Determination of incremental value in server processed data
View Patent ↗The accumulated change in values representative of actions taken by a processor, such as the number of email messages processed by an email server, in a given time period is determined. Actions are represented as data points on a plot. Look-ahead intervals are defined for each point. Candidate pairs of points are determined for each look-ahead interval by comparing the first value in the look-ahead interval with other values in the look-ahead interval. A candidate pair comprises the first point and another point having a lesser value. If a candidate pair has a value therebetween, the candidate pair is discarded. If, however, a candidate pair has no value therebetween, the first value of the candidate pair is a peak value for the look-ahead interval. The accumulated change is determined by calculating the sum of the peak values, plus the final value, minus the initial value, for the given time period.
1. A method for determining an accumulated change in value of events occurring within a time period, the method comprising:
defining a look-ahead interval for each event represented in the time period, wherein an event is indicative of an action taken by a processor;
determining candidate pairs of events in each look-ahead interval;
for each candidate pair, determining if an event exists between events in a candidate pair;
if no event exists between events of a candidate pair, determining that a first value in a respective candidate pair is a peak value; and
determining a sum of all determined peak values, plus a value of a final event in the time period, minus a value of an initial event in the time period.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a candidate pair is determined in accordance with:
while traversing a look-ahead interval in one direction, comparing a value of a first event in a look-ahead interval with each value of each remaining event in a respective look-ahead interval; and
for each pair of events being compared, if the value of the first event is greater than a value of a compared event, forming a candidate pair from the first event and the compared event.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a period of a look-ahead table is equal to an average sampling period of events in the time period plus an offset.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein an event is indicative of at least one of processing an email, receiving an email message, providing an email message, and processing a hit on a web site.
5. A processor for determining an accumulated change in value of events occurring within a time period, the processor comprising:
a processing portion configured to:
define a look-ahead interval for each event represented in the time period, wherein an event is indicative of an action taken by a processor;
determine candidate pairs of events in each look-ahead interval;
for each candidate pair, determine if an event exists between events in a candidate pair;
if no event exists between events of a candidate pair, determine that a first value in a respective candidate pair is a peak value; and
determine the accumulate change by calculating a sum of all determined peak values, plus a value of a final event in the time period, minus a value of an initial event in the time period; and
a memory portion for storing the determined accumulated change.
6. A processor in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the processor portion is configured to determine a candidate pair in accordance with:
while traversing a look-ahead interval in one direction, comparing a value of a first event in a look-ahead interval with each value of each remaining event in a respective look-ahead interval; and
for each pair of events being compared, if the value of the first event is greater than a value of a compared event, forming a candidate pair from the first event and the compared event.
7. A processor in accordance with claim 5 , wherein a period of a look-ahead table is equal to an average sampling period of events in the time period plus an offset.
8. A processor in accordance with claim 5 , wherein an event is indicative of at least one of processing an email, receiving an email message, providing an email message, and processing a hit on a web site.
9. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instruction for determining an accumulated change in value of events occurring within a time period, by performing the steps of:
defining a look-ahead interval for each event represented in the time period, wherein an event is indicative of an action taken by a processor;
determining candidate pairs of events in each look-ahead interval;
for each candidate pair, determining if an event exists between events in a candidate pair;
if no event exists between events of a candidate pair, determining that a first value in a respective candidate pair is a peak value; and
determining a sum of all determined peak values, plus a value of a final event in the time period, minus a value of an initial event in the time period.
10. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 9 , the computer-executable instruction for determining a candidate pair in accordance with:
while traversing a look-ahead interval in one direction, comparing a value of a first event in a look-ahead interval with each value of each remaining event in a respective look-ahead interval; and
for each pair of events being compared, if the value of the first event is greater than a value of a compared event, forming a candidate pair from the first event and the compared event.
11. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 9 , wherein a period of a look-ahead table is equal to an average sampling period of events in the time period plus an offset.
12. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 9 , wherein an event is indicative of at least one of processing an email, receiving an email message, providing an email message, and processing a hit on a web site.