Correlating performance data of multiple computing devices

• US 7,925,742 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Gilbert, Ashley, Loboz, Charles Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Avellino; Joseph E
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, CHIRAG R
• Application Number:
  US12/039,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20090222549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-226, 713/401, 713500-503, 702/89
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3452 Performance evaluation by statistical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems

Abstract

Systems, products, and methods are disclosed for facilitating the correlation of performance data associated with multiple computing devices. An illustrative method includes referencing a time as indicated by a computer and referencing a start time indication that identifies a time to begin monitoring computer performance. Thereafter, the time indicated by the computer and the start time indication are utilized to determine an initial monitoring delay. Upon determining an initial monitoring delay, an initial monitoring of the computer performance is delayed until the initial monitoring delay has lapsed. In one embodiment, computer performance data collected upon the lapse of the initial monitoring delay can be correlated with performance data associated with other computing devices.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-useable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of obtaining computer performance data associated with a computer that can be correlated with performance data of another computer, the method comprising:

referencing a requested interval that indicates a desired time interval after which performance data is to be monitored, collected, or a combination thereof;

determining one or more even requested intervals for the requested interval, each even requested interval comprising a multiple of the requested interval;

identifying a first even requested interval to occur after a time indicated by the computer;

delaying an initial monitoring of computer performance of said computer until an occurrence of the first even requested interval; and

delaying a secondary monitoring of computer performance of said computer until an occurrence of a second even requested interval occurring after the first even requested interval.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the requested interval comprises an initial requested interval.

3. The media of claim 1 further comprising monitoring said computer performance to obtain first performance data associated with said computer.

4. The media of claim 3 further comprising:

monitoring said computer performance to obtain second performance data associated with said computer.

5. The media of claim 3 further comprising storing the first performance data.

6. The media of claim 4 further comprising storing the second performance data.

7. The media of claim 4 further comprising communicating the first performance data and the second performance data to a performance data aggregator.

8. The media of claim 4 further comprising performing interpolation based on the first performance data and the second performance data to determine a desired item of computer performance data corresponding to a desired data-collection time.

9. The media of claim 4, wherein the first performance data and the second performance data comprise a load data, a utilization data, an operational data, or a combination thereof.

10. A computer system for obtaining computer performance data associated with a computer that can be correlated with performance data of another computer, the system comprising:

a first computer having a processing unit and a memory for storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processing unit executes;

referencing a requested interval that indicates a desired time interval after which performance data is to be monitored, collected, or a combination thereof;

determining one or more even requested intervals for the requested interval, each even requested interval comprising a multiple of the requested interval;

identifying a first even requested interval to occur after a time indicated by the first computer;

delaying an initial monitoring of computer performance of said first computer until an occurrence of the first even requested interval; and

delaying a secondary monitoring of computer performance of said first computer until an occurrence of a second even requested interval occurring after the first even requested interval.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising

monitoring said computer performance to obtain first performance data associated with said first computer at the occurrence of the second even requested interval.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a second computer that monitors a computer performance to obtain second performance data associated with said second computer at an occurrence that matches the second even requested interval.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising an aggregator that aggregates the first performance data associated with said first computer and the second performance data associated with said second computer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the aggregator compares, analyzes, or summarizes the first performance data associated with said first computer and the second performance data associated with said second computer.

15. A method in a computer system for obtaining computer performance data associated with a first computer that can be correlated with performance data of a second computer, the method comprising:

referencing a requested interval that indicates a desired time interval after which performance data is to be monitored, collected, or a combination thereof;

determining one or more even requested intervals for the requested interval, each even requested interval comprising a multiple of the requested interval;

identifying a first even requested interval to occur after a time indicated by the first computer;

delaying an initial monitoring of computer performance of said first computer until an occurrence of the first even requested interval; and

delaying a secondary monitoring of computer performance of said first computer until an occurrence of a second even requested interval occurring after the first even requested interval.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising collecting performance data after the occurrence of the first even requested interval.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising utilizing the performance data to compare, analyze, aggregate, or summarize, in accordance with correlated performance data of the second computer.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

monitoring said computer performance to obtain first performance data associated with said first computer; and

monitoring said computer performance to obtain second performance data associated with said first computer.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising performing interpolation based on the first performance data and the second performance data to determine a desired item of computer performance data corresponding to a desired data-collection time.