Information management inventory

• US 8,768,894 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Stanley, Eric B., Wilson, Richard M., Campbell, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhatia, Ajay
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURNS, RANDALL WHITMAN
• Application Number:
  US12/413,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/688, 707/706, 707/E17.001, 707/E17.005, 707/E17.032, 707/E17.044, 709/202
• US Class Current: 707/688
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

An information management inventory in which information is managed electronically in a network of distributed servers including a structured data environment. Agent software may be loaded on a first server, which may be a local server, and the first server may be scanned with the agent software to identify data stores located on the first server. The information related to a first data store may be compiled with the agent software, and the information may be provided to a second server, which may be a data accumulation server. The information may be metadata about the first data store, and histories of changes to the data stores may be tracked in the second data store. Apparatus, computer readable medium systems, and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of managing information electronically in a network of distributed servers including a structured data environment, the method comprising:

choosing and implementing complementary components including a Database Management System (DBMS) and associated query language, the DBMS configured for housing a metadata data store, network protocols and connectivity for integration with disparate systems, and an operating system and hardware platform at least for the metadata data store, wherein the choices are made based at least in part on cost, connectivity, scalability and technical standards of a target environment;

loading agent software on a central data accumulation server and at least two local servers wherein at least two of the at least two local servers are geographically dispersed from one another and at least two of the at least two local servers operate on different platforms from one another;

scanning at least one of a system catalog, copy book or configuration file of the local servers with the agent software to identify technical metadata related to one or more data stores located on the local servers;

compiling first information as specified by a user, the first information related to a first data store identified on a first local server with the agent software and related to a second data store identified on a second local server with the agent software, wherein the first information related to the first data store comprises an identity of the first data store, a size of the first data store, a computerized format of the first data store, and a status of the first data store, and wherein the first information related to the second data store comprises an identity of the second data store, a size of the second data store, a computerized format of the second data store, and a status of the second data store;

storing the first information related to the first data store in the second data store;

receiving the compiled first information on the central data accumulation server;

processing the compiled first information on the central data accumulation server comprising generating one or more reports regarding the compiled first information on the central data accumulation server upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled first information is preselected by the user;

periodically scanning the local servers with the agent software to identify at least one data store that has changed since a previous scanning event;

compiling second information as specified by a user related to at least one change to the at least one data store;

receiving the compiled second information on the central data accumulation server; and

processing the compiled second information on the central data accumulation server related to the at least one change to the at least one data store, the processing comprising generating one or more reports regarding the compiled second information related to the at least one change to the at least one data store upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled second information is preselected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises performing metadata management services on the data accumulation server.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first information relating to the first data store comprises metadata comprising data store information comprising one or more data store characteristics comprising one or more of a data type, a status, a nature, a creator or an ownership.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising storing versions of the changes made to the information relating to the first data store on the first local server in the first data store.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the information relating to the first data store on the first local server and the changes relating to the first data store are metadata.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising maintaining a history of the changes relating to the first data store on the first local server with data management software.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising organizing the information and changes relating to the first data store on the first local server with the data management software.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising reporting on the information and changes relating to the first data store on the first local server with the data management software.

9. A method for managing information electronically on a first local server and a second local server, in a network of distributed servers including a structured data environment, the method comprising:

choosing and implementing complementary components including a Database Management System (DBMS) and associated query language, the DBMS configured for housing a metadata data store, network protocols and connectivity for integration with disparate systems, and an operating system and hardware platform at least for the metadata data store, wherein the choices are made based at least in part on cost, connectivity, scalability and technical standards of a target environment;

reading, using a processor, a storage medium having a computer program stored therein, the computer program comprising instructions for;

scanning at least one of a system catalog, copy book or configuration file of the first local server and the second local server with agent software loaded on the first local server and the second local server to identify technical metadata related to one or more data stores located on the first local server and the second local server, the first local server and the second local server being geographically dispersed from one another and operating on different platforms from one another;

