System, method, and computer readable media for identifying a user-initiated log file record in a log file

• US 8,219,582 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Danny Yen-Fu, Cox, David A., Kinstler, Sheryl S., Morgan, Fabian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vital, Pierre
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rostami, Mohammad S
• Application Number:
  US12/109,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/776
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1748 De-duplication implemented within the file system, e.g. based on file segments de-duplication techniques in storage systems for the management of data blocks G06F3/0641
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing

Abstract

A system, a method, and a computer readable media for identifying a user-initiated log file record in a log file are provided. The log file has a user-initiated log file record and a repeating pattern of log file records automatically generated by a software program. The system allows a user to identify first and second timestamp values corresponding to first and second times which identify a time interval of interest in the log file. The system further analyzes the log file to identify the user-initiated log file record having a timestamp value between the first and second timestamp values. The system further identifies the repeating pattern of log file records in the log file.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a user-initiated log file record in a log file, the method comprising:

a computer selecting the log file having a plurality of log file records therein, the plurality of log file records having at least in part a repeating pattern of log file records automatically generated by a software program;

the computer executing a first software command to store a first timestamp value in a memory device, the first timestamp value indicating a first time;

the computer executing at least a first user-initiated software command by a user that induces the computer to store at least a user-initiated log file record having a second timestamp value in the log file and to store the second timestamp value, the second timestamp value indicating a second time after the first time;

wherein the computer stores the at least one user-initiated log file record responsive to the user selecting a perform action button, the perform action button being configured to cause execution of the first user-initiated software command and to generate the at least one user-initiated log file record for storage in the log file;

the computer executing a second software command to store a third timestamp value in the memory device, the third timestamp value indicating a third time, the third time being after the second time and after execution of the first user-initiated software command is completed;

the computer analyzing the plurality of log file records in the log file to identify the repeating pattern of log file records stored therein, the repeating pattern of log file records being generated by a software application at predetermined time intervals;

the computer distinguishing between the user-initiated log file record generated by the user selecting the perform action button and the repeating pattern of log file records generated by the software application at the predetermined time intervals;

the computer displaying the user-initiated log file record in a graphical user interface that is devoid of the repeating pattern of log file records generated by the software application at the predetermined time intervals; and

the computer storing the user-initiated log file record in the memory device;

wherein distinguishing between the user-initiated log file record generated by the user selecting the perform action button and the repeating pattern of log file records generated by the software application at the predetermined time intervals comprises the computer removing the repeating pattern of log file records from the plurality of log file records in order to identify the user-initiated log file record; and

wherein the user selecting the perform action button causes generation of the at least one user-initiated log file record to correspond to at least one of performing migrate task, performing an assign task, and performing a submit task.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer displaying the plurality of log file records in a graphical user interface on a display device.

3. A computer system for identifying a user-initiated log file record in a log file, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and one or more computer-readable memories, at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories having the log file stored therein, the log file having a plurality of log file records therein, the plurality of log file records having at least in part a repeating pattern of log file records automatically generated by a software program;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display first and second graphical user interfaces on a display device, the first graphical user interface configured to allow a user to select the log file;

the first graphical user interface further configured to allow the user to execute a first software command to store a first timestamp value in a memory device, the first timestamp value indicating a first time;

the second graphical user interface configured to allow the user to execute at least a first user-initiated software command that induces at least one of the one or more processors to store at least a user-initiated log file record having a second timestamp value in the log file and to store the second timestamp value, the second timestamp value indicating a second time after the first time;

wherein at least one of the one or more processors stores the at least one user-initiated log file record responsive to the user selecting a perform action button, the perform action button being configured to cause execution of the first user-initiated software command and to generate the at least one user-initiated log file record for storage in the log file;

the first graphical user interface further configured to allow the user to execute a second software command to store a third timestamp value in the memory device, the third timestamp value indicating a third time, the third time being after the second time and after execution of the first user-initiated software command is completed;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to analyze the plurality of log file records in the log file to identify the repeating pattern of log file records stored therein, the repeating pattern of log file records being generated by a software application at predetermined time intervals;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to distinguish between the user-initiated log file record generated by the user selecting the perform action button and the repeating pattern of log file records generated by the software application at the predetermined time intervals;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display the user-initiated log file record in the second graphical user interface, wherein the second graphical user interface is devoid of the repeating pattern of log file records; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to store the user-initiated log file record in the memory device;

wherein distinguishing between the user-initiated log file record generated by the user selecting the perform action button and the repeating pattern of log file records generated by the software application at the predetermined time intervals comprises the computer removing the repeating pattern of log file records from the plurality of log file records in order to identify the user-initiated log file record; and

wherein the user selectin the perform action button causes generation of the at least one user-initiated log file record to correspond to at least one of performing a migrate task, performing an assign task, and performing a submit task.

4. The computer system of claim 3, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display the plurality of log file records in the log file in the first graphical user interface.

5. The computer system of claim 3, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to display a third graphical user interface on the display device, the third graphical user interface configured to display the user-initiated log file record.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions implementing a method for identifying a user-initiated log file record in a log file, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to select the log file having a plurality of log file records therein, the plurality of log file records having at least in part a repeating pattern of log file records automatically generated by a software program;

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to execute a first software command to store a first timestamp value in a memory device, the first timestamp value indicating a first time;

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to execute at least a first user-initiated software command by a user that induces a computer to store at least a user-initiated log file record having a second timestamp value in the log file and to store the second timestamp value, the second timestamp value indicating a second time after the first time;

wherein program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, stores the at least one user-initiated log file record responsive to the user selecting a perform action button, the perform action button being configured to cause execution of the first user-initiated software command and to generate the at least one user-initiated log file record for storage in the log file;

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to execute a second software command to store a third timestamp value in the memory device, the third timestamp value indicating a third time, the third time being after the second time and after execution of the first user-initiated software command is completed;

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to analyze the plurality of log file records in the log file to identify the repeating pattern of log file records stored therein, the repeating pattern of log file records being generated by a software application at predetermined time intervals;

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to distinguish between the user-initiated log file record generated by the user selecting the perform action button and the repeating pattern of log file records generated by the software application at the predetermined time intervals;

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to display the user-initiated log file record in a graphical user interface that is devoid of the repeating pattern of log file records; and

program instructions, stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium, to store the user-initiated log file record in the memory device;

wherein distinguishing between the user-initiated log file record generated by the user selecting the perform action button and the repeating pattern of log file records generated by the software application at the predetermined time intervals comprises the computer removing the repeating pattern of log file records from the plurality of log file records in order to identify the user-initiated log file record; and

wherein the user selecting the perform action button causes generation of the at least one user-initiated log file record to correspond to at least one of performing a migrate task, performing an assign task, and performing a submit task.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, further comprising program instructions, stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, to display, on a display device, a graphical user interface configured to allow a the user to identify the log file having the plurality of log file records therein.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6, further comprising program instructions, stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, to display the plurality of log file records in a graphical user interface on a display device.