Method and apparatus for event-driven processing of data

• US 6,862,732 B1
• Filed: 02/25/1998
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Metaserver, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Schultz, Richard Kenneth, Gilbert, Howard Kent, Deshpande, Ashish Suresh
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, SUE X
• Application Number:
  US09/030,258
• Time in Patent Office: 2,561 Days
• Field of Search: 718/102, 718/104, 718/105, 718/106, 719/318, 719/328, 719/320, 719/310, 709/202, 709/224, 709/300, 709/302, 709/102, 709/105, 709/310, 709/328, 709/203, 709/100, 709/104
• US Class Current: 718/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/302 where the computing system component is a software system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3055 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring the status of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring if the computing system is on, off, available, not available error or fault processing without redundancy G06F11/0703; error detection or correction by redundancy in data representation G06F11/08; error detection or correction by redundancy in operation G06F11/14; error detection or correction by redundancy in hardware G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 Event-based monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A data processing system that enables event modules to transmit event data to a module capable of processing the event data, generating a response, and when required producing a response profile to be sent to a location. The response is produced by the system executing one or more scripts to perform processing and gather data from processing modules. As the response is being generated by the execution of the script, the scripts self-modify based upon the data gathered. The system recognizes the necessary changes and dynamically generates a response to the changes. If the response profile must be transmitted to another location, the response profile will be in a format that the receiving location will recognize.

Claims

1. A data processing system comprising:

a plurality of event modules each including code that generates an event data signal representative of a particular event;

a plurality of scripts each having a plurality of instructions, each of said scripts invoked to perform a function in response to a corresponding one of said event data signals;

a plurality of processing modules distributed over said data processing system each including code that provides processed data; and

a task module, selectively communicating with each of said plurality of event modules and said plurality of distributed processing modules, said task module including code for selecting one of said plurality of scripts that corresponds to said event data signal and for executing said selected script such that said selected script proceeds to a first of said plurality of distributed processing modules for processing a current one of said plurality of instructions;

wherein dynamic information comprises statuses of said distributed processing modules aid modifications to said selected script including processed data from previously processed ones of said plurality of instructions, and wherein during execution of said selected script said task module provides said dynamic information to said selected script, said selected script incorporating said dynamic information into said currently processing instruction for consideration thereof, and

upon completion of said currently processing instruction of said selected script said selected script evaluates said incorporated dynamic information provided by said task module and processed data from said completed instruction and selectively executes a next one of said plurality of instructions of said selected script, and wherein said task module, utilizing said dynamic information interacts with said plurality of distributed processing modules for selecting a second available one of said plurality of distributed processing modules such that said selected script proceeds to said second available one of said distributed processing modules for processing said next instruction within said selected script.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said task module executes two or more of said plurality of scripts substantially simultaneously.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising:

a converter module, in communication with said task module, including code that maps said event data signal to at least one of said two or more of said plurality of scripts upon reception of said event data signal by said task module.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 when said plurality of distributed processing modules provide event data signals, representative of particular events, to said task module.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a status monitoring module, in communication with said task module, including code that provides said status information to said task module including operation conditions of said plurality of distributed processing modules.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said status monitoring module is in direct communication with said plurality of distributed processing modules.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein during said execution of said selected script, said status monitoring module stores data associated with said selected script in an associated memory.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a load balancing module, in communication with said task module, including code that dynamically selects available ones of said plurality of distributed processing modules to perform processing.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said load balancing module is in direct communication with said plurality of distributed processing modules.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said task module interfaces with said plurality of distributed processing modules for bi-directionally and substantially simultaneously transmitting data between said plurality of distributed processing modules and said task module.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a resource management module, in communication with said task module, including code for monitoring event data signals generated by said plurality of event modules and not processed by said task module and a number of said plurality of distributed processing modules available for perform particular data processing functionality, and for converting data processing functionality of said plurality of distributed processing modules in response to dynamic information regarding said monitored event data signals and said number of available distributed processing modules to maximize a number of said distributed processing modules processing said event data signals.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said resource management module is in direct communication with said plurality of distributed processing modules.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of initiator modules including code that provides a communication interface between an associated one of said plurality of distributed processing modules and said task module.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of initiator modules communicates with said associated one of said plurality of distributed processing modules regardless of native applications contained on said associated one of said plurality of distributed processing nodules.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising:

a protocol disposed between each of said plurality of initiator modules and said task module for providing a communication interface therebetween.

