Dynamic determination of execution sequence

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for dynamically determining an execution order of a plurality of executable components of a network management system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• associating, with a first component of the plurality of executable components, one or more time base values, wherein each time base value specifies a time classification during which the first executable component is required to be executed;
• associating one or more precondition values with the first executable component, wherein each precondition value represents a category of other executable components of the network management system that are required to execute before the first executable component is executed;
• storing a partial order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the pre-conditions and time base values;
• and
• generating a final order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the partial order.

An apparatus for dynamically determining an execution order of a plurality of executable components of a network management system, comprising:

• means for associating, with a first component of the plurality of executable components, one or more time base values, wherein each time base value specifies a time classification during which the first executable component is required to be executed;
• means for associating one or more precondition values with the first executable component, wherein each precondition value represents a category of other executable components of the network management system that are required to execute before the first executable component is executed;
• means for storing a partial order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the pre-conditions and the time base values;
• and
• means for generating a final order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the partial order.

A method of dynamically determining an execution order of a plurality of executable computer program components, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• creating and storing, in association with a first component of the plurality of executable computer program components, first information representing one or more pre-conditions to execution of the first component, wherein each precondition value represents a category of other executable components of the network management system that are required to execute before the first executable component is executed;
• creating and storing, in association with the first component, one or more time base values, wherein each time base value specifies a time classification during which the first component is required to be executed;
• creating and storing a directed acyclic graph in a memory that represents a partial order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the pre-conditions and the time base values, wherein the directed acyclic graph comprises a plurality of nodes, wherein each node represents one of the preconditions;
• and
• generating a final order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the partial order by conducting a breadth-first traversal to each of the plurality of nodes of the directed acyclic graph and creating second information representing the final order of execution based on an order in which the nodes are traversed.

A method of dynamically determining an execution order of a plurality of executable computer program components of a network management system, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• creating and storing, in association with each component in the plurality of executable computer program components, a first category value that identifies a category that characterizes such component, and one or more pre-conditions to execution of such component, wherein each of the pre-conditions comprises one or more second categories that each identify a category of the executable computer program components that must execute before such component may execute;
• creating and storing, in association with each component in the plurality of components, one or more time base values, wherein each time base value specifies a time classification during which such component is required to be executed;
• creating and storing in a memory, a partial order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the pre-conditions and time base values;
• and
• generating a final order of execution of the plurality of executable components based on the partial order by evaluating the first category values and the pre-conditions.