Method and apparatus for event distribution and event handling in an enterprise

• US 7,174,557 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2001
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sanghvi, Ashvinkumar J., Kenny, Patrick R., Thatcher, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARESH N
• Application Number:
  US09/875,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: 709310-317, 709/318, 709/328, 709217-224, 709/200, 709/201, 709/216, 709/203, 709/226, 709/206, 709/207, 707/9, 707/530, 705/35, 705/14, 706/11, 706/47, 703/4, 703/6, 348/88, 710/11, 717/1, 717/168, 380/271
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

An event distribution and event handling system receives a first event at a first event filter. The first event filter has a set of associated filter criteria, which is applied to the first event. If the first event satisfies the filter criteria, the first event is transformed into a second event and the second event is communicated to a second event filter having a set of associated filter criteria. The second event filter is associated with an event consumer, which performs an action if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter. The second event includes an event header having a standard format and a payload having multiple payload objects.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first event at a first event filter, the first event filter having an associated filter criteria;

applying the filter criteria associated with the first event filter to the first event;

when the first event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the first event filter, then;

transforming the first event into a second event; and

communicating the second event to a plurality of second event filters each of the plurality of event filters having an associated filter criteria and each of the plurality of event filters being associated with one of a plurality of event consumers, wherein at least one individual event consumers of the plurality of event consumers generates an email message when the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the corresponding event filter.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second event includes a header having a plurality of parameters, wherein the event header has a standard data format regardless of event source.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second event includes a payload including a plurality of payload objects.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the second event filter has no knowledge of the first event.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one different individual event consumer of the plurality of event consumers logs the second event to a storage device when the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one different individual event consumer of the plurality of event consumers forwards the second event to a destination when the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter.

7. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 1.

19. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the filter criteria associated with the first event filter includes an event type.

20. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the filter criteria associated with the second event filter includes an event type.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a first event having a first format;

transforming the first event into a second event having a second format, wherein transforming the first event into a second event comprises;

generating an event header having a plurality of parameters, wherein the plurality of parameters are arranged in a standard data format;

generating an event payload having a plurality of payload objects, wherein the plurality of payload objects identify at least one action to perform in response to the event;

applying the second event to an event filter having an associated filter criteria;

communicating the second event to an event consumer when the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the event filter, and,

generating an email message at the event consumer.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the plurality of parameters are arranged in a standard data format regardless of the first event source.

10. One or more computer-readable memories containing a computer program that is executable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim 8.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an event transformer to receive a first event and transform the first event into a second event, the second event having a standard data format regardless of the first event data format;

a plurality of event filters coupled to the event transformer, the event filters to apply filter criteria to the second event; and

a plurality of event consumers coupled to the plurality of event filters, the event consumers to perform an action when the second event satisfies the filter criteria applied by the event filters, wherein the second event includes an event header having a plurality of parameters arranged in a standard data format, and wherein the plurality of parameters in the event header are applied to the event filters to determine whether the associated event satisfies the filter criteria, wherein the action performed by at least one of the plurality of event consumers when the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter is generating an email message.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the event transformer operates independently of the event filters and independently of the event consumers.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the second event includes an event payload having a plurality of payload objects.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein the second event includes an event payload having a plurality of payload objects, and wherein the plurality of payload objects identify at least one action to perform in response to the event.

15. One or more computer storage media having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

receive a first event having a first data format;

filter the first event using a first filter criteria;

transform the first event into a second event having a second data format when the first event satisfies the first filter criteria, wherein the second data format includes an event header having a plurality of parameters and an event payload having a plurality of payload objects; and

communicate the second event to an event action handler when the first event satisfies the first filter criteria wherein the plurality of payload objects in the event payload are used by an event consumer that receives the second event to identify an action to perform in response to the second event, and wherein the action is selected from a list of potential actions that includes generating an email message.

16. The one or more computer storage media as recited in claim 15 wherein the plurality of parameters in the event header are arranged in a standard format.

17. The one or more computer storage media as recited in claim 15 wherein the plurality of parameters in the event header are used to filter the second event.

18. The one or more computer storage media as recited in claim 15 wherein the event action handler performs at least one action in response to the second event.