Graphics for end to end component mapping and problem-solving in a network environment

• US 8,316,381 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fearn, Paul, Olsson, Stig Arne, Vijayan, Geetha
• Primary Examiner(s): Sough, S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RONI, SYED A
• Application Number:
  US12/102,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems

Abstract

An example of a solution provided here comprises receiving as input at least one event (chosen from an event generated by an application probe, and an event generated by a component probe), and providing graphical output based on the inputs, whereby a user correlates a component problem with a performance problem affecting an application. Methods connected with graphics for end to end component mapping and problem-solving in a network environment, systems for executing such methods, and instructions on a computer-usable medium, for executing such methods, are provided.

Claims

1. A system comprising a processor, a computer-readable memory coupled to the processor, and a computer-readable tangible storage device coupled to the processor, said computer-readable tangible storage device containing program code configured to be executed by the processor via the computer-readable memory to implement a method for mapping, said method comprising:

said processor receiving as input at least one component identifier representing at least one of a hardware component or a software component, wherein each component identifier comprises a depth parameter, a component name parameter, and a parent component parameter;

said processor receiving as input at least one event identifier representing at least one event chosen from;

an event generated by an application probe; and

an event generated by a component probe, wherein each event identifier comprises a depth parameter, an event name parameter, and a parent component parameter; and

said processor providing graphical output based on said at least one component identifier and said at least one event identifier, wherein;

said providing a graphical output comprises providing a graphical representation of a hierarchy containing separate graphical objects representative of the at least one event, and at least one of a hardware component or a software component whereby a user correlates a component problem with a performance problem affecting an application based on the graphical output,

said component problem is associated with said at least one event,

a general view of a business process is represented in a level at one extreme of said hierarchy,

at least one event generated by a component probe is represented in a level at the opposite extreme of said hierarchy from the level at which the general view of the business process is represented, and

at least one event generated by an application probe is represented in an intermediate level of said hierarchy between the general view of the business process and the at least one event generated by the component probe, and

wherein said providing graphical output further comprises;

providing an axis representing the depth parameter of the component identifier and the depth parameter of the event identifier, wherein graphical objects representative of the at least one event and the at least one of the hardware component or the software component are arranged along the axis according to their corresponding depth parameter in their corresponding component or event identifier.

2. The system of claim 1, said method further comprising:

said processor directing problem-solving efforts, based on said graphical output.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing graphical representations of items chosen from;

a business process; and

an application.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing an axis representing a depth parameter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said hierarchy includes between six and eight levels, inclusively.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing a class diagram.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing one or more views chosen from;

an application view;

a component view; and

a combination view.

8. A computer program product having a computer-readable tangible storage device with computer-executable instructions stored thereon, said computer-executable instructions being executable by a computer system having a processor to implement a method for mapping, said method comprising:

the computer system receiving as input at least one component identifier representing at least one of a hardware component or a software component, wherein each component identifier comprises a depth parameter, a component name parameter, and a parent component parameter;

the computer system receiving as input at least one event identifier representing at least one event chosen from;

an event generated by an application probe; and

an event generated by a component probe, wherein each event identifier

comprises a depth parameter, an event name parameter, and a parent component parameter; and

the computer system providing graphical output based on said at least one component identifier and said at least one event identifier, wherein;

said providing a graphical output comprises providing a graphical representation of a hierarchy containing separate graphical objects representative of the at least one event, and at least one of a hardware component or a software component whereby a user correlates a component problem with a performance problem affecting an application based on the graphical output,

said component problem is associated with said at least one event,

a general view of a business process is represented in a level at one extreme of said hierarchy,

at least one event generated by a component probe is represented in a level at the opposite extreme of said hierarchy from the level at which the general view of the business process is represented, and

at least one event generated by an application probe is represented in an intermediate level of said hierarchy between the general view of the business process and the at least one event generated by the component probe, and

wherein said providing graphical output further comprises;

providing an axis representing the depth parameter of the component identifier and the depth parameter of the event identifier, wherein graphical objects representative of the at least one event and the at least one of the hardware component or the software component are arranged along the axis according to their corresponding depth parameter in their corresponding component or event identifier.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, said method further comprising:

the computer system directing problem-solving efforts, based on said graphical output.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing graphical representations of items chosen from;

a business process; and

an application.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing an axis representing a depth parameter.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said hierarchy includes between six and eight levels, inclusively.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing a class diagram.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein said providing graphical output further comprises:

providing one or more views chosen from;

an application view;

a component view; and

a combination view.