Method and apparatus to group sets of computers into classes for statistical analysis
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsHeidi Crittenden, Mario Garzia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of grouping sets of computers into a single class for statistical analysis is disclosed. The method my look at various factors to create equivalent classes of computers depending on the level of aggregation desired which then may be used to provide more statistically reliable information on the uptime of computers.
Claims20
A method of programmatically grouping sets of computers into a single class for statistical analysis comprising:
- determining the hardware used in a computer;
- determining the software use in the computer;
- determining the operating practices for the computer;
- determining the workloads for the computer;
- grouping the computer with other computers into classes for statistical analysis wherein the computers in the classes share at least two of the same computer characteristics selected from the group of computer characteristics consisting of:
- hardware;
- software;
- operating practices;
- and
- workloads;
- using statistical analysis on class of statistically similar computers.
A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing method of programmatically grouping sets of computers into a single class for statistical analysis, comprising:
- computer executable instructions for determining the hardware used in a computer;
- computer executable instructions for determining the software use in the computer;
- computer executable instructions for determining the operating practices for the computer;
- computer executable instructions for determining the workloads for the computer;
- computer executable instructions for grouping the computer with other computers into classes for statistical analysis wherein the computers in the classes share at least two of the same computer characteristics selected from the group of computer characteristics consisting of:
- hardware;
- software;
- operating practices;
- and
- workloads;
- computer executable instructions for using statistical analysis on class of statistically similar computers.
A computing apparatus, comprising:
- a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
- an input device;
- a processing apparatus operatively coupled to said display unit and said input device, said processing apparatus comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
- a network interface connected to a network and to the processing apparatus;
- said processing apparatus being programmed to group sets of computers into a single class for statistical analysis wherein intentional downtimes are not counted as time of a class comprising:
- determining the hardware used in a computer;
- determining the software use in the computer;
- determining the operating practices for the computer;
- determining the workloads for the computer;
- grouping the computer with other computers into classes for statistical analysis wherein the computers in the classes share at least two of the same computer characteristics selected from the group of computer characteristics consisting of:
- hardware;
- software;
- operating practices;
- workloads;
- using statistical analysis on class of statistically similar computers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.