Tracking objects within dynamic environments
View Patent ↗Embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for tracking objects within a domain and their possible changes and genealogy over time. An object identifier and an interval identifier are associated with an object that enters the domain with an unknown set of attributes and genealogy. The object identifier is analyzed to determine whether it is a pre-existing object identifier. A comparison of the interval identifier is performed to determine whether the object is a copy of a prior object. The object identifier is replaced with a new object identifier and the interval identifier reset when the object is new or a copy. Based on the object identifier and the interval identifier, which represents the possibility of change during each interval, information about the tracked object may be derived and analyzed to enhance performance.
1. A method for tracking an object in a domain using a tracking server, comprising:
the tracking server receiving an object identifier and an interval identifier of the object from an agent, wherein the agent obtains the object identifier and the interval identifier by accessing a storage;
the tracking server determining whether the object identifier has been previously stored in a database when the object identifier does not equal zero, wherein the database is accessed by the tracking server;
the tracking server identifying the object as a copy when the object identifier has been previously stored in the database and the interval identifier is less than a previously stored interval identifier associated with the previously stored object identifier;
the tracking server replacing the object identifier with a newly generated object identifier and setting the interval identifier equal to zero, when either the object identifier equals zero or the object has been identified as a copy; and
the tracking server incrementing the interval identifier.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the object identifier and the incremented interval identifier to the object.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
writing the object identifier and the interval identifier to the storage.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
issuing a commit token to the object along with the transmitted object identifier and the incremented interval identifier;
receiving the commit token from the object to confirm the incremented interval identifier; and
writing the incremented interval identifier to the database upon receipt of the confirmed commit token.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object identifier and the interval identifier are read from an instance identity file by an identity agent upon entrance of the object in the domain.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving current system configuration of the object upon startup of the object in the domain, wherein the object comprises a server instance.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interval identifier is configured to identify a possibility of change of the object during an interval represented by the interval identifier.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object identifier comprises a Universal Unique Identifier (UUID) that uniquely identifies the object across multiple domains.
9. A system for tracking an object within a domain, comprising:
a database configured to store object identifiers and associated interval identifiers, wherein the database is accessed by an identification module; and
the identification module configured to:
receive an object identifier and an interval identifier of the object from an agent, wherein the agent obtains the object identifier and the interval identifier by accessing a storage;
determine whether the object identifier has been previously stored in the database when the object identifier does not equal zero;
identify the object as a copy when the object identifier has been previously stored in the database and the interval identifier is less than a previously stored interval identifier associated with the object identifier previously stored;
replace the object identifier with a newly generated object identifier and set the interval identifier equal to zero, when either the object identifier equals zero or the object has been identified as a copy; and
increment the interval identifier.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the identification module is further configured to transmit the object identifier and the incremented interval identifier to a processor associated with the object in the domain.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the identification module is further configured to:
transmit a commit token to the processor associated with the object, and receive the commit token from the object to confirm the incremented interval identifier; and
write the incremented interval identifier to the database upon receipt of the confirmed commit token.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the object identifier and the interval identifier are read from an instance identity file by an identity agent upon entrance of the object in the domain.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the identification module is further configured to receive current system configuration information of the object upon startup of the object in the domain, wherein the object comprises a server instance.
14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a service location broker configured to maintain a catalog of available services to the server instance for locating and monitoring the available services.
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the identification module is configured to utilize the interval identifier to identify a possibility of change during an interval represented by the interval identifier.
16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the object identifier comprises a Universal Unique Identifier (UUID) that uniquely identifies the object across multiple domains.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having control logic recorded thereon that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method for tracking an object in a domain, the method comprising:
receiving an object identifier and an interval identifier of the object from an agent, wherein the agent obtains the object identifier and the interval identifier by accessing a storage;
determining whether the object identifier has been previously stored in a database when the object identifier does not equal zero, wherein the database is accessed by the processor;
identifying the object as a copy when the object identifier has been previously stored in the database and the interval identifier is less than a previously stored interval identifier associated with the previously stored object identifier;
replacing the object identifier with a newly generated object identifier and setting the interval identifier equal to zero, when either the object identifier equals zero or the object has been identified as a copy; and
incrementing the interval identifier.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
transmitting the object identifier and the incremented interval identifier to the object;
issuing a commit token to the object along with the transmitted object identifier and the incremented interval identifier;
receiving the commit token from the object to confirm the incremented interval identifier; and
writing the incremented interval identifier to the database upon receipt of the confirmed commit token.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving current system configuration of the object upon startup of the object in the domain, wherein the object comprises a server instance.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the interval identifier is configured to identify a possibility of change of the object during an interval represented by the interval identifier.