Patents by Inventor Michael Donald Pfeifer
Michael Donald Pfeifer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 9389918Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for reducing instability in a heterogeneous job plan of a stream processing application. In one embodiment, a job manager may be configured to select a job plan with the objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan. Each job plan may provide a directed graph connecting processing elements (both native and non-native). That is, each job plan illustrates data flow through the stream application framework. The job plan may be selected from multiple available job plans, or may be generated by replacing processing elements of a given job plan. Further, the job plan may be selected on the basis of other objectives in addition to an objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan, such as minimizing cost, minimizing execution time, minimizing resource usage, etc.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Zachary Adam Garbow, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 8856766Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of displaying a data flow, wherein a description of a data flow application to be displayed is received. The data flow application includes nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the nodes represent operators and the edges represent data connections for data flowing between the operations. A reason that a user is to view the data flow and/or a user constraint on a complexity of the data flow application to be displayed is determined with a processor; and, the time required to render a display of the data flow application is estimated. A transformed representation of the data flow application is created with the processor. The transformed representation is created based upon the user reason, the user constraint, the estimated time of rendering, and/or a layout strategy. The transformed representation is displayed on a graphical user interface.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Andrew Lawrence Frenkiel, Henrique Andrade, Bugra Gedik, Michael Donald Pfeifer, Wim De Pauw
-
Patent number: 8776062Abstract: A data stream processing system is provided that utilizes independent sites to process user-defined inquires over dynamic, continuous streams of data. A mechanism is provided for processing these inquiries over the continuous streams of data by matching new inquiries to previously submitted inquiries. The job plans containing sets of processing elements that were created for both the new inquiry and the previous inquiries are compared for consistency in input and output formatting and commonality of processing elements used. In accordance with the comparison, the new job plan, previous job plans or a combination of the new and previous job plans are used to process the new inquiry. Based on the results of processing the new inquiry, a determination is made regarding which job plans are used for future inquiries.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Zachary Adam Garbow, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 8656369Abstract: A method is provided for tracing dataflow in a distributed computing application. For example, the method includes incrementally advancing a dataflow in a dataflow path of one or more dataflow paths according to two or more directives encoded in two or more data messages. The method further includes performing the two or more directives. The dataflow path includes one or more operators including at least one merge operator operative to merge the two or more data messages and merge the two or more directives. One or more of the incrementally advancing of the dataflow and the performing of the two or more directives are implemented as instruction code performed on a processor device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul V. Allen, Henrique Andrade, Wim De Pauw, Bugra Gedik, Andy L. Frenkiel, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Publication number: 20140033173Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method of displaying a data flow, wherein a description of a data flow application to be displayed is received. The data flow application includes nodes and edges connecting the nodes, wherein the nodes represent operators and the edges represent data connections for data flowing between the operations. A reason that a user is to view the data flow and/or a user constraint on a complexity of the data flow application to be displayed is determined with a processor; and, the time required to render a display of the data flow application is estimated. A transformed representation of the data flow application is created with the processor. The transformed representation is created based upon the user reason, the user constraint, the estimated time of rendering, and/or a layout strategy. The transformed representation is displayed on a graphical user interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Andrew Lawrence Frenkiel, Henrique Andrade, Bugra Gedik, Michael Donald Pfeifer, Wim De Pauw
-
Patent number: 8601477Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for reducing instability in a heterogeneous job plan of a stream processing application. In one embodiment, a job manager may be configured to select a job plan with the objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan. Each job plan may provide a directed graph connecting processing elements (both native and non-native). That is, each job plan illustrates data flow through the stream application framework. The job plan may be selected from multiple available job plans, or may be generated by replacing processing elements of a given job plan. Further, the job plan may be selected on the basis of other objectives in addition to an objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan, such as minimizing cost, minimizing execution time, minimizing resource usage, etc.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Zachary Adam Garbow, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 8452756Abstract: A database query optimizer includes an access plan storage mechanism that stores execution detail corresponding to a query statement in an access plan cache. By storing execution detail in the access plan cache along with the query statement, the execution detail is available when needed to debug database problems, even after a problem occurs. The execution detail stored in the access plan cache may be mined and analyzed after-the-fact, producing a very powerful tool for debugging database problems. Snapshots of the execution detail may also be created by a user. In addition, the user may setup autonomic snapshots and comparisons so that a user may be alerted from a degradation in database performance between two snapshots.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Mark John Anderson, Robert Joseph Bestgen, Daniel E. Beuch, Curtis Neal Boger, James Michael Flanagan, Scott Forstie, Shantan Kethireddy, Thomas Owen McKinley, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Publication number: 20110289301Abstract: A method is provided for tracing dataflow in a distributed computing application. For example, the method includes incrementally advancing a dataflow in a dataflow path of one or more dataflow paths according to two or more directives encoded in two or more data messages. The method further includes performing the two or more directives. The dataflow path includes one or more operators including at least one merge operator operative to merge the two or more data messages and merge the two or more directives. One or more of the incrementally advancing of the dataflow and the performing of the two or more directives are implemented as instruction code performed on a processor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Paul V. Allen, Henrique Andrade, Wim De Pauw, Bugra Gedik, Andy L. Frenkiel, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 7743052Abstract: A database management system maintains a record of queries which can be executed against the database. For a given auxiliary database structure, an advisory function automatically reviews the query record and identifies those queries which might execute with greater efficiency using the auxiliary database structure, presenting analytical information to the user. Preferably, the auxiliary database structure is an index, and the information is used for determining whether to include the index in the database definition. Preferably, a query optimizer records potentially useful indexes when considering multiple alternative database optimizations, and this information is later retrieved to identify queries which would benefit from an index.