Patents by Inventor Nicholas Matthew Tankersley

Nicholas Matthew Tankersley 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: 11934417
    Abstract: Data intake and query system (DIQS) instances supporting applications including lower-tier, focused, work group oriented applications, are tailored to display the metrics for the needs of the user. An interface caused by operation of an entity monitoring system (EMS) operating in conjunction with the lower-tier DIQS displays the monitored entities as individual representations. The user selects a metric and a metric threshold. The EMS causes a display of an interface having a representation for each monitored entity. Each representation includes a metric value and indicates an entity status based on the metric value and the threshold. The user can dynamically change the threshold on the interface for easy visualization of aggregation of monitored entities to determine the performance of the infrastructure. The interface also provides the user with the ability to select an entity and click through to the entity analysis workspace for more detailed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Ai-Chi Lu, Arun Ramani, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley
  • Patent number: 11843528
    Abstract: One or more lower-tier system monitoring components are installed and operated prior to installing a higher-tier system monitoring component. A lower-tier system may be an individual server, network device, or local area network. A higher-tier system may include an enterprise or organization wide network or service that includes at least a part of the lower-tier system. Once the higher-tier system monitoring component is installed, the higher-tier and lower-tier system monitoring components use an interface to operate with one another to form a single larger instance of an organization wide monitoring system. The combination of the higher-tier system monitoring component and the one or more lower-tier system operating components performs monitoring aspects of the overall information technology environment based at least in part on machine data produced and made searchable to provide monitoring results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Vincent Hardin, Kan Wu, Arun Ramani, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Tristan Fletcher, Alok Bhide
  • Patent number: 11755559
    Abstract: Automated discovery of relationships between entities within an IT environment. A technique is performed by a relationship module that performs a discovery search for entity relationships to produce a set of relationship search results. The relationship module then generates a set of relationship definitions from the set of relationship search results which are stored to a relationship collection in a data store. A technique for automatically updating entity and relationship definitions and removing outdated entity and relationship definitions stored to a data store. An update module automatically updates entity and relationship definitions at predetermined time intervals. The update history in each definition is also modified to reflect the update process. A retire module automatically removes outdated definitions using the update history in each definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SPLUNK INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Mingrui Wei, Arun Ramani
  • Publication number: 20230169084
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described to determine relationships between one or more components of an isolated execution environment system based on data obtained from a data intake and query system. Based on the determined relationships, an interactive visualization is generated that indicates the hierarchical relationship of the components. In some cases, to illustrate the relationship between components of the isolated execution environment system, the visualization can include one or more display objects displayed in a subordinate or superior relationship to other display objects. In certain cases, based on an interaction with a display object, the system can generate a query and/or display additional information and/or visualizations based on the results of the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Vladimir A. Shcherbakov, Stewart Smith, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Junyu Wang, Peter Wu
  • Patent number: 11580067
    Abstract: A network storage volume stores first entries in a first-mode storage bucket and a second entries in a second-mode storage bucket. The first-mode storage bucket has first bucket metadata, and the second-mode storage bucket has second bucket metadata. A computer-implemented method includes comparing a utilized capacity of the network storage volume to a target capacity information of the network storage volume to obtain a comparison result. Based on the comparison result, at least one bucket is selected to be purged from the buckets of the network storage volume based at least in part on bucket metadata of the buckets. The method further includes causing a purge of the at least one selected bucket from the network storage volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Kuruvada, Fang I. Hsiao, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley
  • Patent number: 11567960
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described to determine relationships between one or more components of an isolated execution environment system based on data obtained from a data intake and query system. Based on the determined relationships, an interactive visualization is generated that indicates the hierarchical relationship of the components. In some cases, to illustrate the relationship between components of the isolated execution environment system, the visualization can include one or more display objects displayed in a subordinate or superior relationship to other display objects. In certain cases, based on an interaction with a display object, the system can generate a query and/or display additional information and/or visualizations based on the results of the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir A. Shcherbakov, Stewart Smith, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Junyu Wang, Peter Wu
  • Patent number: 11526511
    Abstract: An example method of implementing a monitoring interface for an information technology environment comprises: identifying machine data reflecting activity in the information technology environment comprising a plurality of entities providing a service; executing a search query to derive, from the machine data, a value of a key performance indicator (KPI) reflecting performance of the service; and causing display of a monitoring interface including: an identifier of the service, a color coded indication of a state of the KPI, and a visual representation of time series data associated with the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SPLUNK INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Fang I. Hsiao, Arun Ramani
  • Publication number: 20220045919
    Abstract: One or more lower-tier system monitoring components are installed and operated prior to installing a higher-tier system monitoring component. A lower-tier system may be an individual server, network device, or local area network. A higher-tier system may include an enterprise or organization wide network or service that includes at least a part of the lower-tier system. Once the higher-tier system monitoring component is installed, the higher-tier and lower-tier system monitoring components use an interface to operate with one another to form a single larger instance of an organization wide monitoring system. The combination of the higher-tier system monitoring component and the one or more lower-tier system operating components performs monitoring aspects of the overall information technology environment based at least in part on machine data produced and made searchable to provide monitoring results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Alan Vincent Hardin, Kan Wu, Arun Ramani, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Tristan Fletcher, Alok Bhide
  • Patent number: 11200130
    Abstract: Automated discovery of relationships between entities within an IT environment. A technique is performed by a relationship module that performs a discovery search for entity relationships to produce a set of relationship search results. The relationship module then generates a set of relationship definitions from the set of relationship search results which are stored to a relationship collection in a data store. A technique for automatically updating entity and relationship definitions and removing outdated entity and relationship definitions stored to a data store. An update module automatically updates entity and relationship definitions at predetermined time intervals. The update history in each definition is also modified to reflect the update process. A retire module automatically removes outdated definitions using the update history in each definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SPLUNK INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Mingrui Wei, Arun Ramani
  • Publication number: 20210342337
    Abstract: Data intake and query system (DIQS) instances supporting applications including lower-tier, focused, work group oriented applications, are tailored to display the metrics for the needs of the user. An interface caused by operation of an entity monitoring system (EMS) operating in conjunction with the lower-tier DIQS displays the monitored entities as individual representations. The user selects a metric and a metric threshold. The EMS causes a display of an interface having a representation for each monitored entity. Each representation includes a metric value and indicates an entity status based on the metric value and the threshold. The user can dynamically change the threshold on the interface for easy visualization of aggregation of monitored entities to determine the performance of the infrastructure. The interface also provides the user with the ability to select an entity and click through to the entity analysis workspace for more detailed information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ai-Chi Lu, Arun Ramani, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley
  • Patent number: 11159397
    Abstract: One or more lower-tier system monitoring components are installed and operated prior to installing a higher-tier system monitoring component. A lower-tier system may be an individual server, network device, or local area network. A higher-tier system may include an enterprise or organization wide network or service that includes at least a part of the lower-tier system. Once the higher-tier system monitoring component is installed, the higher-tier and lower-tier system monitoring components use an interface to operate with one another to form a single larger instance of an organization wide monitoring system. The combination of the higher-tier system monitoring component and the one or more lower-tier system operating components performs monitoring aspects of the overall information technology environment based at least in part on machine data produced and made searchable to provide monitoring results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Vincent Hardin, Kan Wu, Arun Ramani, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Tristan Fletcher, Alok Bhide
  • Patent number: 11157446
    Abstract: A server group of a data intake and query system (DIQS) establishes connections with multiple source data network nodes. Data from the multiple sources comports with a variety of different data modes and may be received via the established network connections on a periodic or continuous basis for ongoing capture as modal entries of modal buckets of a common networked storage volume. Rates of data reception across the network connections influences a process to maintain a measured utilization of storage volume capacity at, near, or below a targeted level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Kuruvada, Fang I. Hsiao, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley
  • Patent number: 11144545
    Abstract: An automatic service monitor in an information-technology environment performs regular search queries against generated machine data to derive performance measurements. The information technology environment is defined in terms of services provided by entities, and the performance measurements are defined as key performance indicators (KPIs) of the services. Generated machine data used by the search queries pertain to the entities performing the service. Definitional information for the services, entities, and KPIs is administered by a user to control the operation of the service monitor. Various aspects of such definitional information as well as related performance measurement information may be presented in a unified console display tailored to, and organized around, a particular entity. The console display may serve as a central launch point by supporting user interaction to navigate to other specialized monitoring interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Fang I. Hsiao, Arun Ramani
