US6718358B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for generic automated tuning for performance management
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2000-03-31
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Granted: 2004-04-06
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Expires: 2020-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A system and method is described for generic automated tuning for performance management. The system comprises a target to be controlled and a generic automated tuning agent (GATA) that performs this control. The controlled target provides interfaces to metrics relating to workload, service levels, and configuration information, as well as a means to adjust tuning controls that determine resource allocations within the target. The GATA inputs the metrics, estimates new tuning control settings based on service objectives specified by administrators, and outputs the tuning control settings.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Phillip Bigus
- 👤 Joseph L. Hellerstein
- 👤 Mark S. Squillante
- 👤 Jayram S. Thathachar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for use in automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor operative to: (i) obtain one or more metrics associated with the target; (ii) determine one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics for use in controlling the tuning of the target, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; (iii) make the one or more tuning control settings available for use in tuning the target in order to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and (iv) at least one of dynamically construct and change one or more models for use in tuning the target; and a memory, coupled to the at least one processor, which stores at least one of the one or more metrics and the one or more tuning control settings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
Apparatus for use in automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor operative to: (i) obtain one or more metrics associated with the target; (ii) determine one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics for use in controlling the tuning of the target, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; (iii) make the one or more tuning control settings available for use in tuning the target in order to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and (iv) at least one of dynamically construct and change one or more models for use in tuning the target; and a memory, coupled to the at least one processor, which stores at least one of the one or more metrics and the one or more tuning control settings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more metrics associated with the target comprise at least one of workload metrics, configuration metrics and service level metrics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined objectives comprise one or more service objectives.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the one or more service objectives are set by an administrator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to provide one or more interfaces with the target.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more interfaces comprise one or more interfaces for obtaining the one or more metrics associated with the target.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more interfaces permit access to meta data associated with the one or more metrics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the meta data provides a classification of the one or more metrics.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more interfaces comprise an interface for providing the one or more tuning control settings to the target.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the interface permits access to meta data associated with target tuning controls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the meta data provides an indication of how a service class is affected by a directional change in a given control.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to obtain prior knowledge of the target for use in determining the one or more tuning control settings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to obtain verifiable properties about the target for use in determining the one or more tuning control settings.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to construct a workload model.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to detect a change point in the workload model.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to determine whether a previously constructed workload model is no longer valid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to interpret the workload model in order to forecasts changes in workloads.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to construct a system model.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to determine whether a previously constructed system model is no longer valid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to detect a change point in the system model.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the system model is constructed without prior knowledge of the controlled application.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to determine whether the system model falls into known classes of system models and then employ a known effective controller for such classes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to estimate the one or more tuning control settings based on future service levels obtained by forecasting workloads.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
137 words
A computer-implemented method for use in automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining one or more metrics associated with the target; determining one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics for use in controlling the tuning of the target, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; making the one or more tuning control settings available for use in tuning the target in order to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and at least one of dynamically constructing and changing one or more models for use in tuning the target.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
137 words
A computer-implemented method for use in automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining one or more metrics associated with the target; determining one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics for use in controlling the tuning of the target, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; making the one or more tuning control settings available for use in tuning the target in order to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and at least one of dynamically constructing and changing one or more models for use in tuning the target.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the one or more metrics associated with the target comprise at least one of workload metrics, configuration metrics and service level metrics.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the one or more predetermined objectives comprise one or more service objectives.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the one or more service objectives are set by an administrator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of providing one or more interfaces with the target.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the one or more interfaces comprise one or more interfaces for obtaining the one or more metrics associated with the target.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the one or more interfaces permit access to meta data associated with the one or more metrics.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the meta data provides a classification of the one or more metrics.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the one or more interfaces comprise an interface for providing the one or more tuning control settings to the target.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein the interface permits access to meta data associated with target tuning controls.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the meta data provides an indication of how a service class is affected by a directional change in a given control.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of obtaining prior knowledge of the target for use in determining the one or more tuning control settings.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of obtaining verifiable properties about the target for use in determining the one or more tuning control settings.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of constructing a workload model.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising the step of detecting a change point in the workload model.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising the step of determining whether a previously constructed workload model is no longer valid.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 37 , further comprising the step of interpreting the workload model in order to forecasts changes in workloads.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of constructing a system model.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 41 , further comprising the step of determining whether a previously constructed system model is no longer valid.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 41 , further comprising the step of detecting a change point in the system model.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 41 , wherein the system model is constructed without prior knowledge of the controlled application.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 41 , further comprising the step of determining whether the system model falls into known classes of system models and then employ a known effective controller for such classes.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising the step of estimating the one or more tuning control settings based on future service levels obtained by forecasting workloads.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
149 words
An article of manufacture for use in automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of: obtaining one or more metrics associated with the target; determining one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics for use in controlling the tuning of the target, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; making the one or more tuning control settings available for use in tuning the target in order to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and at least one of dynamically constructing and changing one or more models for use in tuning the target.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
149 words
An article of manufacture for use in automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of: obtaining one or more metrics associated with the target; determining one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics for use in controlling the tuning of the target, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; making the one or more tuning control settings available for use in tuning the target in order to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and at least one of dynamically constructing and changing one or more models for use in tuning the target.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, the system comprising: generic automated tuning apparatus; and target-specific apparatus, coupled to the generic automated tuning apparatus and the target; wherein the generic automated tuning apparatus; (i) receives one or more metrics associated with the target from the target-specific apparatus; (ii) determines one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; (iii) sends the one or more tuning control settings to the target-specific apparatus, wherein the target-specific apparatus uses the one or more tuning control settings to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and (iv) at least one of dynamically constructs and changes one or more models for use in tuning the target.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for automatically tuning a target in order to adjust one or more performance characteristics associated with the target, the system comprising: generic automated tuning apparatus; and target-specific apparatus, coupled to the generic automated tuning apparatus and the target; wherein the generic automated tuning apparatus; (i) receives one or more metrics associated with the target from the target-specific apparatus; (ii) determines one or more tuning control settings based on the one or more metrics, the one or more tuning control settings being determined in accordance with one or more predetermined objectives and without requiring prior knowledge of performance characteristics of the target; (iii) sends the one or more tuning control settings to the target-specific apparatus, wherein the target-specific apparatus uses the one or more tuning control settings to adjust the one or more performance characteristics associated with the target; and (iv) at least one of dynamically constructs and changes one or more models for use in tuning the target.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 48 , wherein the target is another generic automated tuning apparatus.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 48 , wherein the system is implemented in a distributed network.
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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) | 2007-04-06 | 2007-10-06 | 2008-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-06 | 2011-10-06 | 2012-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-06 | 2015-10-06 | 2016-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |