U.S. patent application number 13/359900 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-01 for attribute-based identification schemes for objects in internet of things.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Shalini Kapoor, Shachi Sharma, Bharat Ramakrishnan Srinivasan. Invention is credited to Shalini Kapoor, Shachi Sharma, Bharat Ramakrishnan Srinivasan.
Application Number | 20130198185 13/359900 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48792452 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130198185 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kapoor; Shalini ; et
al. |
August 1, 2013 |
ATTRIBUTE-BASED IDENTIFICATION SCHEMES FOR OBJECTS IN INTERNET OF
THINGS
Abstract
Methods and arrangements for object identification. An
identification request is received from different objects of a
network. Attributes and values of each object are ascertained, and
at least one attribute-value pair from each object is filtered out.
An ID is generated for each object based on at least one remaining
attribute-value pair from the filtering.
Inventors: |
Kapoor; Shalini; (Bangalore,
IN) ; Sharma; Shachi; (Delhi, IN) ;
Srinivasan; Bharat Ramakrishnan; (Atlanta, GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kapoor; Shalini
Sharma; Shachi
Srinivasan; Bharat Ramakrishnan |
Bangalore
Delhi
Atlanta |
GA |
IN
IN
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
48792452 |
Appl. No.: |
13/359900 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
707/737 ;
707/754; 707/E17.005; 707/E17.059; 707/E17.089 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 67/327 20130101;
H04W 12/02 20130101; H04W 4/80 20180201; H04W 12/0052 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/737 ;
707/754; 707/E17.005; 707/E17.059; 707/E17.089 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving an identification request from
different objects of a network; ascertaining attributes and values
of each object; filtering out at least one attribute-value pair
from each object; and generating an ID for each object based on at
least one remaining attribute-value pair from said filtering;
wherein said filtering comprises ascertaing attribute entropy and
attribute-requirements; and wherein said filtering further
comprises accepting attribute-value pairs with attribute entropy
between predetermined upper and lower entropy bounds.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the objects are
associated with an internet of things.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising clustering
objects based on filtered attribute-value pairs.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said clustering
combines clustering on two levels.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein one of the two levels
relates to attributes of objects.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the other of the two
levels relates to attribute-value pairs of objects.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said filtering
comprises relevance-based filtering.
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said filtering further
comprises selectively accepting attribute-value pairs with
attribute entropy outside of the predetermined upper and lower
entropy bounds.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said generating
comprises generating an ID with one or more fields taken from the
group consisting of: version; agency-specific information;
class-level identification; attribute-value pair based encrypted
information.
12. The method according to claim 1, comprising, with respect to an
identity management system, at least one step taken from the group
consisting of: registering an object; updating object data;
deregistering an object.
13. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and a computer
readable storage medium having computer readable program code
embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor,
the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable
program code configured to receive an identification request from
different objects of a network; computer readable program code
configured to ascertain attributes and values of each object;
computer readable program code configured to filter out at least
one attribute-value pair from each object; and computer readable
program code configured to generate an ID for each object based on
at least one remaining attribute value pair from the filtering;
wherein said computer readable program code is figured to ascertain
attribute entropy and attribute requirements; and wherein said
computer readable program code is configured to accept
attribute-value pairs with attribute entropy between predetermined
upper and lower entropy bounds.
14. A computer program product comprising: a computer readable
storage medium having computer readable program code embodied
therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer
readable program code configured to receive an identification
request from different objects of a network; computer readable
program code configured to ascertain attributes and values of each
object; computer readable program code configured to filter out at
least one attribute-value pair from each object; and computer
readable program code configured to generate an ID for each object
based on at least one remaining attribute-value pair from the
filtering; wherein said computer readable program code is
configured to ascertain attribute entropy and attribute
requirements; and wherein said computer readable program code is
configure to accept attribute-value pairs with attribute entropy
between predetermined upper and lower entropy bounds.
15. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein the
objects are associated with an internet of things.
16. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein
said computer readable program code is further configured to
cluster objects based on filtered attribute-value pairs.
