Real-time notification of device events

• US 7,890,622 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Coca, Dinesh C., Garcia, Melissa J., Engle, James B., Ricketts, Ashaki A., Holdaway, Kevan D., Hourselt, Andrew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean; Frantz B
• Application Number:
  US11/696,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 710/52, 710/54
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 Event-based monitoring

Abstract

Real-time notification is provided of an event which has occurred in a computer-related device. Upon the occurrence of an event, a record of the event is stored in a buffer, such as a Really Simple Syndication buffer, associated with the device. The buffer is updated based on indications and other events noted by a CIM agent in the device. One of a series of regular requests is received from an open browser window on a user computer, the request inquiring about any record of the event stored in the buffer. In response to the request, the record of the event is transmitted to an HTML event element in a page of the browser window whereby the record of the event is inserted into the HTML element and displayed in the browser window.

Claims

1. A method for providing real-time notification of an event which has occurred in a computer-related device, comprising:

registering a system management application (SMA) with a common information model (CIM) agent associated with the device whereby the CIM agent stores the identity of the SMA, the CIM agent including an HTTP server;

storing in a buffer a record of a predetermined event occurring in a computer-related device;

obtaining in the CIM agent the identity of the SMA;

transmitting an event notification from the CIM agent to the SMA;

transmitting a message from the SMA to the CIM agent requesting the record of the event from the updated buffer;

receiving in the SMA the record of the event from the updated buffer;

receiving one of a series of regular requests from an open browser window on a user computer for any record of the event stored in the buffer; and

in response to the request, transmitting the record of the event to an HTML event element in a page of the browser window whereby the record of the event is inserted into the HTML element and displayed in the browser window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving one of a series of regular requests from the browser window on the user computer comprises receiving the regular requests in the SMA; and

transmitting the record of the event to the HTML element comprises;

receiving in the SMA the record of the event from the updated buffer; and

transmitting the record of the event from the SMA to the HTML element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

registering an SMA with the CIM comprises registering a plurality of SMAs with the CIM; and

transmitting the event notification comprises transmitting the event notification to each of the plurality of SMAs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein storing in the buffer comprising storing in a Really Simple Syndication buffer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving one of a series of regular requests comprises receiving one of a series of regular HTTP requests.

6. A method for providing real-time event notification, comprising:

opening a browser window on a user computer;

loading a page in the browser window, the page including a predetermined HTML event element;

registering a system management application (SMA) with a common information model (CIM) agent associated with a computer-related device whereby the CIM agent stores the identity of the SMA, the CIM agent including an HTTP server; and

upon the occurrence in the device of a predetermined event;

updating a buffer, associated with the device, with a record of the event;

obtaining in the CIM agent the identity of the SMA;

transmitting an event notification from the CIM agent to the SMA;

transmitting a message from the SMA to the CIM agent requesting the record of the event from the updated buffer;

receiving in the SMA the record of the event from the updated buffer;

transmitting an request at regular intervals from the user computer to the SMA for any record of the event from the updated the buffer;

transmitting the record of the event from the SMA to the user computer; and

inserting the record of the event into the predetermined HTML element, whereby the record of the event is displayed in the browser window.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

registering an SMA with the CIM comprises registering a plurality of SMAs with the CIM; and

transmitting the event notification comprises transmitting the event notification to each of the plurality of SMAs.

8. A system for providing real-time notification of events associated with a computer-related device, comprising:

a buffer operable to store a record of a predetermined event occurring in a computer-related device; and

a common information model (CIM) agent associated with the device operable, upon the occurrence of the event, to;

receive a registration of an identity of a system management application (SMA);

transmit an event notification to the SMA;

receive a command from the SMA requesting the record of the event; and

direct that the buffer transmit the record of the event to the SMA for subsequent transmission to a user computer and insertion into a predetermined HTML element in a web browser window of the computer for display in the browser window.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the CIM is further operable to:

register a plurality of SMAs;

transmit the event notification to each of the plurality of registered SMAs; and

direct that the buffer transmit the record of the event to each of the registered SMAs for subsequent transmission to a corresponding user computer and insertion into a predetermined HTML element in a web browser window of the corresponding computer for display in the browser window.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the buffer is embedded in the device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the buffer is embedded in a management station.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the buffer comprises a Really Simple Syndication buffer.

13. A computer program product of a computer readable non-transitory storage medium usable with a programmable computer, the computer program product having computer-readable code embodied therein for providing real-time notification of an event which has occurred in a computer-related device, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for:

registering a system management application (SMA) with a common information model (CIM) agent associated with the device whereby the CIM agent stores the identity of the SMA, the CIM agent including an HTTP server;

storing in a buffer a record of a predetermined event occurring in a computer-related device;

obtaining in the CIM agent the identity of the SMA;

transmitting an event notification from the CIM agent to the SMA;

transmitting a message from the SMA to the CIM agent requesting the record of the event from the updated buffer;

receiving in the SMA the record of the event from the updated buffer;

receiving one of a series of regular requests from an open browser window on a user computer for any record of the event stored in the buffer;

in response to the request, transmitting the record of the event to an HTML event element in a page of the browser window whereby the record of the event is inserted into the HTML element and displayed in the browser window.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein:

the instructions for receiving one of a series of regular requests from the browser window on the user computer comprise instructions for receiving the regular requests in the SMA; and

the instructions for transmitting the record of the event to the HTML element comprise instructions for;

receiving in the SMA the record of the event from the updated buffer; and

transmitting the record of the event from the SMA to the HTML element.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein:

the instructions for registering an SMA with the CIM comprise instructions for registering a plurality of SMAs with the CIM; and

the instructions for transmitting the event notification comprise instructions for transmitting the event notification to each of the plurality of SMAs.