Method and apparatus for grid project modeling language

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modeling grid projects, such that their network and node resources may be readily determinable for simulation, scheduling, and control purposes. A model of a grid project is generated using a standardized grid project modeling language that sets forth a sequence of grid project phases. Within each phase, there may be any number of descriptions of parallel activities that need to be performed, such as, CPU processing, network activity, both, or even nested “sub” phases. Each of the descriptions specifies the properties of the described activities, such as the quantity of CPU required, network traffic expected, prerequisites, dependencies, activity splitting limits and characteristics, reliability actions, etc. The grid project model is parseable by the present invention to determine the various phases of a grid project and the various characteristics of each phase.

1 . A computer implemented method for modeling a grid project, the computer implemented method comprising: 
 identifying various phases of the grid project; and    generating a grid project description model for the grid project utilizing a modeling language designed to describe the various phases of the grid project.    
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 processing the grid project description model to determine processor and network resource requirements for execution of the grid project.    
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the grid project description model includes a set of descriptions of the various phases of the grid project.  
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the set of descriptions of the various phases of the grid project comprises a number of grid jobs to be dispatched, an amount of data corresponding to each grid job, an amount of runtime for executing each grid job, and an estimated amount of data corresponding to results of the execution of the grid jobs.  
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the descriptions of the various phases specify properties of described activities, including quantity of processing resources required, expected network utilization, prerequisites, dependencies, reliability actions, and activity splitting limits and characteristics.  
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the descriptions of the various phases comprise descriptions of activities to be performed in parallel.  
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the modeling language uses an XML format.  
   
   
       8 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for modeling a grid project, comprising;    computer usable program code for identifying various phases of the grid project; and    computer usable program code for generating a grid project description model utilizing a modeling language designed to describe the various phases of the grid project.    
   
   
       9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , further comprising processing the grid project description model to determine processor and network resource requirements for execution of the grid project.  
   
   
       10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the grid project description model includes a set of descriptions of the various phases of the grid project.  
   
   
       11 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the set of descriptions of the various phases of the grid project comprises a number of grid jobs to be dispatched, an amount of data corresponding-to each grid job, an amount of runtime for executing each grid job, and an estimated amount of data corresponding to results of the execution of the grid jobs.  
   
   
       12 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the descriptions of the various phases specify properties of described activities, including quantity of processing resources required, expected network utilization, prerequisites, dependencies, reliability actions, and activity splitting limits and characteristics.  
   
   
       13 . The computer program product of  claim 10 , wherein the descriptions of the various phases include descriptions of activities to be performed in parallel.  
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the modeling language uses an XML format.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus for modeling a grid project, comprising: 
 A computer comprising:    a bus;    a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage devices contains a computer usable program product;    a processor unit, wherein the processor unit executes the computer usable program product to identify various phases of the grid project; and generate a grid project description model utilizing a grid project modeling language designed to describe the various phases of the grid project.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program product to process the grid project description model to determine processor and network resource requirements for execution of the grid project.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the grid project description model includes a set of descriptions of the various phases of the grid project.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the set of descriptions of the various phases of the grid project comprises a number of grid jobs to be dispatched, an amount of data corresponding to each grid job, an amount of runtime for executing each grid job, an estimated amount of data corresponding to the results of the execution of the grid jobs, and descriptions of activities to be performed in parallel.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the descriptions of the various phases specify properties of described activities, including quantity of processing resources required, expected network utilization, prerequisites, dependencies, reliability actions, and activity splitting limits and characteristics.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the modeling language uses an XML format.