17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein
said computer readable program code is further configured to
cluster on two levels.
18. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein one
of the two levels relates to attributes of objects.
19. The computer program product according to claim 18, wherein the
other of the two levels relates to attribute-value pairs of
objects.
20. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein
said computer readable program code is configured to filter via
relevance-based filtering.
21. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein
said computer readable program code is configured to ascertain
attribute entropy and attribute requirements.
22. The computer program, product according to claim 21, wherein
said computer readable program code is configured to accept
attribute-value pairs with attribute entropy between predetermined
upper and lower entropy bounds.
23. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein
said computer readable program code is further configured to
attribute-value pairs with attribute entropy outside of the
predetermined upper and lower entropy bounds.
24. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein
said computer readable program code is configured to generate an ID
with one or more fields taken from the group consisting of:
version; agency-specific information; class-level identification;
attribute-value pair based encrypted information.
25. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein
said computer readable program code is configured, with respect to
an identity management system, to perform at least one step taken
from the group consisting of: registering an object; updating
object data; deregistering an object.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Increasingly, objects are being connected electronically
and/or communicatively in ways that previously were the province
mostly of computers. As such, the term "Internet of Things" (IoT)
has come to describe a dynamic network of globally connected
things, entities, devices, items or objects. An illustrative and
non-restrictive example can involve a company or enterprise in
which numerous items are communicatively interconnected such as
computers, mobile devices (e.g., phones, laptops or tablets),
lighting and climate control systems, cars or other vehicles and
"smart" appliances (e.g., refrigerators, televisions) and some or
all can be controlled or interacted with from one place or another.
Other examples involve systems that are distributed over disparate
geographical areas as opposed to just one physical location. As the
number and complexity of interconnected items in an IoT has the
potential to grow considerably, the tracking, monitoring and
identification of each interconnected item becomes all the more
challenging.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0002] In summary, one aspect of the invention provides a method
comprising: receiving an identification request from different
objects of a network; ascertaining attributes and values of each
object; filtering out at least one attribute-value pair from each
object; and generating an ID for each object based on at least one
remaining attribute-value pair from the filtering.
[0003] Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus
comprising: at least one processor; and a computer readable storage
medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and
executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable
program code comprising: computer readable program code configured
to receive an identification request from different objects of a
network; computer readable program code configured to ascertain
attributes and values of each object; computer readable program
code configured to filter out at least one attribute-value pair
from each object; and computer readable program code configured to
generate an ID for each object based on at least one remaining
attribute-value pair from the filtering.
[0004] An additional aspect of the invention provides a computer
program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium
having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the
computer readable program code comprising: computer readable
program code configured to receive an identification request from
different objects of a network; computer readable program code
configured to ascertain attributes and values of each object;
computer readable program code configured to filter out at least
one attribute-value pair from each object; and computer readable
program code configured to generate an ID for each object based on
at least one remaining attribute-value pair from the filtering.
[0005] For a better understanding of exemplary embodiments of the
invention, together with other and further features and advantages
thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the
claimed embodiments of the invention will be pointed out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an ID generator.
[0007] FIG. 2 sets forth a filtering algorithm.
[0008] FIG. 3 schematically generates an ID structure.
[0009] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a global management
hierarchy.
[0010] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a system architecture.
[0011] FIG. 6 sets forth a process more generally for object
identification.
[0012] FIG. 7 illustrates a computer system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] It will be readily understood that the components of the
embodiments of the invention, as generally described and
illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in
a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the
described exemplary embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed
description of the embodiments of the invention, as represented in
the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments
of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of
exemplary embodiments of the invention.
[0014] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment"
or "an embodiment" (or the like) means that a particular feature,
structure, or characteristic described in connection with the
embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention.
Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an
embodiment" or the like in various places throughout this
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment.
[0015] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or
characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in at least
one embodiment. In the following description, numerous specific
details are provided to give a thorough understanding of
embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will
recognize, however, that the various embodiments of the invention
can be practiced without at least one of the specific details, or
with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other
instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not
shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the
invention.
