coupled to the network media for receiving messages in the plurality of message formats and converting the messages in a plurality of formats into a common message format, a message repository coupled to the message router for storing the message in the common message format;

and an application processor coupled to the message router for receiving a message in the common message format, the computer program product comprising;

computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a power management application executable supervisory program that is executable on the application processor and manages resource allocation during execution of a supervised application, the supervisory program including;

a routine that tracks actions performed by the supervised application and resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application; and

a routine that activates and deactivates resources respectively according to the tracked resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application;

a routine that monitors messages communicated in a network including power event messages;

a routine that tags messages by message type;

a routine that filters tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered;

a routine that interrogates and analyzes a power state of devices;

a routine that analyzes the power state of the devices and the power event messages;

a routine that selects a new power state for the devices in response to the analysis of the power state of the devices and the received power event, based on filtered message to the supervised application; and

a routine that activates and deactivates selected subsystems within the interface based on the analysis.

10. A network system according to claim 9, wherein:

the application processor is a docking control application processor for executing a docking control application executable program including;

a routine that receives a message requesting undocking of a computer system connected to the network;

a routine that terminates currently executing network programs and closes open network files in response to the message requesting undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically undocked;

a routine that transparently executes network programs locally in the computer system connected to the network and emulates network transactions in response to the detection of the physical undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically docked; and

a routine that re-establishes network program connections and restores network files from local files in the computer system connected to the network in response to the detection that the computer system connected to the network is physically docked.

11. A computer program product for executing in a network system including a network media for connection to a network device and for transmitting messages in a plurality of message formats, a message router coupled to the network media for receiving messages in the plurality of message formats and converting the messages in a plurality of formats into a common message format, a message repository coupled to the message router for storing the message in the common message format;

and an application processor coupled to the message router for receiving a message in the common message format, the computer program product comprising;

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a power management application executable supervisory program that is executable on the application processor and manages resource allocation during execution of a supervised application, the supervisory program including;

a routine that tracks actions performed by the supervised application and resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application; and

a routine that activates and deactivates resources respectively according to the tracked resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application;

a routine that receives a message requesting undocking of a computer system connected to the network;

a routine that terminates currently executing network programs and closes open network files in response to the message requesting undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically undocked;

a routine that transparently executes network programs locally in the computer system connected to the network and emulates network transactions in response to the detection of the physical undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically docked; and

a routine that re-establishes network program connections and restores network files from local files in the computer system connected to the network in response to the detection that the computer system connected to the network is physically docked.

12. A computer program product for executing in a network system including a network media for connection to a network device and for transmitting messages in a plurality of message formats, a message router coupled to the network media for receiving messages in the plurality of message formats and converting the messages in a plurality of formats into a common message format, a message repository coupled to the message router for storing the message in the common message format;

and an application processor coupled to the message router for receiving a message in the common message format, the computer program product comprising;

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a power management application executable supervisory program that is executable on the application processor and manages resource allocation during execution of a supervised application, the supervisory program including;

a routine that tracks actions performed by the supervised application and resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application; and

a routine that activates and deactivates resources respectively according to the tracked resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application;

a routine that reads data from the message repository;

a routine that analyzes the message repository to determine operations that are currently executing and resources that are used by the executing operations;

a routine that tags messages by message type;

a routine that filters tagged messages by type so that evens irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered; and

a routine that controls execution of the currently executing programs based on the analysis of the filtered messages in the message repository.

13. A message router for routing messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the message router comprising:

a routine that receives a message from the network device;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message receiving routine that converts the message to the common message format;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message converting routine that analyzes the message including determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

a routine that tags messages by message type;

a routine that filters tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered; and

a routine operative in conjunction with the message analyzing routine that controls the application processor based on the filter messages including invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.

14. A message router according to claim 13, further comprising:

a storage for storing the message in the common message format; and

a routine that compresses data to conserve storage resources in the data repository.

