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  Apparatus for adaptive problem determination in distributed service-based applicationsUSPTO Application #: 20080109681Title: Apparatus for adaptive problem determination in distributed service-based applications Abstract: A technique for problem determination in a distributed application is provided. Testing results of the application are first obtained through execution of test cases of a test group in the application. The testing of the application is then adaptively refined when the testing results have one or more failures, to expose problems that caused the one or more failures. (end of abstract) Agent: Ryan, Mason & Lewis, LLP - Locust Valley, NY, US Inventors: Wim De Pauw, Clay E. Williams USPTO Applicaton #: 20080109681 - Class: 714038000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Error Detection/correction And Fault Detection/recovery, Data Processing System Error Or Fault Handling, Reliability And Availability, Fault Locating (i.e., Diagnosis Or Testing), Analysis (e.g., Of Output, State, Or Design), Of Computer Software The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080109681. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/723,343 filed on Nov. 26, 2003 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is related to distributed service-based applications and, more particularly, to adaptive problem determination in distributed service-based applications. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Web Services are quickly becoming the common method of communication for loosely coupled distributed applications of varying languages. Web Services are self-contained, self-describing, modular applications that can be published, located, and invoked across the Internet, or across an intranet. Their programmatic interfaces can be described using Web Services Description Language (WSDL), an XML format for describing network services as a set of end points operating on messages containing either document-oriented or procedure-oriented information. The Web Services protocol is vendor and implementation independent, and therefore quickly gaining popularity as a promising approach for communication between loosely coupled distributed applications. [0004] Many examples of Web Services used in tutorials or in technology previews typically involve only one node or service point. However, the number of nodes in Web Services configurations will grow significantly, since building tools make it very easy to compose these systems. Further, workflow systems typically interpret higher level workflow designs using a workflow engine, producing a significant amount of Web Services traffic, and increasing the complexity of the systems. As the number of nodes and the complexity of these applications grow over the coming years, it will become more challenging for developers to understand, debug, and optimize these large applications. Therefore, the major challenge for each of these complex systems will be to find where an error occurred or where the flow of messages stops in the system. [0005] Existing debugging and problem determination techniques are largely based on "micro-analysis tools," such as code-level debuggers and simple trace logs, see, e.g., M. Chen et al., "Using Runtime Paths for Macroanalysis," HotOS IX--Ninth Workshop on Hot Topics in Operating Systems, Lihue, Hi., May 2000. While these tools are very useful for understanding behavior within a single component or thread of control, they do not provide useful information beyond these boundaries. When applications are composed of services that are distributed across a network, failures in a particular service may not manifest themselves at the service in question, from the point of view of service consumers. Additionally, failures may also occur as a result of network degradation, and the interaction of several services may be complex. [0006] In order to overcome these and other difficulties, problem determination requires macro-level tools. These tools are capable of handling distributed component or services-based systems. They also provide the ability to correlate information from autonomous distributed components, and generally provide a view of the application from the distributed multi-threaded perspective. [0007] Current tools such as SOAPScope, from Mindreef, Inc. of Hollis, N.H., work mostly on the wire level, "sniffing" the Web Services communication between two points. This communication is usually implemented using Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). This can help for logging the activity at one particular node, but debugging a complex distributed application remains difficult. SOAPTest, from Parasoft of Monrovia, Calif., has functional testing, load testing, and client testing. SOAPTest uses the classic testing strategy: after a suite of tests has been run, the user is left to determine what to do with the results. The testing phase and the inspection/debugging phases are completely separate. [0008] Adaptive software testing has also been conducted, see, e.g., K.Y. Cai, "Optimal Software Testing and Adaptive Software Testing in the Context of Software Cybernetics," Information and Software Technology, 44 (14), November 2002, 841-855. The adaptive approach is based on the use of control theory, in which the Implementation Under Test (IUT) serves as the control, and the software testing system serves as the controller. However, Cai's approach specifies the use of controlled Markov chains for managing the adaptation strategy. [0009] Considerable work has also been done in the area of test generation, including work on the use of fault models and planning, see, e.g., A. Paradkar, "Automated Generation of Self-Checking Function Tests," International Symposium on Software Reliability Engineering, 2002; finite-state-based techniques, see, e.g., A. Hartman et al., "TCBeans and Software Test Toolkit," Proc. 12th Intl. Software Quality Week, May 1999; techniques based on combinatorial optimization, see, e.g., C. Williams et al. "Efficient Regression Testing of Multi-Panel Systems," International Symposium on Software Reliability Engineering, 1999; and model-checking-based techniques, see, e.g., P. E. Amman et al., "Using Model Checking to Generate Tests from Specifications," Proc. 2nd IEEE Conference on Formal Engineering Methods, 1998. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The present invention provides adaptive problem determination techniques for distributed service-based applications. More particularly, the invention provides an adaptation approach which undergoes refinement as the problem determination process unfolds. [0011] For example, in one aspect of the invention, a technique for problem determination in a distributed application comprises the following steps. Testing results of the application are first obtained through execution of test cases of a test group in the application. The testing of the application is then adaptively refined when the testing results have one or more failures, to expose problems that caused the one or more failures. [0012] Advantageously, the inventive techniques may integrate testing and debugging, making it easier for the developer to find the cause of result failures. Further, the adaptive strategies of the technique may extend to traditional non-stochastic test generation (e.g., state-based or combinatorial testing) technologies, however stochastic techniques may also be used. [0013] Another advantage of the inventive techniques is that they are "semi-adaptive." Typically, adaptation occurs as individual test cases are run. In the inventive technique, a suite of test cases may be produced and run, the outcomes may be analyzed, and a new suite may be developed. While both approaches offer specific advantages, the semi-adaptive approach is more suitable for testing distributed service-based systems, as a broad set of results is required in order to derive an effective adaptation strategy. [0014] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an adaptive problem determination system for a distributed service-based application, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an adaptive problem determination methodology, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an illustrative hardware implementation of a computing system in accordance with which one or more components/methodologies of the present invention may be implemented, according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018] The following description will illustrate the invention using an exemplary data processing system architecture. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to use with any particular system architecture. The invention is instead more generally applicable to any data processing system in which it is desirable to perform efficient and effective application testing. Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus for adaptive problem determination in distributed service-based applications Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus for adaptive problem determination in distributed service-based applications patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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