[0016] The description now turns to the figures. The illustrated
embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference
to the figures. The following description is intended only by way
of example and simply illustrates certain selected exemplary
embodiments of the invention as claimed herein.
[0017] It should be noted that the flowchart and block diagrams in
the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and
operation of possible implementations of systems, apparatuses,
methods and computer program products according to various
embodiments of the invention. In this regard, each block in the
flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or
portion of code, which comprises at least one executable
instruction for implementing the specified logical function(s). It
should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the
functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in
the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of
the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations
of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can
be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that
perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special
purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0018] The disclosure now turns to FIGS. 1-5. It should be
appreciated that the processes, arrangements and products broadly
illustrated therein can be carried out on or in accordance with
essentially any suitable computer system or set of computer
systems, which may, by way of an illustrative and non-restrictive
example, include a system or server such as that indicated at 12'
in FIG. 7. In accordance with an example embodiment, most if not
all of the process steps, components and outputs discussed with
respect to FIGS. 1-5 can be performed or utilized by way of a
processing unit or units and system memory such as those indicated,
respectively, at 16' and 28' in FIG. 7, whether on a server
computer, a client computer, a node computer in a distributed
network, or any combination thereof.
[0019] To facilitate easier reference, in advancing from FIG. 1 to
and through FIG. 5, a reference numeral is advanced by a multiple
of 100 in indicating a substantially similar or analogous component
or element with respect to at least one component or element found
in at least one earlier figure among FIGS. 1-5.
[0020] Generally, many devices have long been presumed to be
heterogeneous with respect to each other, such as desktop devices,
mobile communicators, digital assistants, wrist watches, game
consoles, clothing, consumer electronics (e.g., TVs, radios, and
refrigerators), cars, sensors, smart meters, and video surveillance
equipment, to name but a few examples. However, advancements in the
realm of networking, sensors, actuators, radio frequency
identification (RFID) and near field communication (NFC)
technologies have made it possible to connect various devices and
real-world objects and or virtual objects. Smart applications, as
they have evolved, have increasingly demanded that heterogeneous
devices be in a position to discover, identify and communicate with
each other so as to able to exchange data and cooperate to
undertake predetermined tasks. However, a reliable, standardized
scheme for permitting the identification of heterogeneous devices
per se and with respect to each other has long been elusive.
[0021] In logistics and asset management, an object is often
identified by an RFID tag, while a separate database (usually
resident at an RFID manufacturer domain) contains details which map
tags to objects. As such, an RFID reader typically reads a tag and
then derives from the tag the location of the associated object.
The reader then contacts the manufacturer database to fetch the
details of the object. Accordingly, if the RFID tag on an object is
faulty in any way or possibly has been destroyed, then object
details cannot be obtained. Further, if a faulty RFID tag is
replaced by a new RFID tag, then the manufacturer database (the
existing one, or even a new one corresponding to a new
manufacturer) needs to be updated. It can be appreciated that a
process such as this can be inordinately time-consuming and
complex.
[0022] Another challenge often encountered is that devices tend to
be identifiable solely by hardware identifiers assigned by a
manufacturer. Thus, not only might such identifiers be difficult to
assimilate in a network outside of the context of a manufacturer's
own network, but they might be private or proprietary identifiers
and may present a compromise in security to the manufacturer if
revealed to other entities. Accordingly, hardware-dependent
identifiers do not lend themselves to a flexible, integrable
identification scheme that would allow ready communication with and
among objects deriving from different manufacturers.
[0023] Conventionally, devices are identified by
manufacturer-assigned hardware identifiers, and security concerns
tend to preclude making such hardware public. Consequently,
difficulties are presented in discovering devices and enabling
communication between heterogeneous devices. For instance, multiple
identification schemes might be in play (with various types of
commercially known identifiers such as EPC, uID, ID@URI, Zigbee,
GUID, etc.), making integrative identification across devices and
types of devices difficult if not impossible.
