Unified Transaction Model for Distributed Application Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring performance of distributed application systems across network-connected nodes fail to effectively correlate transactions across multiple network links in complex topologies, limiting real-time processing and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical model, known as the Unified Transaction Model (UTM), is applied to network topology to correlate network messages into transactions by segmenting correlation across spans of increasing size, enabling real-time correlation and aggregation of causally associated messages into higher-level transactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network messages are correlated across multiple links in complex topologies, then transaction monitoring completeness is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the correlation process into hierarchical levels (link-level, service-level, application-level transactions). Each level processes messages within its scope, avoiding the need to correlate all messages across the entire complex topology simultaneously. This segmentation reduces processing complexity while maintaining complete transaction monitoring through progressive aggregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the correlation process, organizing messages into nested levels of abstraction. Instead of flat cross-link correlation, messages are first correlated at link level, then service level, then application level. This dimensional transformation reduces the computational complexity from O(n²) to approximately O(n log n) while achieving complete transaction visibility.
2Speed
If real-time correlation of application messages is implemented, then monitoring responsiveness is improved, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary correlation at lower hierarchical levels (link and service levels) before messages reach the application level. Transaction templates and correlation rules are pre-established, allowing messages to be quickly matched and correlated in real-time without intensive computational processing at each message arrival, thus reducing computational load while maintaining responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The correlation computational load is segmented across multiple hierarchical levels and distributed processing nodes. Each node handles correlation for its specific scope, preventing any single processor from bearing the full computational burden. This segmentation enables real-time processing by parallelizing the correlation workload across the distributed system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hierarchical model with multiple levels is used, then transaction aggregation capability is improved, but model complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal hierarchical transaction model that can aggregate transactions across multiple levels (link, service, application) using consistent correlation rules and data structures. This universal model handles diverse transaction types and topologies through a single framework, providing high aggregation capability without proportionally increasing model complexity. The same hierarchical structure adapts to different network configurations and application requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for monitoring performance of an application system which is distributed across a plurality of network connected nodes, comprising: generating a hierarchical model for the application system, the hierarchical model having a plurality of levels, each level including components of a span specific to that level; mapping the application system onto the hierarchical model according to a network topology of the application system; monitoring network traffic between the plurality of network connected nodes of the application system to gather network traffic data; assembling the network traffic data into application messages; correlating the application messages into sets of one or more application messages that are causally associated in accordance with the hierarchical model, wherein the sets of causally associated application messages constitute transactions corresponding to a lowest level of the hierarchical model; and, generating records of individual transactions occurring within the application system for at least the transactions corresponding to the lowest level of the hierarchical model.