  • Patent number: 11106442
    Abstract: Data intake and query system (DIQS) instances supporting applications including lower-tier, focused, work group oriented applications may be tailored to meet the specific needs of the users. Rather than offer pre-configured options, the DIQS-based application offers the user the ability to customize data collection before deploying the collectors for specified host entities within an IT environment. Once the user selects the metrics and/or log sources for data collection at a custom interface, the lower-tier DIQS generates custom script operable to establish collection of the source data having the selected metrics and events associated with selected log sources from the specified host entities. The user can display and analyze the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Fang I. Hsiao, Ai-chi Lu, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley
  • Patent number: 11093518
    Abstract: Data intake and query system (DIQS) instances supporting applications including lower-tier, focused, work group oriented applications, are tailored to display the metrics for the needs of the user. An interface caused by operation of an entity monitoring system (EMS) operating in conjunction with the lower-tier DIQS displays the monitored entities as individual representations. The user selects a metric and a metric threshold. The EMS causes a display of an interface having a representation for each monitored entity. Each representation includes a metric value and indicates an entity status based on the metric value and the threshold. The user can dynamically change the threshold on the interface for easy visualization of aggregation of monitored entities to determine the performance of the infrastructure. The interface also provides the user with the ability to select an entity and click through to the entity analysis workspace for more detailed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Ai-chi Lu, Arun Ramani, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley
  • Publication number: 20210224259
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described to determine relationships between one or more components of an isolated execution environment system based on data obtained from a data intake and query system. Based on the determined relationships, an interactive visualization is generated that indicates the hierarchical relationship of the components. In some cases, to illustrate the relationship between components of the isolated execution environment system, the visualization can include one or more display objects displayed in a subordinate or superior relationship to other display objects. In certain cases, based on an interaction with a display object, the system can generate a query and/or display additional information and/or visualizations based on the results of the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Vladimir A. Shcherbakov, Stewart Smith, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Junyu Wang, Peter Wu
  • Patent number: 10929415
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described to determine relationships between one or more components of an isolated execution environment system based on data obtained from a data intake and query system. Based on the determined relationships, an interactive visualization is generated that indicates the hierarchical relationship of the components. In some cases, to illustrate the relationship between components of the isolated execution environment system, the visualization can include one or more display objects displayed in a subordinate or superior relationship to other display objects. In certain cases, based on an interaction with a display object, the system can generate a query and/or display additional information and/or visualizations based on the results of the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir A. Shcherbakov, Stewart Smith, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Junyu Wang, Peter Wu
  • Patent number: 10558614
    Abstract: A server group of a data intake and query system (DIQS) establishes connections with multiple source data network nodes. Data from the multiple sources comports with a variety of different data modes and may be received via the established network connections on a periodic or continuous basis for ongoing capture as modal entries of modal buckets of a common networked storage volume. Rates of data reception across the network connections influences a process to maintain a measured utilization of storage volume capacity at, near, or below a targeted level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Venkata Kuruvada, Fang I Hsiao, Nicholas Matthew Tankersley
  • Patent number: 10417108
    Abstract: The operation of an automatic service monitoring system (SMS) is directed by stored control information. Methods and mechanisms are provided to create portable control modules based on the control information. The portable modules may be transmitted or otherwise conveyed to a second SMS and imported there to establish the control information that directs and determines operational aspects of the second SMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, George Iordanov Daloukov, Arun Ramani
  • Patent number: 10417225
    Abstract: An automatic service monitor in an information-technology environment performs regular search queries against generated machine data to derive performance measurements. The information technology environment is defined in terms of services provided by entities, and the performance measurements are defined as key performance indicators (KPIs) of the services. Generated machine data used by the search queries pertain to the entities performing the service. Definitional information for the services, entities, and KPIs is administered by a user to control the operation of the service monitor. Various aspects of such definitional information as well as related performance measurement information may be presented in a unified console display tailored to, and organized around, a particular entity. The console display may serve as a central launch point by supporting user interaction to navigate to other specialized monitoring interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Splunk Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Tankersley, Fang I Hsiao, Arun Ramani