Abstract: The present invention is method for scheduling jobs in a grid computing environment without having to monitor the state of the resource on the gird comprising a Global Scheduling Program (GSP) and a Local Scheduling Program (LSP). The GSP receives jobs submitted to the grid and distributes the job to the closest resource. The resource then runs the LSP to determine if the resource can execute the job under the conditions specified in the job. The LSP either rejects or accepts the job based on the current state of the resource properties and informs the GSP of the acceptance or rejection. If the job is rejected, the GSP randomly selects another resource to send the job to using a resource table. The resource table contains the state-independent properties of every resource on the grid.

Abstract: A system for creating a dynamic client side service proxy framework using meta-data and introspection capabilities of Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA) service data is disclosed. The system includes defining an Open Grid Service Invocation Factory configured to create a service proxy and introspecting an Open Grid Service Infrastructure (OGSI) service based on information exposed by the service. An OGSI Service Invocation Proxy is created defining a set of dynamic interfaces based on service introspection and a meta-data inspection interface of the Service Invocation Proxy. The Service Invocation Proxy exposes both static port type interfaces and dynamic interfaces to support more flexibility of the client.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a dynamic client side service proxy framework using meta-data and introspection capabilities of Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA) service data is disclosed. The system and method include defining an Open Grid Service Invocation Factory configured to create a service proxy and introspecting an Open Grid Service Infrastructure (OGSI) service based on information exposed by the service. An OGSI Service Invocation Proxy is created defining a set of dynamic interfaces based on service introspection and a meta-data inspection interface of the Service Invocation Proxy. The Service Invocation Proxy exposes both static port type interfaces and dynamic interfaces to support more flexibility of the client.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for implementing business process modules for performing business process modeling. The method includes identifying tasks required in order to achieve a capability and designing a process module for enabling the capability. The designing includes interconnecting logic flow among the tasks resulting in an optimized, repeatable pattern of logically transformed inputs to outputs required for achieving the capability. The method also includes selecting and associating attributes to the tasks. The attributes are selected from categories including: information technology component services, data, operational business rules, roles, and measurements. The method further includes defining and associating metadata with the process module. The metadata describes functional capabilities provided by the process module and business and technical contexts into which the process module is used.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for performing business process modeling. The method includes identifying capabilities, activities, and requirements associated with a business problem or an opportunity. The activities are operable for implementing the capabilities and the capabilities are operable for resolving the business problem or exploiting the opportunity. For each of the activities, the method includes selecting at least one corresponding process module that includes listings of attributes applicable to the activities, selecting at least one of the attributes from the listings, and defining transition artifacts for integrating selected process modules. The method also includes compiling the transition artifacts, selected attributes, and selected activities with corresponding process modules, and generating a business process model as a result of the compilation.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for minimizing complex decisions to allocate additional resources to a job submitted to a grid environment are provided. First, at least one decision to allocate additional resources to at least one previously submitted job is stored in a decision cache, wherein said the least one decision is stored according to at least one characteristic of the at least one previously submitted job. When another job is submitted to the grid environment needs additional resources, the characteristic of the currently submitted job is compared with the characteristics of previous submitted jobs. If there is a match, then the previously made decision associated with the matching characteristic controls allocation of additional resources for the currently submitted job, such that complex decision making for allocation of additional resources is minimized by reusing previously stored decisions to allocate additional resources.

Abstract: In response to a query for information in a geographic region or at a location, ranked ads may be plotted on, or in association with, a map (e.g., as a list beside the map), satellite photo, or any other form of visual representation of geographic information (referred to generally as “maps”). Sponsored ads might be shown in a dedicated place and/or might be elevated above other non-sponsored search results (e.g., Yellow Page listings). The number of ads shown in the list and/or plotted on the map could vary as a function of the resolution of the map or geographic image. The ads could be ranked or scored, and attributes or features of various ads may be a function of such a score or ranking. The plots on the map might be selectable to provide a pop-up with further information and possibly sponsored information (such as images, further ads, etc).

Abstract: A service composition environment is used to create a collaborative application that links services, composite services as well as with other collaborative applications. An application that is created using the service composition environment may include any combination of composite services, individual services and aggregated composite services. Metadata is obtained from the services that includes functional and non-functional policies, governance regulations, management aspects, and programmable binding information that relates to the services.

Abstract: A method of testing changes to externalized rules is provided. The method comprises using a rules change management engine and receiving from it a test request for a rules change for a rule. Further, the method comprises providing regression test buckets for testing a version of a rule against each of a plurality of exploiting systems that exploits the rule, and determining for the test request for the rules change received, which of the regression test buckets should be executed against which of the plurality of exploiting systems that exploits the rule and running, using a test rules management system, the regression test buckets that are determined should be executed. The method further comprises reporting results of the regression test buckets that are run to the rules change management engine, such that the rules change management engine is able to determine whether or not to implement the rules change.

Abstract: A method of testing changes to externalized rules is provided. The method comprises using a rules change management engine and receiving from it a test request for a rules change for a rule. Further, the method comprises providing regression test buckets for testing a version of a rule against each of a plurality of exploiting systems that exploits the rule, and determining for the test request for the rules change received, which of the regression test buckets should be executed against which of the plurality of exploiting systems that exploits the rule and running, using a test rules management system, the regression test buckets that are determined should be executed. The method further comprises reporting results of the regression test buckets that are run to the rules change management engine, such that the rules change management engine is able to determine whether or not to implement the rules change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating service state data and extensible meta-data information with a service oriented state data generator (SSDG) comprising: establishing a platform independent, extensible meta-data model for the meta-data information; obtaining state data schema based on a service state data description; defining an extensible set of meta-data attributes and templates corresponding to the meta data based on requirements of a service; and utilizing the meta-data model and based on the state data schema and the attributes, generating service state data based on the service state data schema; and The service state data including at least one of: state data, state data logical mapping, state data physical mapping, meta-data associated with the service state data and meta-data model correlations associated with the meta-data.