15. A message router according to claim 13, further comprising:

a processor;

a message scanner coupled to the processor;

a program code executable on the processor and including;

a routine that receives a message from the message scanner;

a routine that converts the message to the common message format; and

a routine that analyzes the message.

16. A message router according to claim 15, further comprising:

a data repository for storing the message in the common message format; and

a data compressor coupled to the processor for compressing data to conserve storage resources in the data repository.

17. A message router according to claim 16, wherein:

the data compressor is the processor and a data compressor routine that is executable on the processor.

18. A message router according to claim 17, wherein:

the the data compressor routine further includes;

a routine operative in conjunction with the converting routine that tags events by type.

19. A message router according to claim 18, wherein:

the program code executable on the processor for includes;

a routine operative in conjunction with the analyzing routine for filtering tagged events by type to filter out events irrelevant to an application.

20. A message router according to claim 13, wherein:

the program code executable on the processor further includes;

a routine that monitors messages communicated in a network including power event messages;

a routine that interrogates and analyzes a power state of devices;

a routine that analyzes the power state of the devices and the power event messages;

a routine that selects a new power state for the devices in response to the analysis of the power state of the devices and the received power event; and

a routine that activates and deactivates selected subsystems within the interface based on the analysis.

21. A message router according to claim 13, wherein:

the program executable on the application processor further includes;

a routine that receives a message requesting undocking of a computer system connected to the network;

a routine that terminates currently executing network programs and closes open network files in response to the message requesting undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically undocked;

a routine that transparently executes network programs locally in the computer system connected to the network and emulates network transactions in response to the detection of the physical undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically docked; and

a routine that re-establishes network program connections and restores network files from local files in the computer system connected to the network in response to the detection that the computer system connected to the network is physically docked.

22. A message router according to claim 13, wherein:

the program executable on the application processor further includes;

a routine that reads data from the message repository;

a routine that analyzes the message repository to determine operations that are currently executing and resources that are used by the executing operations; and

a routine that controls execution of the currently executing programs based on the analysis of the message repository.

23. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including;

a message router for routing messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the message router including;

a routine that receives a message from the network device;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message receiving routine that converts the message to the common message format;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message converting routine that analyzes the message including determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

a routine that tags messages by message type;

a routine that filters tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered; and

a routine operative in conjunction with the message analyzing routine that controls the application processor based on the filtered messages including invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.

24. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including;

a programmable routine that routes messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the message router including;

a routine that receives a message from the network device;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message receiving routine that converts the message to the common message format;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message converting routine that analyzes the message including determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

a routine that tags messages by message type;

a routine that filterstagged messages be type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered; and

a routine operative in conjunction with the message analyzing routine that controls the application processor based on the filtered messages including invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.

25. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including;

a programmable routine that routes messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the message router including;

a routine that receives a message from the network device;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message receiving routine that converts the message to the common message format;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message converting routine that analyzes the message including determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message analyzing routine that controls the application processor including invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources;

a routine that receives a message requesting undocking of a computer system connected to the network;

a routine that terminates currently executing network programs and closes open network files in response to the message requesting undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically undocked;

a routine that transparently executes network programs locally in the computer system connected to the network and emulates network transactions in response to the detection of the physical undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

a routine that detects whether the computer system connected to the network is physically docked; and

a routine that re-establishes network program connections and restores network files from local files in the computer system connected to the network in response to the detection that the computer system connected to the network is physically docked.

26. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including;

a programmable routine that routes messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the message router including;

a routine that receives a message from the network device;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message receiving routine that converts the message to the common message format;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message converting routine that analyzes the message including determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

a routine operative in conjunction with the message analyzing routine that controls the application processor including invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources;

a routine that reads data from the message repository;

a routine that analyzes the message repository to determine operations that are currently executing and resources that are used by the executing operations;

a routine that tags messages by message type;

a routine that filters tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered; and

a routine that controls execution of the currently executing programs based on the analysis of the message repository.

