Dynamic routing and load balancing packet distribution with a software factory

• US 8,141,030 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Finlayson, Ronald D., Mitsumori, Naomi M., Reddington, Francis X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatri, Anil
• Application Number:
  US11/835,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 717102-108, 717120-123
• US Class Current: 717/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063118 Staff planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06395 Quality analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A system decision engine enables a software factory to effectively handle intelligent load balancing and distribution to workers on a software assembly line through the use of pre-configured rules. The pre-configured rules are based on a projected availability of workers based on past traffic analysis of work packets being sent to particular workers on the software assembly line.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically routing and load balancing packet distribution within a software factory, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a plurality of configuration routes describing a plurality of available routes for a work packet,

wherein the plurality of configuration routes are configured by a project manager using an availability status for each of a plurality of assembly line workers of an assembly line in the software factory,

wherein the assembly line conducts an integration test, a system test, a system integration test and a performance test of a deliverable software, wherein the integration test tests the deliverable software for compatibility with a client'"'"'s system, the system test checks the client'"'"'s system to ensure that the client'"'"'s system is operating properly, the system integration test tests for bugs that may arise when the deliverable software is integrated into the client'"'"'s system, and the performance test tests the deliverable software for defects as it is executing in the client'"'"'s system, and

wherein each of the plurality of assembly line workers is associated with a respective work queue, and each of the configuration routes are associated with one of the work queues;

receiving the work packet from a design center in the software factory;

receiving an activity report from each of the plurality of work queues identifying a number of preexisting work packets in each of the plurality of work queues;

collecting workload data for each of the plurality of assembly line workers, wherein the workload data includes previous activity reports;

calculating, by a processor, an estimated completion time for each work queue using the activity report and the workload data for each of the plurality of work queues;

identifying, by the processor, a first work queue corresponding to a shortest estimated completion time; and

routing the work packet to a first assembly line worker associated with the first work queue.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving a published set of services and a published set of requirements for the assembly line, wherein the published set of services and the published set of requirements for the assembly line are published to the design center, and wherein the published set of services describes what assembly services for assembling the work packet is offered by the assembly line, and wherein the published set of requirements describes what execution environment must be used by the work packet,

wherein calculating the estimated completion time further comprises using the published set of services and the published set of requirements.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the work packet includes governance procedures, standards, reused assets, work packet instructions, integration strategy, schedules, exit criteria and artifact checklist templates for Input/Output routines.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the assembly line includes software that automatically recognizes a project type for the work packet, and wherein the assembly line assembles the work packet into the deliverable software in accordance with the project type that is recognized by the assembly line.

5. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

a dynamic router which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

receive a plurality of configuration routes describing a plurality of available routes for a work packet,

wherein the plurality of configuration routes are configured by a project manager using an availability status for each of a plurality of assembly line workers of an assembly line in a software factory,

wherein the assembly line conducts an integration test, a system test, a system integration test and a performance test of a deliverable software, wherein the integration test tests the deliverable software for compatibility with a client'"'"'s system, the system test checks the client'"'"'s system to ensure that the client'"'"'s system is operating properly, the system integration test tests for bugs that may arise when the deliverable software is integrated into the client'"'"'s system, and the performance test tests the deliverable software for defects as it is executing in the client'"'"'s system, and

wherein each of the plurality of assembly line workers is associated with a respective work queue, and each of the configuration routes are associated with one of the work queues;

receive the work packet from a design center in the software factory;

receive an activity report from each of the plurality of work queues identifying a number of preexisting work packets in each of the plurality of work queues;

collect workload data for each of the plurality of assembly line workers, wherein the workload data includes previous activity reports;

calculate an estimated completion time for each work queue using the activity report and the workload data for each of the plurality of work queues;

identify a first work queue corresponding to a shortest estimated completion time; and

route the work packet to a first assembly line worker associated with the first work queue.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the work packet includes governance procedures, standards, reused assets, work packet instructions, integration strategy, schedules, exit criteria and artifact checklist templates for Input/Output routines.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the assembly line includes software that automatically recognizes a project type for the work packet, and wherein the assembly line assembles the work packet into the deliverable software in accordance with the project type that is recognized by the assembly line.

8. A tangible computer-readable medium comprising computer readable code which is configured to perform the following functions when executed by a processor:

receive a plurality of configuration routes describing a plurality of available routes for a work packet,

wherein the plurality of configuration routes are configured by a project manager using an availability status for each of a plurality of assembly line workers of an assembly line in a software factory,

wherein the assembly line conducts an integration test, a system test, a system integration test and a performance test of a deliverable software, wherein the integration test tests the deliverable software for compatibility with a client'"'"'s system, the system test checks the client'"'"'s system to ensure that the client'"'"'s system is operating properly, the system integration test tests for bugs that may arise when the deliverable software is integrated into the client'"'"'s system, and the performance test tests the deliverable software for defects as it is executing in the client'"'"'s system, and

wherein each of the plurality of assembly line workers is associated with a respective work queue, and each of the configuration routes are associated with one of the work queues;

receive the work packet from a design center in the software factory;

receive an activity report from each of the plurality of work queues identifying a number of preexisting work packets in each of the plurality of work queues;

collect workload data for each of the plurality of assembly line workers, wherein the workload data includes previous activity reports;

calculate an estimated completion time for each work queue using the activity report and the workload data for each of the plurality of work queues;

identify a first work queue corresponding to a shortest estimated completion time; and

route the work packet to a first assembly line worker associated with the first work queue.

9. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the work packet includes governance procedures, standards, reused assets, work packet instructions, integration strategy, schedules, exit criteria and artifact checklist templates for Input/Output routines.

10. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the assembly line includes software that automatically recognizes a project type for the work packet, and wherein the assembly line assembles the work packets into the deliverable software in accordance with the project type that is recognized by the assembly line.

11. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the tangible computer-readable medium is a component of a remote server, and wherein the computer executable instructions are deployable to a supervisory computer from the remote server.

12. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the computer executable instructions are capable of being provided by a service provider to a customer on an on-demand basis.