[0024] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,
there is broadly contemplated herein an identification scheme which
is independent of existing schemes and can serve to unite and
coordinate disparate schemes. Particularly, an attribute-based
scheme, variously referred to herein as "GenID" (Generated ID), is
contemplated for objects in the domain of the Internet of
Things.
[0025] As such, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
invention, GenID generates logical identifiers for objects, from
hardware-independent information, in a way that embeds meaningful
information about objects. Also broadly contemplated herein is an
identity management system (IMS) for objects, wherein the GenID
scheme is implemented.
[0026] In approaching an identification scheme in accordance with
at least one embodiment of the invention, it is recognized that a
device may already have several identifiers associated with it,
such as (by way of illustrative example): manufacturer ID, network
address, temporary local ID (as may be the case in adhoc networks),
ID's of sensors or actuators, and/or possibly many others. Thus,
solutions in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
invention address this problem, as well as challenges associated
with composite devices, replaceable parts (and their own associated
ID's), and the possibility of the division and aggregation (or
re-aggregation) of parts). An allocation mechanism, as broadly
contemplated herein, also affords a level of flexibility that
readily accommodates changes in identities.
[0027] In an identification scheme according to at least one
embodiment of the invention, objects (physical and/or logical
entities) can be understood as being uniquely identifiable by a set
of attributes, wherein "attribute" is a category in which an object
can be classified (e.g., "color"). A value assigns an object's
classification within a category, e.g., "red" within "color".
Thereupon, an attribute and its corresponding value form an
"av-pair", or a key-value pair which characterizes an object (thus,
e.g., "color-red").
[0028] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,
unique identification of an object comes about from applying a
functional transformation to result in an aggregate or encompassing
identifier (here throughout referred to as a logical identifier) on
a set of av-pairs that describe the properties of an object. More
particularly, a method (GenID) in accordance with at least one
embodiment of the invention undergoes several stages culmination in
the generation of a logical identifier, in a manner now to be
described in more detail.
[0029] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,
and as shown schematically in FIG. 1, an ID generator 102 (for
effecting a GenID solution) involves three steps for identifying
objects via their attributes: filtering 104, classifying into
clusters 106 and generating logical identifiers 108. Particularly,
attributes are filtered (104) based on their entropy values, such
that the most useful set of av-pairs from the all attribute-value
pairs of an object are extracted for use in ID generation. Thence,
objects are identified at a class level using incremental,
real-time, categorical clustering algorithms (106). Finally, in
generating logical identifiers (108), ID's are generated for
objects based on system version, agency specific information,
attribute-value set and class level information.
[0030] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,
the filtering step 104 involves eliminating unimportant and
unnecessary attributes. This is based on the entropy [1] of
attributes and requirements of the attribute, wherein entropy can
be defined as the measure of uncertainty or structuredness of the
attribute (for background purposes see, e.g., C. E. Shannon, "A
mathematical theory of communication", Bell Labs Technical Journal,
1948;
http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/ms/what/shannonday/shannon1948.pdf.)
[0031] First, let
[0032] P={p.sub.a.sub.i1, p.sub.a.sub.i2, . . . , p.sub.a.sub.ik}
be the set of probabilities of existence of K possible values of
attribute a.sub.i. Then the entropy of attribute a.sub.i denoted as
H(a.sub.i) is defined as
H ( a i ) = - j K p a ij ##EQU00001##
In p.sub.a.sub.ij, A={a.sub.1, a.sub.2, . . . , a.sub.N} is the
universal set of N attributes devices can specify. It can be
assumed that A is known. When the value set of the attribute
a.sub.i is continuous with probability density function f(a.sub.i),
entropy can be defined as
.H(a.sub.i)=-.intg..sub.0.sup..infin.f(a.sub.i)ln
f(a.sub.i)da.sub.i.
