# US 9,002,846 B2 · Ending tuple processing in a stream-based computing application

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- Number: US 9,002,846 B2
- Document ID: US9002846B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/840,322
- Filed: 2013-03-15
- Published: 2014-09-18
- Granted: 2015-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Michael J. Branson; John M. Santosuosso
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9002846B2

## CPC

- H04L 65/60: Network streaming of media packets
- G06F 16/24568: {Data stream processing; Continuous queries}
- H04L 43/0888: Throughput
- H04L 65/612: for unicast
- H04L 65/762: {at the source (reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355)}
- H04L 65/80: Responding to QoS
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A method includes receiving streaming data to be processed by a plurality of processing elements comprising one or more stream operators. Time metadata may be added to a parent tuple at a first stream operator. A first time metric may be determined for a first child tuple of the parent tuple at a second stream operator. The first time metric may be determined, at least in part, from the time metadata. The second stream operator may receive the first child tuple from the first stream operator. The method may include transmitting a second child tuple of the parent tuple from the second stream operator to a third stream operator if the time metric is inside a time limit. In addition, the method may include ending processing of the first child tuple if the time metric is outside of the time limit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing tuples, comprising:
receiving two or more tuples to be processed by a plurality of processing elements operating on one or more computer processors, each processing element having one or more stream operators;
adding time metadata to a tuple;
determining a time metric for a first child tuple of a parent tuple, the time metric being determined, at least in part, from the time metadata;
adaptively determining a dynamic time limit based on monitoring data; and
ending processing of the first child tuple if the time metric is outside of the dynamic time limit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first child tuple of the parent tuple is received at a first stream operator, further comprising:
transmitting a second child tuple of the parent tuple from the first stream operator to a second stream operator if the time metric is inside the dynamic time limit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ending of processing of the first child tuple includes ending processing of a second child tuple of the parent tuple.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more stream operators define an operator graph, the operator graph including a zone, and wherein the ending of processing of the first child tuple includes ending processing of a second child tuple of the parent tuple if the second child tuple is received at a first stream operator within the zone.