Method and apparatus for generating a record from a time-marked information stream

• US 6,598,078 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1999
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burns, David L., Pitre, Rajeev D., Ehrlich, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): CALDWELL, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US09/303,098
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223-224, 709/230, 709/236, 709/329, 714/45, 714/49, 714/51, 714/55, 379/265-1-2
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps

Abstract

A method of constructing a record utilizing information contained in an information stream sent from a detection device that monitors a transaction processing system, to a reporting device, commences with the detection of an expiration of a predetermined time interval with respect to the detection device. A time delimiter is then inserted into the information stream propagated from the detection device to the reporting device. The time delimiter indicates the expiration of predetermined time interval with respect to the detection device. Information derived from the instruction stream is assimilated into a record at the reporting entity. Time delimiters in the instruction stream are utilized to measure, at the reporting device, the expiration of the predetermined time interval at the detection device.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a record utilizing an information stream propagated between a detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, and a reporting entity, the method comprising:

detecting an expiration of a predetermined time interval with respect to the detection entity;

inserting first and second time delimiters into the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, the time delimiters indicating the expiration of the predetermined time interval; and

assimilating information into the record at the reporting entity utilizing the time delimiters, and wherein the assimilating of the information comprises collecting information contained in a plurality of messages that are included in the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

2. The method of claim 1 including inserting a plurality of time delimiters into the information stream, each of the time delimiters being inserted after each successive expiration of the predetermined time interval.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second time delimiters delimit a predetermined time period with respect to the transaction processing system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second time delimiters are not successive time delimiters within the information stream.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the assimilating of the information comprises counting a number of event messages, within the information stream, that indicate the occurrence of a predetermined event type with respect to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, and that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

6. The method of claim 5 including generating the record to include a count of the number of the event messages, within the information stream, that indicated the occurrence of the predetermined event type with respect to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, and that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the assimilating of information comprises summarizing information contained in a plurality of messages that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

8. The method of claim 1 including generating a composite record utilizing the collected information.

9. The method of claim 8 including propagating the composite record to a database.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the time delimiter comprises a dedicated message inserted into the information stream.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the time delimiter is incorporated within a shared message within the information stream, the shared message including system information generated by the detection entity pertaining to the transaction processing system.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the information stream includes an event-generated message, generated by the detection entity responsive to the detection of an event occurrence on the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the event-generated message indicative of a time at which the event occurrence was detected.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the information stream includes a configuration message, generated by the detection entity responsive to a configuration change relating to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the configuration message indicative of a time at which the configuration change was detected.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the information stream includes a system message, generated by the detection entity to provide system information to the reporting entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the system message.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the time delimiter comprises a system message.

16. A method of time marking an information stream propagated between a detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, and a reporting entity, the method comprising:

detecting expirations of predetermined and regular time intervals with respect to the transaction processing system; and

inserting time delimiters into the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, each time delimiter indicating the expiration of a predetermined and regular time interval with respect to the transaction processing system, wherein each time delimiter is incorporated into a shared message within the information stream, the shared message including system information generated by the detection entity pertaining to the transaction processing system.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each timer delimiter comprises a dedicated message inserted into the information stream.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the information stream includes an event-generated message, generated by the detection entity responsive to the detection of an event occurrence on the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the event-generated message indicative of a time at which the event occurrence was detected.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the information stream includes a configuration message, generated by the detection entity responsive to a configuration change relating to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the configuration message indicative of a time at which the configuration change was detected.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the information stream includes a system message, generated by the detection entity to provide system information to the reporting entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the system message.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the regular and predetermined time intervals each comprises a time interval of between one second and five minutes.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the regular and predetermined time intervals each comprises a time interval of approximately one minute.

23. A method of time marking an information stream propagated between a detection entity and a reporting entity, the method including:

measuring a predetermined time interval with respect to the detection entity;

,and

time marking the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, the time marking indicating the expiration of the predetermined time interval with respect to the detection entity, wherein the information stream is time marked using a time delimiter incorporated into a shared message, the shared message including system information generated by the detection entity and pertaining to a transaction processing system.

24. A method of constructing a record utilizing an information stream propagated between a detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, and a reporting entity, the method comprising:

receiving first and second time delimiters within the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, the time delimiters indicating expiration of a predetermined time interval with respect to the transaction processing system; and

assimilating information into the record at the reporting entity utilizing the time delimiters, and wherein the assimilating of the information comprises collecting information contained in a plurality of messages that are included in the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the assimilating of information comprises summarizing information contained in a plurality of messages that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

31. The method of claim 24 including generating a composite record utilizing the collected information.

32. The method of claim 31 including propagating the composite record to a database.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the time delimiter comprises a dedicated message inserted into the information stream.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein the time delimiter is incorporated within a shared message within the information stream, the shared message including information generated by the detection entity pertaining to the transaction processing system.

35. The method of claim 24 wherein the information stream includes an event-generated message, generated by the detection entity responsive to the detection of an event occurrence on the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the event-generated message indicative of a time at which the event occurrence was detected.

36. The method of claim 24 wherein the information stream includes a configuration message, generated by the detection entity responsive to a configuration change relating to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the configuration message indicative of a time at which the configuration change was detected.

