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

• US 8,223,785 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Herrmann, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Man
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN H
• Application Number:
  US11/190,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20060056433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,548 Days
• Field of Search: 370412-420, 370/428, 370/389
• 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 messaging network including a plurality of message queuing systems communicating with one another via communication links, each message queuing system comprising:

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;

at least one queue for queuing the messages;

a message trace queue for storing message trace information for incoming and outgoing messages,

a message tracking component for receiving the 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, wherein the content key is application and message specific, and has at least one label with its assigned values, where the label identifies a specific data element derived from the message body or from the message descriptor, and providing a search result, wherein

the message trace queue comprises;

a message trace table in a database for recording each operation performed on a message within the message queuing system as a message trace entry in the message trace table wherein each

message trace entry includes a message id, the content key of the message, an operation performed on the message, an identifier of a source queue within the message queuing system,

identifiers of a target queuing system and a target queue within the target queuing system, and a time

stamp of the message trace entry, wherein an operation performed on a message includes one of a message-receive-operation, a message-put-operation, a message-get-operation, and a message-send-operation; and

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

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

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

4. A method for processing messages in a messaging network, wherein said messaging network includes a plurality of message queuing systems communicating with one another 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 comprises:

providing within each message queuing system a message trace queue for storing message trace information for incoming and outgoing messages, wherein the message trace queue includes a message trace table in a database for recording each operation performed on a message within the message queuing system as a message trace entry in the message trace table, wherein each message trace entry includes a message id, a content key of the message, an operation performed on the message, an identifier of a source queue within the message queuing system, identifiers of a target queuing system and a target queue within the target queuing system, and a time stamp of the message trace entry, wherein an operation performed on a message includes one of a message-receive-operation, a message-put-operation, a message-get-operation, and a message-send-operation; and

searching for the content key in the message trace information stored in the message trace queue upon receiving a message search request including at least a content key to be searched for, wherein the content key is application and message specific, and has at least one label with its assigned values, where the label identifies a specific data element derived from the message body or from the message descriptor,

and providing a search result.

5. The method according to claim 4, further 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 the adjacent message queuing systems;

consolidating the received responses;

creating a search result; and

providing the search result to the requesting search application.

6. The method according to claim 5, 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.

7. A computer readable storage device having stored thereon a computer program, said computer program comprising computer readable program code comprising a routine set of instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause a message network to perform the steps of:

providing, within each message queuing system in a messaging network including a plurality of message queuing systems communicating with one another via communication links, a message trace queue for storing message trace information for incoming and outgoing messages, wherein the message trace queue includes a message trace table in a database for recording each operation performed on a message within the message queuing system as a message trace entry in the message trace table, wherein each message trace entry includes a message id, a content key of the message, an operation performed on the message, an identifier of a source queue within the message queuing system, identifiers of a target queuing system and a target queue within the target queuing system, and a time stamp of the message trace entry, wherein an operation performed on a message includes one of a message-receive-operation, a message-put-operation, a message-get-operation, and a message-send-operation; and

searching for the content key in the message trace information stored in the message trace queue upon receiving a message search request including at least a content key to be searched for, wherein the content key is application and message specific, and has at least one label with its assigned values, where the label identifies a specific data element derived from the message body or from the message descriptor,

and providing a search result.