Distributed software system visualization

• US 7,155,715 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Michael, Cui, Zhan, Odgers, Brian R
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Sunray
• Application Number:
  US09/914,602
• Time in Patent Office: 2,475 Days
• Field of Search: 709/101, 709/224, 709/229, 707 2- 4, 717/177, 345/156, 376/245, 376/260
• US Class Current: 717/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/75 Structural analysis for program understanding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation

Abstract

A data management system stores and visualizes data generated during process management. The data management system provides different data management services and definitions of these are stored in a database. Management of data in this database is carried out by a collection of software agents, one of which, the management information agent, can access, update and download data in or from the database. Stored separately are graphical user interfaces which are downloaded to a user in accordance with the relevant service definition stored in the database when the user requests a particular data access service.

Claims

1. A performance visualization system for use in storing and visualizing performance data representing the performance of multi-agent systems in managing processes, said performance visualization system comprising:

i) a request input for receiving a performance visualization service request in respect of a multi-agent system;

ii) a performance data input for receiving performance data inputs from the multi-agent system;

iii) a service definitions store for storing a set of data visualization service definitions each comprising a data visualization service identifier and one or more service requirements in relation, thereto said service requirements including identification of data inputs required for provision of said performance visualization services in respect of each data visualization service;

iv) performance visualization service request processing means for accessing a service identifier in a received performance visualization service request;

v) service identifier processing means for selecting a service definition from the service definition store in accordance with an accessed service identifier;

vi) a performance data input store for storing performance data inputs from the multi-agent system required for provision of the performance data visualization service associated with an accessed data visualization service identifier; and

vii) means to associate data inputs received from a multi-agent system with the multi-agent system which generated the performance data, together with means to review the contents of the performance data input store for entries in respect of that multi-agent system.

2. A performance visualization system as in claim 1, the system also comprising a visualization tool store for storing a set of visualization tools.

3. A performance visualization system as in claim 1, wherein said service definitions store defines a data storage service in which data inputs of one or more types are stored in the data input store.

4. A performance visualization system as in claim 3 having means to map data inputs identified by a first service definition to data inputs already stored in accordance With a second service definition.

5. A performance visualization system as in claim 2, the system further comprising a visualization tool input for loading visualization tools to the visualization tool store, said store being provided with an index of tools currently loaded.

6. A performance visualization system as in claim 1 which system also comprises data analysis means.

7. A method of visualizing performance data representing the performance of systems in managing processes, said method comprising:

i) receiving a performance visualization service request in respect of multi-agent system;

ii) receiving performance data inputs from the multi-agent system;

iii) storing a set of performance data visualization service definitions in a service definition store, each said service definition including a data visualization service identifier and identification of data inputs required for provision of said data visualization service;

iv) accessing a performance data visualization service identifier in a received performance data visualization service request;

v) selecting a service definition from the service definition store in accordance with the accessed service identifier; and

vi) storing data inputs in association with the multi-agent system making the performance visualization service request, which performance data inputs have been identified by the selected service definition.

8. A method as in claim 7, the method further comprising:

loading one or more service definitions to the service definitions store, subsequent to receiving performance data inputs from the multi-agent system, said subsequently loaded service definition(s) identifying at least one of said data inputs previously received.