compiling first information as specified by a user, the first information related to a first data store identified on the first local server with the agent software and related to a second data store identified on the second local server, wherein the first information related to the first data store comprises an identity of the first data store, a size of the first data store, a computerized format of the first data store, and a status of the first data store, and wherein the first information related to the second data store comprises an identity of the second data store, a size of the second data store, a computerized format of the second data store, and a status of the second data store;

storing the first information related to the first data store in the second data store;

providing the first information to a central data accumulation server so that the compiled first information is processed by generating one or more reports upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled first information is preselected by the user;

periodically scanning the first local server and the second local sever with the agent software to identify at least one data store that has changed since a previous scanning event;

compiling second information as specified by a user related to at least one change to the at least one data store; and

providing the second compiled information to the central data accumulation server so that the compiled information is processed by generating one or more reports regarding the compiled second information related to the at least one change to the at least one data store upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled information is preselected by the user.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer readable program code stored therein, the computer readable program code configured to cause a processor operatively coupled to the computer-readable storage medium to:

scan at least one of a system catalog, copy book or configuration file of a first local server and a second local server with agent software loaded on the first local server and the second local server to identify technical metadata related to one or more data stores located on the first local server and the second local server, the first local server and the second local server being geographically dispersed from one another and operating on different platforms from one another;

compile first information as specified by a user, the first information related to a first data store identified on the first local server with the agent software and related to a second data store identified on the second local server, wherein the first information related to the first data store comprises an identity of the first data store, a size of the first data store, a computerized format of the first data store, and a status of the first data store, and wherein the first information related to the second data store comprises an identity of the second data store, a size of the second data store, a computerized format of the second data store, and a status of the second data store;

store the first information related to the first data store in the second data store;

provide the first information to a central data accumulation server so that the compiled first information is processed by generating one or more reports upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled first information is preselected by the user;

periodically scan the first local server and the second local server with the agent software to identify at least one data store that has changed since a previous scanning event;

compile second information as specified by a user related to at least one change to the at least one data store; and

provide the compiled second information to the central data accumulation server so that the compiled second information is processed by generating one or more reports regarding the compiled second information related to the at least one change to the at least one data store upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled second information is preselected by the user.

11. A system for managing information comprising:

a Database Management System (DBMS) having an associated query language, the DBMS configured for housing a metadata data store, network protocols and connectivity for integration with disparate systems, and an operating system and hardware platform at least for the metadata data store, wherein the DBMS is selected based at least in part on cost, connectivity, scalability and technical standards of a target environment;

a first local server and a second local server;

the first local server and the second local server running a first agent software;

the first local server and the second local server being geographically dispersed from one another and operating on different platforms from one another; and

a data accumulation server configured for communicating with the first local server and the second local server, the data accumulation server comprising a processor configured for executing a second agent software, the processor configured for;

receiving first information compiled by the first agent software, wherein the first information is compiled as specified by a user and based on the first agent software scanning at least one of a system catalog, copy book or configuration file of the first local server and the second local server to identify technical metadata related to one or more data stores located on the first local server and the second local server, wherein the first information is related to a first data store identified on the first local server, the first information related to the first data store comprising an identity of the first data store, a size of the first data store, a computerized format of the first data store, and a status of the first data store, wherein the first information is further related to a second data store identified on the second local server, the first information related to the second data store comprising an identity of the second data store, a size of the second data store, a computerized format of the second data store, and a status of the second data store;

storing the first information related to the first data store in the second data store;

processing the compiled first information on the data accumulation server to generate one or more data store reports upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled first information is preselected by the user

receiving second information compiled by the first agent software, wherein the second information is compiled as specified by a user and based on the first agent software periodically scanning the first local server and the second local server to identify at least one data store that has changed since a previous scanning event; and

processing the compiled second information related to the at least one change to the at least one data store to generate one or more data store reports upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports is individually configured by one or more users.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to maintain a history of the changes relating to one or more of the identified data stores in the first local server and the second local server with data management software.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to organize the information and changes relating to the one or more identified data stores in the first local server and the second local server with the data management software.