System and methods providing automatic distributed data retrieval, analysis and reporting services
First Claim
1. A data processing system that comprises a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, said publisher connected devices providing a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, wherein a given one of said connected devices is one of a member of only said first sub-set of connected devices, a member of only said second sub-set of connected devices, or a member of both said first sub-set of connected devices and said second sub-set of connected devices, wherein individual ones of said publisher connected devices of said first sub-set of connected devices have at least one back-up connected device to publish the service upon the unavailability of said publisher connected device, said at least one back-up connected device storing data and procedures required to publish the service should the publisher connected device become unavailable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing system includes a network containing of a set of connected devices, where individual ones of the connected devices include a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from the network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that form a first sub-set of the connected devices. Individual ones of the publisher connected devices maintain a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that form a second sub-set of connected devices. The publisher connected devices provide a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, which may be a push trigger, a pull trigger, or a combination of push and pull triggers. A given one of the connected devices may be a member of only the first sub-set of connected devices, or may be a member of only the second sub-set of connected devices, or may be a member of both the first sub-set of connected devices and the second sub-set of connected devices. The set of connected devices are logically organized into a plurality of clusters each having a top level connected device (TLCD), where the plurality of TLCDs are coupled together in a ring for propagating system administration information between the plurality of clusters. Services remain operative even after the connected device on which they initially reside becomes inoperative. This is accomplished by migrating the publication function to at least one other connected device when a current publisher'"'"'s connected device becomes inoperative for any reason. A backup of last resort is referred to as a persistent connected device.
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Citations
79 Claims
- 1. A data processing system that comprises a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, said publisher connected devices providing a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, wherein a given one of said connected devices is one of a member of only said first sub-set of connected devices, a member of only said second sub-set of connected devices, or a member of both said first sub-set of connected devices and said second sub-set of connected devices, wherein individual ones of said publisher connected devices of said first sub-set of connected devices have at least one back-up connected device to publish the service upon the unavailability of said publisher connected device, said at least one back-up connected device storing data and procedures required to publish the service should the publisher connected device become unavailable.
- 15. A data processing system that comprises a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, said publisher connected devices providing a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, wherein a given one of said connected devices is one of a member of only said first sub-set of connected devices, a member of only said second sub-set of connected devices, or a member of both said first sub-set of connected devices and said second sub-set of connected devices, wherein at least one of said connected devices comprises a measuring machine that generates data and publishes the data in a report service comprising a spreadsheet to which at least one publisher connected device subscribes, said subscribing publisher connected device executing a spreadsheet engine that treats at leas some of said data as spreadsheet variables and offers a service that reports a result of a processing of said spreadsheet variables by said spreadsheet engine.
- 21. A data processing system that comprises a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, said publisher connected devices providing a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, wherein a given one of said connected devices is one of a member of only said first sub-set of connected devices, a member of only said second sub-set of connected devices, or a member of both said first sub-set of connected devices and said second sub-set of connected devices, wherein a service offered by a publisher connected device migrates to at least one backup connected device that forms a part of a hierarchy of backup connected devices.
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36. A data processing system that comprises a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, said publisher connected devices providing a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, wherein a given one of said connected devices is one of a member of only said first sub-set of connected devices, a member of only said second sub-set of connected devices, or a member of both said first sub-set of connected devices and said second sub-set of connected devices, wherein a service offered by a publisher connected device migrates to at least one backup connected device that forms a part of a hierarchy of backup connected devices, wherein a determination of the hierarchy of appropriate backup connected devices is based at least in part on a score derived from long term loads, and wherein balancing of the load on backup connected devices is accomplished at least in part by limiting the number of services that may become active based on a score derived from short term loads.
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37. A data processing system that comprises a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, said publisher connected devices providing a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, wherein a given one of said connected devices is one of a member of only said first sub-set of connected devices, a member of only said second sub-set of connected devices, or a member of both said first sub-set of connected devices and said second sub-set of connected devices, wherein said set of connected devices are logically organized into a plurality of clusters each having a to level connected device (TLCD), and wherein TLCDs are coupled together in a ring for propagating system administration information between said plurality of clusters, wherein a service offered by a publisher connected device migrates to at least one backup connected device, wherein the backup connected device is constrained to reside within the cluster of the publisher connected device.
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44. A data processing system that comprises a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected device comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of th connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, said publisher connected devices providing a service output to registered service subscriber connected devices upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event, wherein a given one of said connected devices is one of a member of only said first sub-set of connected devices, a member of only said second sub-set of connected devices, or a member of both said first sub-set of connected devices and said second sub-set of connected devices, wherein said set of connected devices are logically organized into a plurality of clusters each having a top level connected device (TLCD), and wherein TLCDs are coupled together in a ring for propagating system administration information between said plurality of clusters, wherein said clusters are constructed sequentially so as to add connected devices to one cluster until the cluster reaches a predetermined size, and to then add the next connected device to a next cluster.
- 47. A data processing system that includes a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, wherein at least one publisher connected device offers a data retrieval service from at least one database, and wherein at least one service subscriber connected device is registered to receive said data retrieval service, wherein said data retrieval service automatically moves to at least one backup connected device at least upon an occurrence of the publisher connected device becoming unable to provide the data retrieval service.
- 54. A data processing system that includes a network comprised of a set of connected devices, individual ones of said connected devices of said set of connected devices comprising a data processor that executes a program for connecting to and disconnecting from said network and for maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices that are members of a first sub-set of the connected devices, individual ones of said publisher connected devices maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of registered service subscriber connected devices that are members of a second sub-set of connected devices, wherein at least one publisher connected device offers a project data management retrieval service providing access to project management data that comprises project-related files and communications, and wherein at least one service subscriber connected device is registered to use said project management data retrieval service and to have access to at least a portion of said project management data regardless of its storage location, so long as said at least one publisher connected device has access to the project-related data, wherein said project data management retrieval service automatically moves to at least one backup connected device at least upon an occurrence of the publisher connected device becoming unable to provide the project data management retrieval service.
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59. A method for operating a network comprised of a plurality of connected devices, comprising:
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in each connected device, maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices;
in each publisher connected device, maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of service subscriber connected devices that are registered to receive the service published by said publisher connected device upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event;
logically organizing the plurality of connected devices into a plurality of clusters each having a top level connected device, wherein said plurality of top level connected devices are coupled together in a ring structure for propagating system administration information between said plurality of clusters; and
automatically moving the service published by said publisher connected device to at least one backup connected device at least upon an occurrence of the publisher connected device becoming unable to provide the service. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A computer program embodied on at least computer-readable medium the execution of which in a network comprised of a plurality of connected devices results in computer-implemented actions comprising:
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in each connected device, maintaining a first list descriptive of other connected devices and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher connected devices;
in each publisher connected device, maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of service subscriber connected devices that are registered to receive the service published by said publisher connected device upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event; and
automatically moving the service published by said publisher connected device to at least one backup connected device at least upon an occurrence of the publisher connected device becoming unable to provide the service. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75)
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76. A device comprising a data processor and an interface for coupling to a network for communication with other devices coupled to the network, comprising:
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means for maintaining a first list descriptive of other devices coupled to the network and a second list descriptive of at least some user-defined services published by individual ones of publisher devices;
where as a publisher device said device further comprises means for maintaining a third list descriptive of an individual one or individual ones of service subscriber at are registered to receive the service published by said publisher device upon an occurrence of at least one predetermined triggering event; and
means for automatically moving the published service to at least one backup device at least upon an occurrence of becoming unable to provide the service. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79)
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Specification