Abstract: A method of testing changes to externalized rules is provided. The method comprises using a rules change management engine and receiving from it a test request for a rules change for a rule. Further, the method comprises providing regression test buckets for testing a version of a rule against each of a plurality of exploiting systems that exploits the rule, and determining for the test request for the rules change received, which of the regression test buckets should be executed against which of the plurality of exploiting systems that exploits the rule and running, using a test rules management system, the regression test buckets that are determined should be executed. The method further comprises reporting results of the regression test buckets that are run to the rules change management engine, such that the rules change management engine is able to determine whether or not to implement the rules change.

Abstract: A rules change management system and method. The system comprises a first computing system comprising a first memory system. The first memory system comprises a rules change management engine. The first computing system receives a set of meta-rules associated with rules stored in a second memory system within a second computing system. The set of meta-rules are stored in the first memory system. The computing system receives a request to change a rule of the rules. The rules change management engine applies at least one associated meta-rule of the set of meta-rules to the request. The rules change management engine determines if the request may be executed based on the applying.

Abstract: Performance data is captured periodically from resources and groups of resources in a grid computing environment and stored in a content-addressable data repository from which it can be accessed in response to an arbitrarily complex query in regard to specifics of particular jobs or job portions, particular resources utilized, grid architecture, application environment, concurrent jobs or job portions and the like. The data repository may be distributed or divided in regard to grid environment architecture, security domains or the like and each portion or division may be implemented in a modular fashion including an accounting and statistics management module and additional modules or computing engines for performing particular desired analyses or functions. Results of such analyses or functions may be communicated to a grid workload agent (and associated modules) to improve grid management on a fine-grained basis.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for managing network errors communicated in a message transaction with error information using a troubleshooting agent. A network facilitates message transactions between a requester and a responder for facilitating web services. When a non-application specific error occurs in relation to a particular message transaction, such as a network error, a protocol layer assigns an error code and either the requester or responder encodes the error code in the body of an envelope added to the particular message transaction. In particular, the message transaction is an XML message with a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) envelope encoded with the error code to which the XML message is then attached. The error encoded message transaction is forwarded to a troubleshooting agent.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for estimating future grid job costs by classifying grid jobs and storing results of processing grid job microcosms are provided. In general, a client side agent estimates future grid job costs by comparing a current grid job of a particular classification with a history of stored costs for other grid jobs of that customer of that particular classification. In particular, the grid client agent for a client system enabled to submit grid jobs to a grid provider that facilitates a grid environment, calculates a ratio of an application based metric to a grid provider metric for processing a particular grid job. Then, the grid client agent creates a table with an entry comparing the application based metric to a cost per grid provider metric for the grid provider based on the calculated ratio. Next, the grid client agent stores the table with the entry.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for automatically distributing a bid request for a grid job to multiple grid providers and analyzing responses to select a winning grid provider are provided. A user at a grid client enters at least one bid criteria for a particular grid job intended for submission to an external grid environment. The grid client automatically selects at least one grid provider for the external grid environment to query for availability to process the particular grid job to meet the criteria for the particular grid job. Then, the grid client automatically distributes the criteria in a bid request for the particular grid job to the selected grid providers. The grid client stores bid responses received from the grid providers, and responsive to reaching a deadline for return of responses for the bid request, the grid client selects a winning bid response from the particular grid job from among the received responses.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for automating responses by grid providers to bid request indicating criteria for a grid job are provided. A bid controller grid service of a grid provider receives a job request from a client for processing a job within a grid environment of the grid provider, wherein the job request specifies at a least one criteria required for the grid provider to handle a particular grid job. The grid service determines whether the grid environment includes the hardware platform class, software platform class, and network bandwidth required by the job request. If the grid service determines that the grid environment includes a sufficient hardware platform class, software platform class, and network bandwidth, then a total required workload for the job request is calculated.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for coordinating the monitoring, management, and prediction of unintended changes within a grid environment are provided. A grid change controller within a particular grid environment detects an unintended change within that grid environment. In particular, grid change controller monitors potential change indicators received from multiple disparate resource managers across the grid environment, where each resource manage manages a selection of resources within the grid environment. The grid change controller then determines a necessary response to the unintended change within the grid environment and communicates with at least one independent manager within the grid environment to resolve the unintended change, such that the grid change controller facilitates recovery from the unintended change within the grid environment to maintain performance requirements within the grid environment.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for automated management of software images for efficient resource node building within a grid environment are provided. A grid service detects a current software environment for a grid job within a grid environment, wherein the grid environment includes multiple grid resources. The grid service searches a catalog of multiple software images to determine whether an image for the current software environment matches any software images in the catalog. In particular, each of the software images includes an index into at least one installation image. Further, storage of the software images is structured in the catalog for automated efficient access to each software image by multiple resource nodes within the grid environment. If the grid service does not locate a software image for the current software environment in the catalog, the grid service captures at least one installation image for the current software environment for storage in the catalog as an additional software image.