Apparatus and method for processing log file data

• US 9,405,755 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tektronix Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Initial State Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Sulpy, David Leo, Reeves, Adam Matthew, Bailey, James Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko, Chae
• Application Number:
  US14/340,011
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 714/57
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0766 Error or fault reporting or storing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program

Abstract

A method implemented by a computer includes receiving a log file with log file data characterizing the operation of a system. A normalized format for the log file data is proposed. User input on the normalized format is solicited. The normalized format is set. The log file data is converted to the normalized format. A visualization application operative with the normalized format is selected. The visualization application supplies visualizations of the log file data.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a computer, comprising:

receiving a log file with log file data characterizing the operation of a system;

proposing a normalized format for the log file data;

soliciting user input on the normalized format;

setting the normalized format;

converting the log file data to the normalized format;

selecting a visualization application operative with the normalized format, wherein selecting includes selecting the visualization application from a plurality of visualization applications each operative with the normalized format and wherein selecting is based upon properties of the normalized format, wherein the plurality of visualization applications includes a bit signal application configured to present one of two states in the log file data; and

supplying, by the visualization application, visualizations of the log file data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the normalized format has uniform parameters operative with a plurality of visualization applications.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the uniform parameters include a source name, a start time, a type, time offsets from the start time, and data values associated with the time offsets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of visualization applications includes a motion visualization application configured to present an animated visualization of the operation of the system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of visualization applications includes a charting visualization application configured to present the log file data in graphical form.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of visualization applications includes a flag visualization application configured to present a flag each time a specified event in the log file data occurs.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of visualization applications includes a decoded visualization application configured to present a decoded visualization of the operation of the system.