Methods and systems for efficient updating of time-aligned graphs in a monitoring system

• US 9,461,896 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Riverbed Technology, LLC (Riverbed Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Riverbed Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Groves, Greg, Rogner, Eric, Berman, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ALGIBHAH, HAMZA N
• Application Number:
  US13/715,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20130159512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/045 for graphical visualisation of monitoring data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

The present invention relates to displaying data in a time-aligned fashion. A dashboard may have a defined time window and a plurality of graphs for various types of monitoring data metrics. Updates to each of the graphs may occur at different intervals while the graphs stay aligned to the same time window. The updates may be asynchronously received and displayed in the dashboard in real-time or near real-time. The graphs are aligned to the same time window in a dashboard by adding a future time buffer. When the live data reaches the end of the time window, the future time buffer allows a brief overflow period for updates to be added to the graphs while keeping all the graphs on a common time axis. Once the current time reaches the end of the future time buffer, the dashboard is then shifted forward and a future time buffer is added.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a user interface showing a graphical presentation of a plurality of metrics, said method comprising:

receiving data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics, wherein the data is updated for each metric in the plurality of metrics at different rates;

determining a duration for a time window for displaying the received data, wherein the time window is segmented into a series of time intervals;

determining a future time buffer based on the duration of the time window and a size of the time intervals; and

displaying the received data for each metric of the plurality of metrics in respective graphical elements that are aligned to the same time axis spanning the duration of the time window plus the future time buffer, wherein updates to the data for at least one metric in the plurality of metrics received after an end of the time window are displayed in the future time buffer, and wherein updates to the data for at least one metric in the plurality of metrics has not been received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating processor utilization of a computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating processor interrupts of a computing device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating memory utilization of a computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating an amount of free memory of a computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the future time buffer comprises determining the future time buffer based on a percentage of the duration of the time window.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the future time buffer comprises determining whether a size of the future time buffer also exceeds a threshold percentage of the size of the intervals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising rounding the future time buffer to a size corresponding to one of a set of pre-determined time interval sizes.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

shifting the time window forward when current time reaches an end of the future time buffer; and

adding the future time buffer to the shifted time window.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating memory utilization of a computing device.

10. A computing device configured to display a user interface showing a graphical presentation of a plurality of metrics, said device comprising:

an input configured to receive data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics,

wherein the data is updated for each metric in the plurality of metrics at different rates; and

a processor configured by executable program code to;

determine a duration for a time window for displaying the received data, wherein the time window is segmented into a series of time intervals,

determine a future time buffer based on the duration of the time window and a size of the time intervals, and

provide information for displaying the received data for each metric of the plurality of metrics in respective graphical elements that are aligned to the same time axis spanning the duration the time window plus the future time buffer, wherein updates to the data for at least one metric in the plurality of metrics received after an end of the time window are displayed in the future time buffer, and wherein updates to the data for at least one metric in the plurality of metrics has not been received.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a display configured to display the received data in respective graphical elements that are aligned to the same time axis spanning the duration the time window plus the future time buffer, wherein updates to at least some of the data received after an end of the time window are displayed in the future time buffer.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the input is configured to receive data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating processor utilization of a computing device.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the input is configured to receive data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating processor interrupts of a computing device monitored.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the input is configured to receive data indicating a status of a plurality of metrics comprises receiving data indicating an amount of free memory of a computing device.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured determine the future time buffer based on a percentage of the duration of the time window.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a size of the future time buffer also exceeds a threshold percentage of the size of the intervals.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to round the future time buffer to a size corresponding to one of a set of pre-determined time interval sizes.

19. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to shift the time window forward when time reaches an end of the future time buffer and add the future time buffer to the shifted time window.