16. The system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising:

a protocol disposed between each of said plurality of initiator modules and said associated one of said plurality of distributed processing modules for providing a communication interface therebetween.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of client modules including code that provides a communication interface between an associated one of said plurality of event modules and said task module.

18. The system as described in claim 17 further comprising:

a protocol disposed between said task module and each of said plurality of client modules for providing a communication interface therebetween.

19. The system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising:

a protocol disposed between each of said plurality of client modules and said associated one of said plurality of event modules for providing a communication interface therebetween.

20. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of scripts is programmed to iteratively update its contents.

21. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a storage module, in communication with said task module, for providing storage for said system.

22. The system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said storage module comprises a computer-readable medium.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said computer readable medium comprises a persistent memory.

24. The system as claimed in claim 21 further comprising:

a script building module, in communication with said storage module, including code that creates said plurality of scripts.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said script building module includes a standard language interface.

26. The system as chimed in claim 24 wherein said script building module includes a graphical user interface.

27. The system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said script building module dynamically updates and modifies said plurality of scripts.

28. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a protocol for providing a communication interface between said task module and each of said plurality of event modules.

29. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a protocol for providing a communication interface between said task module and each of said plurality of distributed processing modules.

30. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a responder module, in communication with said task module, including code that transmits response data, resulting from said execution, from said task module in a particular format to said plurality of distributed processing modules or in a particular format to said plurality of event modules.

31. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

an administrative module, in communication with said task module, including code that receives and presents data that relates to said plurality of distributed processing modules.

32. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of application peripherals in communication with an associated one of said plurality of distributed processing modules or an associated one of said plurality of event modules.

33. A data processing system, comprising:

a plurality of event modules each including code that generates an event data signal representative of a particular event;

a plurality of scripts each having a plurality of instructions, each of said scripts invoked to perform a function in response to a corresponding one of said event data signals;

a plurality of processing modules distributed over said data processing system each including code for performing data processing functionality to provide pressed data;

a task module, selectively communicating with each of said plurality of event modules and said plurality of distributed processing modules, said task module including code for selecting one of said plurality of scripts that correspond to said event data signal and, during execution of said selected script, for providing dynamic information comprising statuses of said distributed processing modules and modifications to said selected script including processed data from previously processed ones of said plurality of instructions, said selected script incorporating said dynamic information into said currently processing instruction for consideration thereof and,

upon completion of said currently processing instruction of said selected script, said selected script evaluates said incorporated dynamic information provided by said task module and processed data from said completed instruction and selectively executes a next one of said plurality of instructions of said selected script, and wherein said task module, utilizing said dynamic information, interacts with said plurality of distributed processing modules for selecting a second available one of said plurality of distributed processing modules such that said selected script proceeds to a said second available one of said distributed processing modules for processing said next instruction within said selected script; and

a resource management module communicating with each of said plurality of event modules, said task module and said plurality of distributed processing modules, said resource management module including code for monitoring event data signed generated by said plurality of event modules and not processed by said task module and a number of said plurality of distributed processing modules available for performing particular data processing functionality, and for converting data processing functionality of said plurality of distributed processing modules in response to dynamic information regarding said monitored event data signals and said number of available distributed processing modules to maximize a number of said distributed processing modules processing said event data signals.

34. A method of data processing comprising the steps of:

generating at least one event data signal at one or more peripheral modules;

mapping said at least one event data signal to a selected script chosen from one or more scripts, each said one or more scripts having a plurality of instructions, each of said scripts invoked to perform a function in response to a corresponding one of said at least one event data signal; and

executing, by a task module, said selected script such that said selected script proceeds to a first of a plurality of processing modules for processing a current one of said plurality of instructions of said selected script;

wherein dynamic information comprises of said plurality of processing modules and modifications to said selected script including processed data from previously processed ones of said plurality of instructions, and wherein during execution of said selected script said task module provides said dynamic information to said selected script, said selected script incorporating said dynamic information into said currently processing ones of said plurality of instructions for consideration thereof, and

upon completion of said flunky processing instruction of said selected script, said selected script evaluates said incorporated dynamic information provided by said task module and processed data from said completed instruction and selectively executes a next one of said plurality of instructions of said selected script, and wherein said task module, utilizing said dynamic information, interacts with said plurality of processing modules for selecting a second available one of said plurality of processing modules such that said selected script proceeds to said second available one of said plurality of processing modules for processing said next one of said plurality of instructions within said selected script.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said one or more peripheral modules and said task module communicate via a communication interface.

36. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the step of:

dynamically managing operating functions of said one or more peripheral modules.

37. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the steps of:

producing response data signals as a result of said execution of said selected script; and

transmitting said response data signals from said task module to selected ones of said one or more peripheral modules.

38. The method as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of:

translating said response data signals transmitted from said task module into a format that said selected ones of said one or more peripheral modules recognize.

39. The method as claimed in claim 38 further comprising the step of:

storing said event data signals, said one or more scripts and said response data signals in a storage medium that is in communication with said task module.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39 wherein said storage medium is persistent.

41. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the step of:

accessing a protocol to interface between said task module and selected ones of said one or more peripheral modules.

42. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the step of:

providing communication between said task module and each of said plurality of processing modules such that said selected script proceeds to only ones of said plurality of processing modules available for performing processing operations.

43. The method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said executing step includes the step of:

interfacing with a plurality of said one or more peripheral modules substantially simultaneously.

44. The method as claimed in claim 34 wherein said executing step executes a plurality of said one or more scripts substantially simultaneously.

45. The method as claim in claim 34 wherein said execution of said one or more instructions dynamically incorporates data gathered in previously executed instructions.

46. The method as claimed in claim 34 further comprising the step of:

providing results of said executing step to an administrative module for presenting information relating to said one or more peripheral modules.

47. In a data processing system, a method for responding to event data, comprising:

receiving event data from a requesting one of a plurality of event modules;

mapping the event data to a selected one of a plurality of scripts, the plurality of scripts including instructions for responding to event data;

executing, by a task module, the selected script such that the selected script proceeds to a first of a plurality of processing modules for processing of a current one of the instructions of the selected script;

wherein dynamic information comprises statuses of the plurality of processing modules and modifications to the selected script including processed data from previously processed ones of the instructions, and wherein during the execution of the selected script the task module provides the dynamic information to the selected script, selected script incorporating the dynamic information into the currently processing instruction for consideration thereof, and

upon completion of the currently processing instruction of the selected script, the selected script evaluates the incorporated dynamic information provided by the task module and processed data from the completed instruction and selectively executes a next one of the plurality of instructions of the selected script, and wherein said task module, utilizing the dynamic information, interacts with the plurality of processing modules for selecting a second available one of the plurality of processing modules such that the selected script proceeds to the second available one of the plurality of processing modules for processing next one of the plurality of instructions within the selected script;

building a response profile including results generated during execution of the selected script; and

wherein when the instructions within the selected script are completed, transmitting the response profile to the requesting one of the plurality of event modules.

48. The method as claimed in claim 47 wherein the generated results include event data.

49. The method as claimed in claim 47, comprising:

tracing execution of the instructions within the selected script and processing of the processing modules; and

wherein when a processing module falls, continuing execution of the selected script and the processing of the processing modules from a last traced instruction.

50. A data processing system, comprising:

a plurality of event modules each including code that generates a first event data signal representative of a first event;

a plurality of scripts each having a plurality of instructions, each of said scripts invoked to perform a function in response to a corresponding one of said first event data signals;

a plurality of processing modules each including code that provides processed data, a subset of said plurality of processing modules having code that selectively generates a second event data signal representative of a second event; and

a task module, selectively communicating with each of said plurality of event modules and said plurality of processing modules, said task module including code for selecting ones of said plurality of scripts that corresponds to said first and second event data signals, and for executing said selected scripts such that said selected scripts proceed to a first of said plurality of processing modules for processing a current one of said plurality of instructions;

wherein dynamic information comprises statuses of said plurality of processing modules and modifications to said selected scripts including processed data from previously processed instructions, and wherein during execution of said selected scripts, said task module provides said dynamic information to said selected scripts incorporating said dynamic information into said currently processing is ons for consideration thereof, and

upon completion of said currently processing instructions of said selected script, said selected script evaluates said incorporated dynamic information provided by said task module and processed data from said completed instructions and selectively executes a next one of said plurality of instructions of said selected script, and wherein said task module, utilizing said dynamic information, interacts with said plurality of processing modules for selecting a second available one of said plurality of processing modules such that said selected scripts proceed to said second available one of said plurality of processing modules for processing of said next one of the plurality of instructions within said selected scripts.