Electronic service request generator for automatic fault management system

• US 6,718,489 B1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Bong Jae, Lu, Scott, Cheng, Phen, Jaing, Kathy Yishin
• Primary Examiner(s): Iqbal, Nadeem
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonura, Timothy M.
• Application Number:
  US09/731,504
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 714/43, 714/47, 714/57
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/076 by exceeding a count or rate limit, e.g. word- or bit count limit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0781 Error filtering or prioritizing based on a policy defined by the user or on a policy defined by a hardware/software module, e.g. according to a severity level

Abstract

In an Automatic Fault Management System which monitors components on multiple platforms and workstations, an Electronic Service Generator operates to sense error events and selects an appropriate Formatter unit to develop a report packet for a Remote Service Unit.

Claims

1. A method for selecting fault signals from components in a network of multiple platforms for transmittal to a selected Formatter unit comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving operating information from components residing in multiple platforms of a network and wherein step (a) includes the step of;

(a1) placing said operating information data into an NT Event Log;

(b) comparing said operating information with a set of pre-selected fault standards wherein step (b) includes the steps of;

(b1) pre-setting fault parameters in a fault criteria conditions database for each type of component in the network;

(b2) comparing each said operating information data in said NT Event Log with said fault parameters in said fault criteria conditions database;

(c) selecting those sets of operating information which match said fault standards wherein step ((c) includes the step of;

(c1) finding those particular operating information data which fall within said fault parameters;

(d1) utilizing an Electronic Service Request Administrator for sending test packets to verify the connections to a Remote Service Center;

(d2) storing configuration data in a Registry Unit for verifying the successful generation of said specialized fault information signals.

2. A system for selecting fault signals from components in a network of multiple platforms, in an automatic fault management system, for transmission to a specialized Formatter unit, comprising:

(a) means to receive fault information from a fault wherein said means to receive fault information includes;

(a1) Electronic Service Request Generator means for extracting error information from an Event Log for transmission to a Formatter unit including;

(a1a) Event Log means for recording fault signals received;

(a1b) Fault criteria condition means establishing parameters which constitute an actionable fault;

(a1c) Registry means for recording an Event ID, Event Log Time, Event Record number and Events which have already been processed;

(a1d) User Interface Administrator means for identifying the particular Formatter to be selected for processing for each particular type of fault condition;

(a1e) a plurality of Formatter units, each of which is oriented to a particular component in each platform in the network;

(b) means to compare said fault information to a set of fault standards;

(c) means to select those faults which match said fault standards;

(d) means to initiate a specialized information packet to a selected Formatter unit suitable for processing said fault information.

3. A system of providing fault detection information to a formatting unit comprising:

(a) said Event Log watch thread means for monitoring an Event Log monitor thread means and dispatching various thread lines;

(b) said Event Log monitor thread means for providing an application Event Log, a system Event Log, and a security Event Log, each of which to be conveyed to an Event Log data collector and message extractor;

(c) said Event Log data collector means for receiving said Event Log monitor threads and conveying them to a comparison means;

(d) memory means providing an Electronic Service Request conditions database for storing proper operating parameters for various component areas of said computer network;

(e) comparison means for receiving messages from said Event Log data collector means and from said conditions database in order to select those component areas which do not fulfill the proper parameter conditions;

(f) send thread means for conveying those threads of data which do not conform to said proper parameter conditions and sending them to a Formatter means.