System and method for managing database files in a client management tool

• US 7,320,004 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Sally J., DeLuca, Steve A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Isaac
• Application Number:
  US09/560,182
• Time in Patent Office: 2,818 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 715/500, 715/502, 715505-509, 709223-229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method for managing database files in a client management tool are provided. A computer system utilizes a standardized format for storing and recalling client management data. To utilize data not stored in the standardized format, the client management tool accepts alternatively formatted database files and converts them to the standardized format. Additionally, the client management tool accepts inputs defining one or more correlations from a database file to the standardized format for converting. The client management tool also manipulates client management files to allow additional management data to be incorporated into the file.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a selected format for database files, a method of managing one or more database files having a format other than the selected format, the method comprising:

obtaining the one or more database files having client management data indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients;

obtaining a correlation, selected from a plurality of independently selectable configurations, for the format other than the selected format of the one or more database files to the selected format;

utilizing the correlation to read the one or more database files, wherein the correlation determines equivalence between locations in the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format and locations in database files having the selected format; and

displaying the client management data in the selected format.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein obtaining a correlation includes obtaining one or more language scripts correlating the format other than the selected format to the selected format.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising entering one or more language scripts via a graphical user interface.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein obtaining a correlation further includes selecting one or more language scripts from among the language scripts entered via a graphical user interface.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein utilizing the correlation includes locating data on the one or more database files.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the locations represent database fields.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing the correlations further comprises:

collecting new client management data, in the selected format, indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients; and

appending the new client management data to the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the capacity planning and performance monitoring data are stored in different formats.

9. One or more computer-readable media having a selected format for database files and computer-executable instructions for performing a method of managing one or more database files having a format other than the selected format, the method comprising:

entering one or more language scripts via a graphical user interface;

obtaining the one or more database files having client management data indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients;

obtaining a correlation, selected from a plurality of independently selectable configurations, for the format other than the selected format of the one or more database files to the selected format, wherein obtaining the correlation further includes selecting one or more language scripts from among the language scripts entered via the graphical user interface;

utilizing the correlation to read the one or more database files, wherein the correlation determines equivalence between locations in the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format and locations in database files having the selected format; and

displaying the client management data in the selected format.

10. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein obtaining a correlation includes obtaining one or more language scripts correlating the format other than the selected format of the one or more database files to the selected format.

11. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein utilizing the correlation includes locating data on the one or more database files.

12. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the locations represent database fields.

13. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein utilizing the correlations further comprises:

collecting new client management data, in the selected format, indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients; and

appending the new client management data to the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format.

14. One or more computer-storage media having stored computer-executable instructions that generate a data structure, the data structure comprising:

a database file storing client management data indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients and having a format other than a selected database format; and

a data field including data, selected from a plurality of independently selected configurations, correlating the format other than the selected database format to the selected database format, wherein correlating the format other than the selected database format includes determining equivalence between locations having the format other than the selected database format and locations having the selected database format to display the client management data in the selected database format.

15. A computer system for reading a pre-existing database file that utilizes a schema other than a standardized schema, the computer system comprising:

means for obtaining the pre-existing database file storing client management data indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients;

means for obtaining a correlation, selected from a plurality of independently selectable configurations, of the schema utilized by the pre-existing database file to the standardized schema;

a translation engine that utilizes the correlation to locate data in the pre-existing database file, wherein the translation engine determines equivalence between locations having the schema utilized by the pre-existing database file and locations having the standardized schema; and

means for displaying the client management data in the standardized schema.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the correlation is a script.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the means for obtaining a correlation is a management tool.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the translation engine resides on a management tool.

19. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising a graphical user interface for user entry of correlations.

20. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system performing a method of managing one or more database files having a format other than the selected format, the method comprising:

entering one or more language scripts via a graphical user interface;

obtaining the one or more database files having client management data indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients;

obtaining a correlation, selected from a plurality of independently selectable configurations, for the format other than the selected format of the one or more database files to the selected format, wherein obtaining a correlation includes obtaining one or more language scripts correlating the format other than the selected format of the one or more database files to the selected format and selecting one or more language scripts from among the language scripts entered via the graphical user interface;

utilizing the correlation to read the one or more database files, wherein the correlation determines equivalence between locations representing database fields in the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format and locations in database files having the selected format, wherein utilizing the correlation further comprises;

collecting new client management data, in the selected format, indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients; and

appending the new client management data to the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format.

21. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system performing a method of managing one or more database files having a format other than the selected format, the method comprising:

entering one or more language scripts via a graphical user interface;

obtaining the one or more database files having client management data indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients;

obtaining a correlation, selected from a plurality of independently selectable configurations, for the format other than the selected format of the one or more database files to the selected format, wherein obtaining the correlation further includes selecting one or more language scripts from among the language scripts entered via the graphical user interface;

utilizing the correlation to read the one or more database files, wherein the correlation determines equivalence between locations in the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format and locations in database files having the selected format; and

displaying the client management data in the selected format.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein obtaining a correlation includes obtaining one or more language scripts correlating the format other than the selected format of the one or more database files to the selected format.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the locations represent database fields.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein utilizing the correlations further comprises:

collecting new client management data, in the selected format, indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients; and

appending the new client management data to the one or more database files having the format other than the selected format.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the capacity planning and performance monitoring data are stored in different formats.

26. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein obtaining a correlation further includes selecting one or more language scripts from among the language scripts entered via the graphical user interface.

27. A computer system, having a processor, a memory, and an operating environment, for reading a pre-existing database file that utilizes a schema other than a standardized schema, the computer system comprising:

means for obtaining the pre-existing database file storing client management data indicating at least one of performance monitoring data and capacity planning data associated with network clients;

means for obtaining a correlation, selected from a plurality of independently selectable configurations, of the schema utilized by the pre-existing database file to the standardized schema;

a translation engine that utilizes the correlation to locate data on the pre-existing database file, wherein the translation engine determines equivalence between locations having the schema utilized by the pre-existing database file and locations having the standardized schema; and

means for displaying the client management data in the standardized schema.

28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the correlation is a script.

29. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the means for obtaining a correlation is a management tool.

30. The computer system of claim 27, wherein the translation engine resides on a management tool.

31. The computer system of claim 27, further comprising a graphical user interface for user entry of correlations.