SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY CONFIGURING A MULTIPLATFORM COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20090037425A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Petersilka, Dale William, Erickson, Andrew Lee, Smith, Julie Marie, Merges, John Peter III
• Granted Patent: US 7,739,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems

Abstract

A system and associated method for dynamically configuring a multiplatform computing environment are disclosed. At least one service may form a workflow to be executed as an ordered group. A database contains configuration data, workflow control data, and workflow status data. A service configuration utility provides user interface to dynamically receive configuration data, to update the database, and to display contents of the database. A workflow entry process creates a workflow. A service monitor controls runtime behaviors of the system according to contents of the database. A service listener routes a workflow to associated services according to the configuration data in the database. A service executes a desired function, and then reports a result to the system monitor. The system monitor updates contents of the database to reflect the reported result.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically configuring a multiplatform computing system comprising at least one service, at least one workflow, a service configuration utility, a workflow entry process, a service monitor, at least one service listener, and a database, wherein at least one service, said at least one workflow, the service configuration utility, the workflow entry process, the service monitor, and said at least one service listener are executed on the multiplatform computing system, wherein the multiplatform computing system comprises at least one computer system, wherein the database is coupled to the multiplatform computing system, wherein the database comprises at least one service configuration record, at least one workflow configuration record, at least one workflow control record, and at least one workflow status record, the method comprising:

receiving a dynamic configuration request from a user through the service configuration utility, wherein said dynamic configuration request comprises a first data set to configure said at least one service and a second data set to configure said at least one workflow;

updating contents of the database pursuant to the first data set and the second data set of the received dynamic configuration request; and

processing said at least one workflow pursuant to the updated contents of the database,

wherein each service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record comprises a service identifier field and a service key field,

wherein each workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record comprises a workflow identifier field and a service field,

wherein each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record comprises a workflow identifier field,

wherein each workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record comprises a workflow identifier field.

2. The method of claim 1, said updating performed by the service configuration utility, said updating comprising:

storing in the database the first data set in a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record;

storing in the database the second data set in a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record;

checking for a new value for the service key field in any service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record; and

adding a new service key field to each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record in response to finding the new value from said checking, wherein the new service key field is determined by the new value found from said checking.

3. The method of claim 1, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to increase a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

starting a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to invoke a service identified by the service id value.

4. The method of claim 1, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to decrease a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

stopping a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to cease a service identified by the service id value.

5. The method of claim 1, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a workflow request comprising a workflow id value;

auditing a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value of the determined workflow request;

examining a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the audited workflow control record;

selecting a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service field in the first workflow configuration field has a same value as the service identifier field of the first service configuration record; and

sending a service request for a first service identified by the service identifier filed of the first service configuration record to a first service listener responsible for invoking the first service.

6. The method of claim 1, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service result report comprising a workflow id value and a result status data;

modifying a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record to include the service result report as dictated by a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow id value; and

recording the service result report into a first workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record in the database, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow status record has a same value as the workflow id of the service result report.

7. The method of claim 1, said processing performed by the workflow entry process, said processing comprising:

creating a new workflow according to a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record in the updated database, wherein the new workflow control record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record; and

inserting a new workflow control record in the database, wherein the new workflow control record describes the created new workflow.

8. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code containing instructions that when executed by a processor of a computer system implement a method for dynamically configuring a multiplatform computing system comprising at least one service, at least one workflow, a service configuration utility, a workflow entry process, a service monitor, at least one service listener, and a database, wherein at least one service, said at least one workflow, the service configuration utility, the workflow entry process, the service monitor, and said at least one service listener are executed on the multiplatform computing system, wherein the multiplatform computing system comprises at least one computer system, wherein the database is coupled to the multiplatform computing system, wherein the database comprises at least one service configuration record, at least one workflow configuration record, at least one workflow control record, and at least one workflow status record, the method comprising:

receiving a dynamic configuration request from a user through the service configuration utility, wherein said dynamic configuration request comprises a first data set to configure said at least one service and a second data set to configure said at least one workflow;

updating contents of the database pursuant to the first data set and the second data set of the received dynamic configuration request; and

processing said at least one workflow pursuant to the updated contents of the database,

wherein each service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record comprises a service identifier field and a service key field,

wherein each workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record comprises a workflow identifier field and a service field,

wherein each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record comprises a workflow identifier field,

wherein each workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record comprises a workflow identifier field.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, said updating performed by the service configuration utility, said updating comprising:

storing in the database the first data set in a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record;

storing in the database the second data set in a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record;

checking for a new value for the service key field in any service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record; and

adding a new service key field to each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record in response to finding the new value from said checking, wherein the new service key field is determined by the new value found from said checking.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to increase a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

starting a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to invoke a service identified by the service id value.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to decrease a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

stopping a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to cease a service identified by the service id value.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a workflow request comprising a workflow id value;

auditing a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value of the determined workflow request;

examining a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the audited workflow control record;

selecting a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service field in the first workflow configuration field has a same value as the service identifier field of the first service configuration record; and

sending a service request for a first service identified by the service identifier filed of the first service configuration record to a first service listener responsible for invoking the first service.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service result report comprising a workflow id value and a result status data;

modifying a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record to include the service result report as dictated by a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow id value; and

recording the service result report into a first workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record in the database, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow status record has a same value as the workflow id of the service result report.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, said processing performed by the workflow entry process, said processing comprising:

creating a new workflow according to a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record in the updated database, wherein the new workflow control record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record; and

inserting a new workflow control record in the database, wherein the new workflow control record describes the created new workflow.

