Streaming Data Processor Clustering for Incident Root Cause Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tools lack the ability to efficiently search and analyze large sets of raw machine data, particularly in a visually intuitive and flexible manner, due to the complexity and diversity of data systems and formats.

Innovation Solution

A data intake and query system that processes and stores raw machine data as events with flexible schema, allowing for late-binding schema application during search time, enabling field-searchable queries and providing a graphical interface for designing data processing pipelines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If raw machine data is stored in massive quantities for later retrieval and analysis, then data flexibility and analysis completeness are improved, but data search and analysis efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata flexibilityVSAvoiddata search efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by extracting and storing specific data fields (such as host, source, sourcetype, and custom fields) from raw machine data during the data intake phase. This pre-extraction of potentially useful information allows the system to maintain data flexibility while enabling efficient querying later, as analysts don't need to process all raw data but can directly query the extracted fields.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements extraction by pulling specific meaningful fields out of the massive raw data streams and storing them in a structured format. The system extracts key identifiers and attributes from unstructured or semi-structured machine data, separating the essential queryable information from the bulk raw data, thus enabling efficient search without sacrificing data completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Quantity of substance

If diverse data types from numerous devices are stored in a big data ecosystem, then data completeness and insight potential are improved, but data management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a unified data model that can handle diverse data types from multiple sources through a common schema structure. The system uses a universal field naming convention and data representation that works across different device types and data formats, allowing diverse data to be managed through a single system rather than requiring separate management approaches for each data type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by allowing flexible schema definition at the data source level while maintaining global consistency. Different data sources can have customized field extractions and transformations tailored to their specific formats, while all data converges on a common structured model that enables uniform querying and analysis across the entire ecosystem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of time

If specified data items are extracted and stored to facilitate efficient retrieval, then data retrieval efficiency is improved, but data loss increases as remainder data is discarded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata retrieval timeVSAvoiddata loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies copying by creating a structured representation or copy of the essential data elements from the raw machine data. Rather than storing all raw data or discarding most of it, the system extracts key fields and stores them in an optimized format that serves as a searchable copy, enabling fast retrieval of information without needing to process the complete raw data sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11675816B1Grouping evens into episodes using a streaming data processor
Publication Date: 2023.06.13 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • US11675816B1 patent drawing
  • US11675816B1 patent drawing
  • US11675816B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods are described for using a streaming data processor to group notable events reflecting operation of a computing system into episodes of related events reflecting an incident on the computing system, such as to enable root cause analysis of the incident. Each notable event can be generated based on one or more events detected within raw machine data. The streaming data processor can ingest a data stream of notable events, and apply a clustering algorithm to the events to cluster those events into episodes. When the episodes satisfy an action rule, the streaming data processor can take an action appropriate to that rule, such as transmitting an alert or programmatically altering operation of the computing system. The streaming data processor can utilize feedback as to the grouping of events into episodes to modify the clustering algorithm and improve accuracy of clustering.