Method and apparatus for extracting and visualizing execution patterns from web services

Abstract

One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for extracting and visualizing execution patterns from Web Services collects data relating to one or more transactions executed in accordance with one or more Web Services-based applications (e.g., messaging systems or other services). One or more patterns is then extracted from the collected data, where the patterns are representative transactions commonly executed in accordance with the Web Services configuration under analysis.

1 . A method for analyzing a Web Services configuration, said method comprising: 
 collecting data relating to one or more messages exchanged in accordance with said Web Services configuration; and    extracting one or more patterns from said data, said one or more patterns being representative of one or more transactions executed in accordance with said Web Services configuration.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said extracting comprises: 
 reducing one or more repetitive sequences in said data;    representing said one or more reduced sequences as graphs; and    identifying commonalities among said graphs.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said identifying comprises: 
 dividing said graphs into one or more sub-sets, where all graphs within a given subset share structural similarities; and    dividing at least one of said one or more sub-sets into two or more sub-sub-sets, where all graphs within a given sub-sub-set share at least one of: at least one node attribute or at least one edge attribute.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein all graphs within a given sub-set are isomorphic.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one node attribute is at least one of: a service point, a port type, a machine, node performance data or a function of a service point, a port type, a machine or node performance data.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said edge attribute is at least one of: an operation, a message name, a message type, an error type, performance data, message content or a function of an operation, a message name, a message type, an error type, performance data or message content.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one node attribute or at least one edge attribute is deemed to match across graphs in an associated sub-sub-set in accordance with a predefined matching criterion.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said predefined matching criterion requires said at least one node attribute or at least one edge attribute to be identical across said graphs in said associated sub-sub-set.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said predefined matching criterion requires said at least one node attribute or at least one edge attribute to be similar within a defined degree across said graphs in said associated sub-sub-set.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one node attribute or at least one edge attribute is deemed to match across graphs in said associated sub-sub-set in accordance with an automatically discovered matching criterion.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 defining at least one pattern in accordance with at least one of said two or more sub-sub-sets.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said defining comprises: 
 identifying a suitable representation for all transactions represented within a given sub-sub-set; and    defining said representation as a pattern.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 visualizing said one or more patterns.    
     
     
         14 . A computer readable medium containing an executable program for analyzing a Web Services configuration, where the program performs the steps of: 
 collecting data relating to one or more messages exchanged in accordance with said Web Services configuration; and    extracting one or more patterns from said data, said one or more patterns being representative of one or more transactions executed in accordance with said Web Services configuration.    
     
     
         15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein said extracting comprises: 
 reducing one or more repetitive sequences in said data;    representing said one or more reduced sequences as graphs; and    identifying commonalities among said graphs.    
     
     
         16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein said identifying comprises: 
 dividing said graphs into one or more sub-sets, where all graphs within a given subset share structural similarities; and    dividing at least one of said one or more sub-sets into two or more sub-sub-sets, where all graphs within a given sub-sub-set share at least one of: at least one node attribute or at least one edge attribute.    
     
     
         17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 defining at least one pattern in accordance with at least one of said two or more sub-sub-sets.    
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said defining comprises: 
 identifying a suitable representation for all transactions represented within a given sub-sub-set; and    defining said representation as a pattern.    
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 visualizing said one or more patterns.    
     
     
         20 . Apparatus for analyzing a Web Services configuration, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for collecting data relating to one or more messages exchanged in accordance with said Web Services configuration; and    means for extracting one or more patterns from said data, said one or more patterns being representative of one or more transactions executed in accordance with said Web Services configuration.