37. The method of claim 24 wherein the information stream includes a system message, generated by the detection entity to provide system information to the reporting entity, the method including incorporating a time indication within the system message.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the time delimiter comprises a system message.

25. The method of claim including receiving a plurality of time delimiters within the information stream, each of the time delimiters indicating the expiration of the predetermined time interval with respect to the transaction processing system.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first and second time delimiters delimit a predetermined time period with respect to the transaction processing system.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the first and second time delimiters are not successive time delimiters within the information stream.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the assimilating of the information comprises counting a number of event messages, within the information stream, that indicate the occurrence of a predetermined event type with respect to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, and that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

29. The method of claim 28 including generating the record to include a count of the number of the event messages, within the information stream, that indicated the occurrence of the predetermined event type with respect to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, and that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

39. A machine-readable medium including a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the steps of:

detecting expirations of predetermined and regular time intervals with respect to a transaction processing system; and

inserting time delimiters into the information stream propagated to a reporting entity, each time delimiter indicating the expiration of a predetermined and regular time interval with respect to the transaction processing system and comprising a system message.

40. A machine-readable medium including a sequence of instructions that, when executed by machine, cause the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving first and second time delimiters within the information stream propagated between a detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, and a reporting entity, the time delimiters indicating the expiration of the predetermined time interval with respect to the transaction processing system; and

assimilating information into a record at the reporting entity utilizing the time delimiters, and wherein the assimilating of the information comprises collecting information contained in a plurality of messages that are included in the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

41. A detection entity for marking an information stream propagated between the detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, and a reporting entity, the detection entity comprising:

a timer to detect expirations of predetermined and regular time intervals with respect to the transaction processing system; and

strobing logic to insert time delimiters into the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, each time delimiter indicating the expiration of a predetermined and regular time interval with respect to the transaction processing system and wherein the strobing logic incorporates a time strobing indication into an information message that includes information pertaining to the transaction processing system, and inserts the information message into the information stream.

42. The detection entity of claim 41 wherein the strobing logic inserts a dedicated time strobe message into the information stream.

43. The detection entity of claim 41 wherein the detection entity includes event logic to insert an event-generated message, generated by the event logic responsive to an event within the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, into the information stream, the event-generated message including a time indication indicative of a time at which the event occurred.

44. The detection entity of claim 41 wherein the detection entity includes configuration logic to insert a configuration message, generated by the configuration logic responsive to a configuration change relating to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, into the information stream, the configuration message including a time indication indicative of a time at which the configuration change occurred.

45. The detection entity of claim 41 wherein the detection entity includes system logic to insert a system message, generated by the system logic to provide system information to the reporting entity into the information stream, the system message including a time indication.

46. The detection entity of claim 45 wherein the time delimiter comprises a system message.

47. The detection entity of claim 41 wherein the regular and predetermined time intervals each comprises a time interval of between one second and five minutes.

48. The detection entity of claim 47 wherein the regular and predetermined time intervals each comprises a time interval of approximately one minute.

49. A detection entity for marking an information stream propagated from the detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, to a reporting entity, the detection entity comprising:

timing means for detecting expirations of predetermined and regular time intervals with respect to the transaction processing system; and

strobing means for inserting time delimiters into the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, each time delimiter indicating the expiration of a predetermined and regular time interval with respect to the transaction processing system and wherein the strobing means incorporates a time strobing indication into an information message that includes information pertaining to the transaction processing system, and inserts the information message into the information stream.

50. A reporting entity for constructing a record utilizing an information stream received from a detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, the reporting entity comprising:

a receiver to receive first and second time delimiters within the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, the time delimiters indicating the expiration of the predetermined time interval with respect to the transaction processing system; and

an assimilator to assimilate information into the record utilizing the time delimiters, and wherein the assimilator collects information contained in a plurality of messages that are included in the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

51. The reporting entity of claim 50 wherein the receiver is to receive a plurality of time delimiters within the information stream, each of the time delimiters indicating the expiration of the predetermined and regular time interval with respect to the transaction processing system.

52. The reporting entity of claim 51 wherein the first and second time delimiters delimit a predetermined time period with respect to the transaction processing system.

53. The reporting entity of claim 52 wherein the first and second time delimiters are not successive time delimiters within the information stream.

54. The reporting entity of claim 52 wherein the assimilator counts a number of event messages, within the information stream, that indicated the occurrence of a predetermined event type with respect to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, and that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

55. The reporting entity of claim 54 wherein the assimilator generates the record to include a count of the number of the event messages, within the information stream, that indicated the occurrence of the predetermined event type with respect to the transaction processing system monitored by the detection entity, and that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

56. The reporting entity of claim 50 wherein the assimilator summarizes information contained in a plurality of messages that are included within the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.

57. A reporting entity for constructing a record utilizing an information stream received from a detection entity, that monitors a transaction processing system, the reporting entity comprising:

receiver means for receiving first and second time delimiters within the information stream propagated between the detection entity and the reporting entity, the time delimiters indicating the expiration of the predetermined time interval with respect to the transaction processing system; and

assimilator means for assimilating information into the record utilizing the time delimiters, and wherein the assimilator means collects information contained in a plurality of messages that are included in the information stream between the first and second time delimiters.