15. A computer system comprising a processor and a computer readable memory unit coupled to the processor, said memory unit containing instructions that when executed by the processor implement a method for dynamically configuring a multiplatform computing system comprising at least one service, at least one workflow, a service configuration utility, a workflow entry process, a service monitor, at least one service listener, and a database, wherein at least one service, said at least one workflow, the service configuration utility, the workflow entry process, the service monitor, and said at least one service listener are executed on the multiplatform computing system, wherein the multiplatform computing system comprises at least one computer system, wherein the database is coupled to the multiplatform computing system, wherein the database comprises at least one service configuration record, at least one workflow configuration record, at least one workflow control record, and at least one workflow status record, the method comprising:

receiving a dynamic configuration request from a user through the service configuration utility, wherein said dynamic configuration request comprises a first data set to configure said at least one service and a second data set to configure said at least one workflow;

updating contents of the database pursuant to the first data set and the second data set of the received dynamic configuration request; and

processing said at least one workflow pursuant to the updated contents of the database,

wherein each service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record comprises a service identifier field and a service key field,

wherein each workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record comprises a workflow identifier field and a service field,

wherein each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record comprises a workflow identifier field,

wherein each workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record comprises a workflow identifier field.

16. The computer system of claim 15, said updating performed by the service configuration utility, said updating comprising:

storing in the database the first data set in a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record;

storing in the database the second data set in a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record;

checking for a new value for the service key field in any service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record; and

adding a new service key field to each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record in response to finding the new value from said checking, wherein the new service key field is determined by the new value found from said checking.

17. The computer system of claim 15, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to increase a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

starting a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to invoke a service identified by the service id value.

18. The computer system of claim 15, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to decrease a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

stopping a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to cease a service identified by the service id value.

19. The computer system of claim 15, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a workflow request comprising a workflow id value;

auditing a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value of the determined workflow request;

examining a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the audited workflow control record;

selecting a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service field in the first workflow configuration field has a same value as the service identifier field of the first service configuration record; and

sending a service request for a first service identified by the service identifier filed of the first service configuration record to a first service listener responsible for invoking the first service.

20. The computer system of claim 15, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service result report comprising a workflow id value and a result status data;

modifying a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record to include the service result report as dictated by a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow id value; and

recording the service result report into a first workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record in the database, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow status record has a same value as the workflow id of the service result report.

21. The computer system of claim 15, said processing performed by the workflow entry process, said processing comprising:

creating a new workflow according to a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record in the updated database, wherein the new workflow control record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record; and

inserting a new workflow control record in the database, wherein the new workflow control record describes the created new workflow.

22. A process for supporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing a method for dynamically configuring a multiplatform computing system comprising at least one service, at least one workflow, a service configuration utility, a workflow entry process, a service monitor, at least one service listener, and a database, wherein at least one service, said at least one workflow, the service configuration utility, the workflow entry process, the service monitor, and said at least one service listener are executed on the multiplatform computing system, wherein the multiplatform computing system comprises at least one computer system, wherein the database is coupled to the multiplatform computing system, wherein the database comprises at least one service configuration record, at least one workflow configuration record, at least one workflow control record, and at least one workflow status record, the method comprising:

receiving a dynamic configuration request from a user through the service configuration utility, wherein said dynamic configuration request comprises a first data set to configure said at least one service and a second data set to configure said at least one workflow;

updating contents of the database pursuant to the first data set and the second data set of the received dynamic configuration request; and

processing said at least one workflow pursuant to the updated contents of the database,

wherein each service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record comprises a service identifier field and a service key field,

wherein each workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record comprises a workflow identifier field and a service field,

wherein each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record comprises a workflow identifier field,

wherein each workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record comprises a workflow identifier field.

23. The process of claim 22, said updating performed by the service configuration utility, said updating comprising:

storing in the database the first data set in a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record;

storing in the database the second data set in a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record;

checking for a new value for the service key field in any service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record; and

adding a new service key field to each workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record in response to finding the new value from said checking, wherein the new service key field is determined by the new value found from said checking.

24. The process of claim 22, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to increase a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

starting a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to invoke a service identified by the service id value.

25. The process of claim 22, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service listener request comprising a service id value;

retrieving from the database a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service identifier field of the first service configuration record has a same value as the service id value of the determined service listener request;

concluding that the determined service listener request is to decrease a total number of threads of services of said at least one service in accordance with the retrieved first service configuration record; and

stopping a service listener of said at least one service listener designated by the service listener request to cease a service identified by the service id value.

26. The process of claim 22, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a workflow request comprising a workflow id value;

auditing a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value of the determined workflow request;

examining a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field in the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the audited workflow control record;

selecting a first service configuration record of said at least one service configuration record, wherein the service field in the first workflow configuration field has a same value as the service identifier field of the first service configuration record; and

sending a service request for a first service identified by the service identifier filed of the first service configuration record to a first service listener responsible for invoking the first service.

27. The process of claim 22, said processing performed by the service monitor, said processing comprising:

detecting an event;

determining that the detected event is a service result report comprising a workflow id value and a result status data;

modifying a first workflow control record of said at least one workflow control record to include the service result report as dictated by a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow control record has a same value as the workflow id value, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record has a same value as the workflow id value; and

recording the service result report into a first workflow status record of said at least one workflow status record in the database, wherein the workflow identifier field of the first workflow status record has a same value as the workflow id of the service result report.

28. The process of claim 22, said processing performed by the workflow entry process, said processing comprising:

creating a new workflow according to a first workflow configuration record of said at least one workflow configuration record in the updated database, wherein the new workflow control record has a same value as the workflow identifier field of the first workflow configuration record; and

inserting a new workflow control record in the database, wherein the new workflow control record describes the created new workflow.