27. A method of routing messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the method comprising:

receiving a message from the network device;

converting the received message to the common message format;

analyzing the converted message including;

determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

tagging messages by message type;

filtering tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to a supervised application are filtered; and

controlling the application processor based on the analysis of the converted and filtered message including;

invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

tagging event by a type message field within the common message format.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

filtering events using the event tags;

determining a filtering event classification to filter out events irrelevant to an application.

30. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

storing the message in the common message format; and

compressing data coupled to the storage to conserve storage resources in the data repository.

31. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

monitoring messages communicated in a network including power event messages;

interrogating and analyzing a power state of devices;

analyzing the power state of the devices and the power event messages;

selecting a new power state for the devices in response to the analysis of the power state of the devices and the received power event; and

activating and deactivating selected subsystems within the interface based on the analysis.

32. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a message requesting undocking of a computer system connected to the network;

terminating executing network programs and closing open network files in response to the message requesting undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

detecting that the computer system connected to the network is physically undocked;

transparently executing network programs locally in the computer system connected to the network and emulating network transactions in response to the detection of the physical undocking of the computer system connected to the network;

detecting that the computer system connected to the network is physically docked; and

re-establishing network program connections and restoring network files from local files in the computer system connected to the network in response to the detection that the computer system connected to the network is physically docked.

33. A method according to claim 27, further comprising:

reading data from the message repository;

analyzing the message repository to determine operations that are currently executing and resources that are used by the executing operations; and

controlling execution of the currently executing programs based on the analysis of the message repository.

34. A method of routing messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the method comprising:

converting messages to a common format;

storing the common format messages in a storage;

accessing the storage to retrieve the common format messages;

analyzing applications executing in the system on the basis of the common format messages in the storage including;

determining actions performed and resources utilized and non-utilized by the applications;

taging messages by message type;

filtering tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to a supervised application are filtered; and

controlling the operation of the applications based on analysis of the filtered common format messages in the storage including;

invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.

35. A network system comprising:

means for connecting to a network device;

means coupled to the connecting means for transmitting messages in a plurality of message formats;

means coupled to the connecting means for receiving messages in the plurality of message formats and converting the messages in a plurality of formats into a common message format;

means coupled to the receiving and converting means for storing the message in the common message format; and

an application processing means coupled to the storing means for executing a supervisory means for managing resource allocation during execution of a supervised application, the supervisory means including;

means for tagging messages by message type;

means for filtering tagged messages be type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered;

means for tracking actions performed by the supervised application and for tracking resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application; and

means for activating and deactivating resources respectively according to the tracked resource utilization and nonutilization by the supervised application and according to the filtered messages to the supervised application.

36. A message router for routing messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the message router comprising:

means for receiving a message from the network device;

means operative in conjunction with the message receiving means for converting the message to the common message format;

means operative in conjunction with the message converting means for analyzing the message including;

means for determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

means for tagging messages by message type;

means for filtering tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered; and

means operative in conjunction with the message analyzing means for controlling the application processor based on the filtered messages including;

means for invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.

37. A message router for routing messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor comprising:

means for converting messages to a common format;

means for storing the common format messages in a storage;

means for accessing the storage to retrieve the common format messages;

means for analyzing applications executing in the system on the basis of the common format messages in the storage including;

means for tagging messages by message type;

means for filtering tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to the supervised application are filtered;

means for determining actions performed and resources utilized and non-utilized by the applications; and

means for controlling the operation of the applications based on analysis of the filtered common format messages in the storage including;

means for involving actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.

38. A message router for routing messages in a plurality of message formats from a network device to an application processor, the method comprising:

means for receiving a message from the network device;

means for converting the received message to the common message format;

means for analyzing the converted message including;

means for determining actions performed and resources utilized and nonutilized in response to receipt of the message;

means for tagging messages by message type;

means for filtering tagged messages by type so that events irrelevant to a supervised application are filtered; and

means for controlling the application processor based on the analysis of the filtered, converted message including;

means for invoking actions and deactivating non-utilized resources.