Event occurrence detection method and apparatus

• US 6,920,468 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1998
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Badias, Franz, Means, William S., Cousins, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/111,849
• Time in Patent Office: 2,568 Days
• Field of Search: 707/9, 707/203, 707/10, 707/201, 707/6, 707/7, 707/1, 709/225, 709/229, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24564 Applying rules; Deductive queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

One step of a method of detecting when a certain number of events occur within a time frame causes a database having several event records to include a first event record in response to a first event occurring. Another step of the method updates the first database record in response to each event that occurs within a first period from the first event occurring. The first period being based upon the time frame. The method also determines, based upon the several event records, that the certain number of events occurred within the time frame. An apparatus which detects when a certain number of events occur within a time frame is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of detecting when a certain number of events occur within a time frame, comprising the steps of:

causing a database having a plurality of event records to include a first event record in response to a first event occurring;

storing in said first event record a first expiration value that is based upon said first period;

updating said first event record in response to each event that occurs within a first period, said first period commencing in response to occurrence of said first event, said first period corresponding to the time frame;

determining, based upon said plurality of event records, that said certain number of events occurred with the time frame;

removing said first event record from said database in response to said first expiration value indicating that said first period has expired.

2. A method of detecting when a certain number of events occur within a time frame, comprising the steps of:

causing a database having a plurality of event records to include a first event record in response to a first event occurring;

storing in said first event record a first expiration value that is based upon said first period;

updating said first event record in response to each event that occurs within a first period, said first period commencing in response to occurrence of said first event, said first period corresponding to the time frame;

determining, based upon said plurality of event records, that said certain number of events occurred with the time frame; and

removing said first event record from said database in response to said first expiration value indicating that a third event occurred after said first period has expired.

3. A method of performing an action in response to a certain number of events of an event type occurring within a time frame, comprising the steps:

updating a first count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a first period, said first period commencing in response to occurrence of a first event of said event type, said first period corresponding to the time frame;

storing said first count value and a first expiration value that is based upon said first period in response to said first event occurring;

updating a second count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a second period, said second period commencing in response to occurrence of a second event of said event type, said second period corresponding to the time frame;

storing said second count value and a second expiration value that is based upon said second period in response to said second event occurring;

performing said action if (i) said first count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame, or (ii) said second count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame;

deleting said first count value and said first expiration value in response to said first expiration value indicating that said first period has expired; and

deleting said second count value and said second expiration value in response to said second expiration value indicating that said second period has expired.

4. A method of performing an action in response to a certain number of events of an event type occurring within a time frame, comprising the steps:

updating a first count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a first period, said first period commencing in response to occurrence of a first event of said event type, said first period corresponding to the time frame;

storing said first count value and a first expiration value that is based upon said first period in response to said first event occurring;

updating a second count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a second period, said second period commencing in response to occurrence of a second event of said event type, said second period corresponding to the time frame;

storing said second count value and a second expiration value that is based upon said second period in response to said second event occurring;

performing said action if (i) said first count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame, or (ii) said second count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame;

deleting said first count value and a second expiration value in response to said first expiration value indicating that a third event of said event type occurred after said first period has expired; and

deleting said second count value and said second expiration value in response to said first expiration value indicating that said third event of said event type occurred after said second period has expired.

5. A computer readable medium that configures a processor to perform an action in response to a certain number of events of an event type occurring within a time frame, said computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed by said processor causes said processor to:

update a first count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a first period, said first period commencing in response to occurrence of a first event of said event type, said first period corresponding to the time frame;

store said first count value and a first expiration value that is based upon said first period in response to occurrence of said first event;

update a second count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a second periods said second period commencing in response to occurrence of a second event of said event type, said second period corresponding to the time frame;

store said second count value and a second expiration value that is based upon said second period in response to occurrence of said second event;

perform said action if (i) said first count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame, or (ii) said second count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame;

delete said first count value and said first expiration value in response to said first expiration value indicating that said first period has expired; and

delete said second count value and said second expiration value in response to said second expiration value indicating that said second period has expired.

6. A computer readable medium that configures a processor to perform an action in response to a certain number of events of an event type occurring within a time frame said computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions which when executed by said processor causes said processor to:

update a first count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a first period said first period commencing in response to occurrence of a first event of said event type, said first period corresponding to the time frame;

store said first count value and a first expiration value that is based upon said first period in response to occurrence of said first event;

update a second count value in response to each event of said event type that occurs within a second period, said second period commencing in response to occurrence of a second event of said event type, said second period corresponding to the time frame;

store said second count value and a second expiration value that is based upon said second period in response to occurrence of said second event;

perform said action if (i) said first count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame, or (ii) said second count value indicates that said certain number of events of said event type has occurred within the time frame;

delete said first count value and said first expiration value in response to said first expiration value indicating that a third event of said event type occurred after said first period has expired; and

delete said second count value and said second expiration value in response to said second expiration value indicating that a third event of said event type occurred after said second period has expired.