Message processing and content based searching for message locations in an asynchronous network

• US 20060056433A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Herrmann, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/412
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for processing messages and searching for locating messages in an asynchronous messaging network by using content based message tracking. The message descriptor of each message is extended by a content key generated by the message generating application. The content key provides search information derived from application data contained in the message body. Each message queuing system is extend by a message trace component that administers a message trace queue and adds entries in the message trace queue for each operation of a message, and by a message search component that provides the functionality to search for the current location of a specified message as well as to retrieve a trace of the movement of the message.

Claims

1. A message queuing system in a messaging network, wherein the messaging network includes a plurality of message queuing systems communicating with each other via communication links, wherein each message queuing system includes at least a queue manager for queuing messages it receives onto an appropriate queue, and retrieving the messages in response to an application request or a message queuing request, and at least one queue for queuing messages, comprising:

a message trace queue for storing message trace information for incoming and outgoing messages, wherein the message trace information includes at least a content key provided with each message and a message identifier assigned to the content key;

a message tracking component for receiving message trace information from the queue manager and storing the message trace information in the message trace queue; and

a message search component for receiving message search requests including at least a content key to be searched for, searching for the content key in the message trace information stored in the message trace queue, and providing a search result.

2. The message queuing system according to claim 1, wherein the content key is provided as a part of a message descriptor of the message.

3. The message queuing system according to claim 1, wherein the message trace information further includes an operation performed with the message, an identifier of a source queue, and a time stamp of a message trace entry.

4. The message queuing system according to claim 1, wherein the message trace information further includes identifiers of a target queue and a target queuing system, and a time stamp of a message trace entry if the message is either sent or received to or from another message queuing system.

5. The message queuing system according to claim 1, wherein the message trace queue comprises:

a message trace table in a database, which table includes for each operation of a message a message id, the content key, an operation performed with the message, an identifier of a source queue, an indication of whether the message is sent or received to or from another message queuing system, identifiers of a target queue and a target queuing system, and a time stamp of the message trace entry; and

a message content table in the database, which table stores a message ID only once for each message, and the label with its assigned value.

6. The message queuing system according to claim 1, wherein the message search component generates message search requests, sends message search requests to adjacent queue managers, receives replies from adjacent queue managers, consolidates received replies, and provides a reply to a requesting search application.

7. A method for processing messages in a messaging network, wherein said messaging network includes a plurality of message queuing systems communicating with each other via communication links, wherein each message queuing system includes at least a queue manager for queuing messages it receives onto an appropriate queue, and retrieving the messages in response to a request, and at least one queue for queuing messages, wherein said method in said queuing systems comprises:

receiving a message from an application including a content key in a message descriptor;

checking validity of the content key;

creating a new entry in a message trace queue including a message id for the message, the content key, a queue name where the message is put, an operation type applied to the message, and a time stamp of a message trace entry; and

storing the message on the queue if the entry is stored successfully on the message trace queue.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a get message operation from an application;

retrieving the message from the queue, responsive to the get message;

generating a new entry in the message trace queue which includes the message id, the content key, the queue name, the operation type GET, and the time stamp of the entry; and

sending the message to the requesting application and removing it from the queue if the entry is stored successfully.

9. A method for searching for a message within a messaging network, wherein said messaging network includes a plurality of message queuing systems communicating with each other via communication links, wherein each message queuing system includes at least a queue manager for queuing the messages it receives onto an appropriate queue, and retrieving the messages in response to a request, and at least one queue for queuing messages, said method at said message queuing systems comprising:

receiving a search request from a search application;

creating an internal search request from the received search request, wherein the internal search request includes a content key, a unique search request identifier, and an expiration date;

sending the internal search request to adjacent message queuing systems;

searching on a local message trace queue for matching entries with the content key;

waiting for expiration of all responses of adjacent message queuing systems;

consolidating the received responses;

creating a search result; and

providing the search result to the requesting search application.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the search result is presented as a list including a message id, a queue name, and a name of a message queuing system where the message has been located by the search.

11. A computer program product suitable for use with a messaging network, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embedded therein, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive a message from an application including a content key in a message descriptor;

computer readable program code configured to check validity of the content key;

computer readable program code configured to create a new entry in a message trace queue including a message id for the message, the content key, a queue name where the message is put, an operation type applied to the message, and a time stamp of a message trace entry; and

computer readable program code configured to store the message on the queue if the entry is stored successfully on the message trace queue.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program code further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to receive a get message operation from an application;

computer readable program code configured to retrieve the message from the queue, responsive to the get message;

computer readable program code configured to generate a new entry in the message trace queue which includes the message id, the content key, the queue name, the operation type GET, and the time stamp of the entry; and

computer readable program code configured to send the message to the requesting application and remove it from the queue if the entry is stored successfully.