Common component modeling
First Claim
1. An apparatus for generating a composite model from a plurality of component models, the apparatus including a computing device with a processor and instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to implement:
- a repository containing said plurality of component models, each component model in the plurality of component models being a software-based discrete event simulation that is designed to dynamically represent performance characteristics and capacity constraints of a different core business function in a plurality of core business functions, each core business function in the plurality of core business functions being an information technology function employed in a business, each component model in the plurality of component models including at least;
a port object that designates an interface at which said component model is able to interact with another component model in the plurality of component models;
a port specification object that defines specific capabilities and constraints associated with the port object; and
a legacy marker object that provides a persistent identifier of said component model;
a composite model builder that, when executed by the processor;
receives a composite model specification as input, the composite model specification specifying the legacy marker objects of selected component models in the plurality of component models;
uses port specification objects of the selected component models to validate channels between port objects of the selected component models;
generates the channels when the channels are successfully validated, the channels providing pathways for exchange of message blocks between the port objects of the selected component models; and
outputs said composite model, said composite model comprising the selected component models and the channels, said composite model dynamically representing performance characteristics and capacity constraints of a high-level business function of the business, said high-level business function using each of the core business functions represented by the selected component models, said high-level business function fulfilling a specific end-user need; and
a simulation tool that, when executed by the processor, generates data representing performance characteristics of the high-level business function by executing the composite model.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing predictive performance and capacity information employing a type of factory to reduce the ongoing cost of providing simulation models to answer questions raised by the various business entities is provided. To achieve this, a continual process for providing on-going performance information is provided. The core concept is the development and long-term reuse of component models to create other, more broadly scoped performance models. This requires the implementation of standard simulation model constructs to facilitate reuse, processes for the development of models and their use by clients, and a stable yet flexible repository for component models. The invention comprises processes, standards, templates, and software tools that implement a performance service that consists of the long term maintenance of predictive performance models for repeated use by lines of business to provide capacity planning information.
83 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for generating a composite model from a plurality of component models, the apparatus including a computing device with a processor and instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to implement:
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a repository containing said plurality of component models, each component model in the plurality of component models being a software-based discrete event simulation that is designed to dynamically represent performance characteristics and capacity constraints of a different core business function in a plurality of core business functions, each core business function in the plurality of core business functions being an information technology function employed in a business, each component model in the plurality of component models including at least; a port object that designates an interface at which said component model is able to interact with another component model in the plurality of component models; a port specification object that defines specific capabilities and constraints associated with the port object; and a legacy marker object that provides a persistent identifier of said component model; a composite model builder that, when executed by the processor; receives a composite model specification as input, the composite model specification specifying the legacy marker objects of selected component models in the plurality of component models; uses port specification objects of the selected component models to validate channels between port objects of the selected component models; generates the channels when the channels are successfully validated, the channels providing pathways for exchange of message blocks between the port objects of the selected component models; and outputs said composite model, said composite model comprising the selected component models and the channels, said composite model dynamically representing performance characteristics and capacity constraints of a high-level business function of the business, said high-level business function using each of the core business functions represented by the selected component models, said high-level business function fulfilling a specific end-user need; and a simulation tool that, when executed by the processor, generates data representing performance characteristics of the high-level business function by executing the composite model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer implemented method for generating a composite model from a plurality of component models, the method comprising:
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storing, on a first physical computing device, a repository containing said plurality of component models, each component model in the plurality of component models being a software-based discrete event simulation that is designed to dynamically represent performance characteristics and capacity constraints of a different core business function in a plurality of core business functions, each core business function in the plurality of core business functions being an information technology function employed in a business, each component model in the plurality of component models including at least; a port object that designates an interface at which said component model is able to interact with another component model in said plurality of component models; and a port specification object that defines specific capabilities and constraints of said port object; receiving, at the first physical computing device, a composite model specification as input, the composite model specification specifying selected component models in the plurality of component models; using, at the first physical computing device, the port specification objects of the selected component models to validate channels between port objects of the selected component models; generating, at the first physical computing device, the channels when the channels are successfully validated, the channels providing pathways for exchange of message blocks between the port objects of the selected component models; outputting, at the first physical computing device, said composite model, said composite model comprising the selected component models and the channels, said composite model dynamically representing performance characteristics and capacity constraints of a high-level business function of the business, said high-level business function using each of the core business functions represented by the selected component models, said high-level business function fulfilling a specific end-user need; and generating, at the first physical computing device, data representing performance characteristics of the high-level business function by executing the composite model. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification