US5664093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for managing faults in a distributed system
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1996-07-25
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Granted: 1997-09-02
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Expires: 2016-07-25
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for managing faults in a distributed system. The fault management system includes a configuration manager that maintains configuration information of components used in the distributed system. A plurality of measurement agents obtain performance information from the components in the distributed system. A diagnostic system has a plurality of rules written according to the configuration information stored therein. The diagnostic system is coupled to the configuration manager and each of the plurality of measurement agents and identifies faults occurring in the distributed system and provides solutions for correcting the faults The diagnostic system receives the configuration information from the configuration manager and the performance information from the plurality of measurement agents and uses the configuration and performance information with the plurality of rules to identify faults and provide solutions for the faults.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Gordon Barnett
- 👤 John Joseph Bloomer
- 👤 Hsuan Chang
- 👤 Andrew Walter Crapo
- 👤 Michael James Hartman
- 👤 Barbara Jean Vivier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1402; G06F11/1415; G06F11/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A fault management system for use in a distributed system, comprising: a configuration manager maintaining configuration information of components used in the distributed system, the configuration information comprising an object-oriented model describing relationships between the components, wherein the object-oriented model maintains a list of the components as objects and an understanding of how the objects are related; a plurality of measurement agents obtaining performance information from the components in the distributed system; and a diagnostic system coupled to the configuration manager and each of the plurality of measurement agents for identifying faults occurring in the distributed system and providing solutions for correcting the faults, the diagnostic system comprising a knowledge base having a plurality of rules for the components and an inference engine for applying the rules to the performance information, the diagnostic system receiving the configuration information from the configuration manager and the performance information from the plurality of measurement agents and using the configuration and performance information to identify faults and provide solutions for the faults, the diagnostic system identifying faults by querying the configuration manager for the object-oriented model of the components and using the model along with the plurality of rules in the knowledge base to identify the causes responsible for the fault and to provide a solutions for correcting the faults, the diagnostic system initiating the identification of faults at any location in the object-oriented model.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A fault management system for use in a distributed system, comprising: a configuration manager maintaining configuration information of components used in the distributed system, the configuration information comprising an object-oriented model describing relationships between the components, wherein the object-oriented model maintains a list of the components as objects and an understanding of how the objects are related; a plurality of measurement agents obtaining performance information from the components in the distributed system; and a diagnostic system coupled to the configuration manager and each of the plurality of measurement agents for identifying faults occurring in the distributed system and providing solutions for correcting the faults, the diagnostic system comprising a knowledge base having a plurality of rules for the components and an inference engine for applying the rules to the performance information, the diagnostic system receiving the configuration information from the configuration manager and the performance information from the plurality of measurement agents and using the configuration and performance information to identify faults and provide solutions for the faults, the diagnostic system identifying faults by querying the configuration manager for the object-oriented model of the components and using the model along with the plurality of rules in the knowledge base to identify the causes responsible for the fault and to provide a solutions for correcting the faults, the diagnostic system initiating the identification of faults at any location in the object-oriented model.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fault management system according to claim 1, wherein, the object-oriented model comprises a static model and a dynamic model.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fault management system according to claim 1, wherein the components comprise hardware components, software components, actions, tasks, and operation results.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for managing faults occurring in a distributed system with a fault management system comprising a configuration manager maintaining configuration information of components used in the distributed system, a plurality of measurement agents obtaining performance information from the components in the distributed system, and an diagnostic system coupled to the configuration manager and each of the plurality of measurement agents for identifying faults occurring in the distributed system and providing solutions for correcting the faults, the method comprising the steps of: developing an object-oriented model describing relationships between the components, wherein the object-oriented model includes a list of the components as objects and an understanding of how the objects are related; identifying the component where a fault is being reported; querying the configuration manager to obtain the object-oriented model describing the relationship of the reported faulty component with other components in the distributed system; determining from the object-oriented model which components may be responsible for the reported fault, the determination of faults being initiated at any location in the object-oriented model; examining the components and applying rules within the diagnostic system to the relationship described in the object-oriented model to identify causes responsible for the fault; and providing solutions for correcting the faults.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for managing faults occurring in a distributed system with a fault management system comprising a configuration manager maintaining configuration information of components used in the distributed system, a plurality of measurement agents obtaining performance information from the components in the distributed system, and an diagnostic system coupled to the configuration manager and each of the plurality of measurement agents for identifying faults occurring in the distributed system and providing solutions for correcting the faults, the method comprising the steps of: developing an object-oriented model describing relationships between the components, wherein the object-oriented model includes a list of the components as objects and an understanding of how the objects are related; identifying the component where a fault is being reported; querying the configuration manager to obtain the object-oriented model describing the relationship of the reported faulty component with other components in the distributed system; determining from the object-oriented model which components may be responsible for the reported fault, the determination of faults being initiated at any location in the object-oriented model; examining the components and applying rules within the diagnostic system to the relationship described in the object-oriented model to identify causes responsible for the fault; and providing solutions for correcting the faults.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein, the object-oriented model comprises a static model and a dynamic model.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the components comprise hardware components, software components, actions, tasks, and operation results.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-01 | 2001-03-03 | 2001-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-01 | 2005-03-03 | 2005-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-01 | 2009-03-03 | 2009-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |