Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer data modifying
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-06
2001-04-10
Sheikh, Ayaz (Department: 2155)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer data modifying
C709S223000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216169
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method and system for processing data stored in multiple workstations.
Computer workstations can be used to store large amounts of data. Often, a user desires information that involves processing a subset of data stored on multiple workstations. Generating and displaying the desired information is referred to as a “report”. To generate a report, data stored on multiple workstations is sent to a central workstation to process the data. For large amounts of data the central workstation must be very powerful to generate the report in a reasonable time.
Network management is an example of the situation described above. Networks link computers together to allow them to exchange information and communicate with each other over a distance. The networks can be quite large and complex, involving many components and devices that are essential for the services they provide. The tasks of maintaining the network, adding computer resources when needed, reconfiguring the network to support changing patterns of usage and greater user demands, and solving the problems which occasionally occur are typically the responsibility of a network manager. To effectively and efficiently carry out those responsibilities, the network manager must be able to quickly determine how well even the most remote sections of the network are performing and to detect the occurrence of problems or a deterioration in performance that hints at the beginning of more serious problems.
To assist the network manager, elements of the network themselves, or dedicated monitoring devices connected to or embedded within the elements, maintain information on data passing (e.g., volume of data, number of errors) through the elements. A workstation retrieves that information and processes it to generate a report on the performance of the network. For example, reports can list the portions of the network having the greatest volume of data traffic over a specific interval of time. Often, the network manager further specifies that the report only include data relating to selected elements of the network, for example, data relating to communication between the computers belonging to the same company or a department within a company.
Network management is one of many examples where large amounts of data need to be processed efficiently in order to generate desired information in a timely manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention features techniques for processing data stored in multiple workstations in order to generate and display information desired by a user, i.e., generate a report. In response to a request, each of the workstations identifies data relevant to the report and processes that data. Then, one of the workstations, or a separate workstation, receives and consolidates all of the processed data and generates the report.
In general, in one aspect, the invention features methods of, and systems for, operating a workstation that stores data on a plurality of elements. The methods and systems involve the steps of: receiving at the workstation a request specifying a group name; identifying the data stored in the workstation relating to the elements belonging to a group specified by the group name; and sending the identified data to another workstation.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features methods of, and systems for, operating a workstation that stores data on a plurality of elements. The methods and systems involve the steps of: receiving at the workstation a request specifying a named function; processing data stored in the workstation according to an algorithm that is specified by the named function to generate an output; and sending the output to another workstation.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features methods of, and systems for, operating a workstation that stores data on a plurality of elements. The methods and systems involve the steps of: receiving at the workstation a request specifying a group name and named function; identifying the data stored in the workstation relating to the elements belonging to a group specified by the group name; operating on the identified data according to an algorithm that is specified by the named function to generate an output; and sending the output to another workstation. In a related aspect, the invention features computer readable media storing a program that causes a digital processor to perform these steps. In another related aspect, the invention features workstations that include: a processor; and a memory storing the data, a program that causes the processor to perform these steps, a list of the elements belonging to the group name, and the algorithm. In preferred embodiments, the algorithm is stored in the workstation.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features methods of, of systems for, operating a master workstation to generate a report that depends on data stored in a plurality of remote workstations. The methods and systems involve the steps of: sending a request from the master workstation to the remote workstations specifying a group name and a named function; and processing responses to the request from the remote workstations to generate the report. In a related aspect, the invention features computer readable media storing a program that causes a digital processor to perform these steps. In another related aspect, the invention features master workstations that include: a processor; and a memory storing a program that cause the processor to carry out these steps, the group name, and the named function.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features methods of, and systems for, generating a report that depends on data stored in a plurality of remote workstations. The methods and systems involve the steps of: sending a request from a master workstation to the remote workstations specifying a group name and a named function; identifying data stored within each of the remote workstations belonging to a group specified by the group name; operating on the identified data within each of the remote workstations according to an algorithm specified by the named function to generate an output for each remote workstation; returning the output from each remote workstation to the master workstation; and consolidating the outputs at the master workstations to generate the report. In a related aspect, the invention features computer readable media storing a program that causes a digital processor to perform these steps.
Preferred embodiments may include any of the following features. The algorithm involves comparing data to a user-specified threshold value, determining weighted averages, or sorting aggregated values in order of size. The compiling step involves vector addition, matrix addition, or sorting aggregated values in order of size.
In general, in another aspect, the invention features systems for generating a report. The system includes: a plurality of remote workstations that each store data on a plurality of elements; and a master workstation that includes a memory storing a program that causes a processor in the master workstation to carry out the steps of: sending a request to all of the remote workstations specifying a group name and a named function, and consolidating processed data received from the remote workstations in response to the request. Each of the remote workstations includes a memory storing a program that causes a processor in the remote workstation to carry out the steps of: receiving the request, identifying stored data relating to elements belonging to a group specified by the group name, processing the identified data according to an algorithm specified by the named function, thereby producing the processed data, and sending the processed data to the master workstation.
In any of the above aspects, preferred embodiments involve data that is network management data or computer performance data.
The invention has the following advantages. The invention distributes the processing of data over many workstations thereby reducing the time requir
Booman Gordon A.
Diebboll Robert S.
Engel Ferdinand
Hamlin Arthur P.
McKellar Stephen F.
Concord Communications Incorporated
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Sheikh Ayaz
Winder Patrice
LandOfFree
Generating reports using distributed workstations does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Generating reports using distributed workstations, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Generating reports using distributed workstations will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2513181