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Robert Joseph Bestgen, James Michael Flanagan, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Publication number: 20090320038Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for reducing instability in a heterogeneous job plan of a stream processing application. In one embodiment, a job manager may be configured to select a job plan with the objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan. Each job plan may provide a directed graph connecting processing elements (both native and non-native). That is, each job plan illustrates data flow through the stream application framework. The job plan may be selected from multiple available job plans, or may be generated by replacing processing elements of a given job plan. Further, the job plan may be selected on the basis of other objectives in addition to an objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan, such as minimizing cost, minimizing execution time, minimizing resource usage, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Zachary Adam Garbow, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Publication number: 20090320039Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for reducing instability in a heterogeneous job plan of a stream processing application. In one embodiment, a job manager may be configured to select a job plan with the objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan. Each job plan may provide a directed graph connecting processing elements (both native and non-native). That is, each job plan illustrates data flow through the stream application framework. The job plan may be selected from multiple available job plans, or may be generated by replacing processing elements of a given job plan. Further, the job plan may be selected on the basis of other objectives in addition to an objective of minimizing the potential instability of the job plan, such as minimizing cost, minimizing execution time, minimizing resource usage, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Zachary Adam Garbow, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 7584200Abstract: Graphical maps of databases and related objects within a database have benefits for a database administrator. Instead of displaying all objects related to a node of interest, a user can select what maximum relation level to use to locate related objects. The mapping software starts at the initial node, or objects, and locates only those related objects that are within the maximum relation level as specified by the user. Only these located objects are displayed thereby producing a clearer and more concise map.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Publication number: 20090070767Abstract: A data stream processing system is provided that utilizes independent sites to process user-defined inquires over dynamic, continuous streams of data. A mechanism is provided for processing these inquiries over the continuous streams of data by matching new inquiries to previously submitted inquiries. The job plans containing sets of processing elements that were created for both the new inquiry and the previous inquiries are compared for consistency in input and output formatting and commonality of processing elements used. In accordance with the comparison, the new job plan, previous job plans or a combination of the new and previous job plans are used to process the new inquiry. Based on the results of processing the new inquiry, a determination is made regarding which job plans are used for future inquiries.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2007Publication date: March 12, 2009Inventors: Zachary Adam Garbow, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Publication number: 20080114718Abstract: A database query optimizer includes an access plan storage mechanism that stores execution detail corresponding to a query statement in an access plan cache. By storing execution detail in the access plan cache along with the query statement, the execution detail is available when needed to debug database problems, even after a problem occurs. The execution detail stored in the access plan cache may be mined and analyzed after-the-fact, producing a very powerful tool for debugging database problems. Snapshots of the execution detail may also be created by a user. In addition, the user may setup autonomic snapshots and comparisons so that a user may be alerted from a degradation in database performance between two snapshots.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2006Publication date: May 15, 2008Inventors: Mark John Anderson, Robert Joseph Bestgen, Daniel E. Beuch, Curtis Neal Boger, James Michael Flanagan, Scott Forstie, Shantan Kethireddy, Thomas Owen McKinley, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 6978269Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating and displaying a schema diagram of a database includes a schema diagrammer that automatically queries a database to determine its objects and relationships, and generates a graphical representation of the database in the form of a schema diagram that is displayed to the user. The schema diagrammer may optionally include a search filter to potentially constrain which objects and relationships in the database are included in a diagram data file, and a display filter to potentially constrain which objects and relationships stored in the diagram data file are displayed in the schema diagram.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1999Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Peter John Johnson, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 6915298Abstract: A schema diagrammer aids a database administrator or other user in maintaining and managing a database in a computer system. The schema diagrammer allows the user to define “user-defined relationships” between objects in the database. The schema diagrammer generates a graphical schema diagram or map that indicates the objects and their relationships to one another. The relationships that are displayed include both the formal relationships defined programmatically by the database itself and the user-defined relationships.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael W. Cain, Peter John Johnson, Kenton R. Milligan, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 6842878Abstract: Logical relationships between objects are displayed using a graphical interface tree component. In a data base application, by selecting and expanding a table node, user can see those views and indexes which are directly related to the table, but not contained within the table, i.e., where there is no physical connection, but there are logical connections (relations). With context menus, the user can make changes in place.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Peter John Johnson, Michael Donald Pfeifer
-
Patent number: 6374239Abstract: A method and computer program product are provided for implementing translatable text in user modifiable standard query language (SQL) scripts. A set of multiple queries are generated including comments and associated delimited names. The comments and associated delimited names are translated into multiple language versions. A user selected national language is identified. The user selected national language version of the translated comments and associated delimited names are utilized for generating a query. In accordance with features of the invention, the user is given the option to view the query and to make any desired modifications.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Mark John Anderson, David Allan Baldes, Peter John Johnson, Michael Donald Pfeifer