[0033] Continuing, in accordance with at least one embodiment of
the invention, in the context of databases and information
retrieval theory, it can be stated that an attribute with larger
value domain normally divides the database into smaller classes and
may have a large entropy value. A lower entropy value indicates the
attribute divides database into few larger classes, while an
attribute with an intermediate entropy value can generally be
regarded as useful. Therefore, two threshold values are defined,
low threshold (LB) and upper threshold (UB). Those attributes with
an entropy value less than LB and those with an entropy value
greater than UB can accordingly be discarded.
[0034] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,
there may be cases when entropy of an attribute is not in an
acceptable range, but there may be a requirement to include (or not
include) them in a follow-up procedure of ID generation. This may
happen, for example, when a new device enters into the market or
some existing device is modified to the extent that a new attribute
starts qualifying it. There may be other situations when privacy
and security requirement of an attribute compels it to exclude the
attribute in ID generation process these can be noted as
system-specific requirements R. Accordingly,
H={H.sub.(a.sub.1.sub.), H.sub.(a2), . . . , H.sub.(a.sub.N.sub.)}
denotes the set of entropies of all attributes, and F.sub.A is the
set of filtered av-pairs. With this in mind, FIG. 2 shows a
filtering algorithm 204a that can be employed.
[0035] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,
and returning to FIG. 1, clustering step 106 involves partitioning
devices into classes (or clusters) such that those devices
belonging to the same cluster are similar in at least some ways,
and those belonging to different clusters are dissimilar in at
least some ways. As such, devices are clustered based on their
av-pairs, and on two levels (or in two distinct senses), wherein
"Level 0" clustering is based on the attributes of devices and
"Level 1" clustering is based on the av-pairs characterizing
devices.
[0036] Thence, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
invention, the step of ID generation (or generating a logical
identifier) 108 involves a few sub-segments. Accordingly, FIG. 3
depicts a generated ID 310 with several constituent components or
fields. (It should be understood that, generally, the ID 310 may
include numbers or letters or a combination of both.) First, a
"version" field 312 identifies the version number of the ID
generation system. Thence, a segment of agencies-specific
information 314 is generated from a GenID management hierarchy,
whereby local level identifiers are able to serve as global level
identifiers. More particularly, referring to FIG. 4, a global,
regional and local agency hierarchy is broadly contemplated wherein
such information can be incorporated and hence be included as part
of the ID. As shown in FIG. 4, a global ID manager 420 is in
communication with m constituent regional ID managers 422, any or
all of which can be in communication with n constituent local ID
managers 424. Generally, it can be appreciated that this type of
hierarchy may be applicable to a globally managed network.
[0037] Returning to FIG. 3, in accordance with at least one
embodiment of the invention, ID 310 includes a segment of class
level identification 316, which in turn involves the cluster ID as
described here above. Through class level identification
information, it is possible to identify the group to which a device
belongs, and two parts are included, as touched on hereinabove:
Level 0 Cluster ID 316a and Level 1 Cluster ID 316b. The final
segment of ID 310 is one of av-pairs based encrypted information
318, generated in three steps. First, in a first step of attribute
encoding, given a universal attribute set A and corresponding set
of attribute weights W, the attributes in A are ordered in
accordance with weights W and each attribute is encoded using
Huffmann encoding (see, e.g., D. A. Huffman, "A Method for the
Construction of Minimum-Redundancy Codes", Proceedings of the
I.R.E., September 1952, pp 1098-1102) where weights play the role
of frequencies. With respect to an object, certain attributes are
chosen, pseudo-randomly, explicitly, with corresponding values
chosen implicitly. Then, in a second step of key generation,
encodings of the chosen attributes are used as seeds to form a 128
bit key of the object and, in encryption, the value of the randomly
chosen attributes for the object are then encrypted using the keys.
At that point, in the third and final step, the 128-bit key
generated for the object in the second step is used to encrypt the
GenID using an AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption scheme
(for background purposes see, e.g., Joan Daemen, Vincent Rijmen,
"The Design of Rijndael: AES--The Advanced Encryption Standard."
Springer, 2002).
[0038] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a general system
architecture, including an Identity Management System (IMS) 524, in
accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Included
is an ID generator module 502 which can generate a logical
identifier ID as described heretofore. This is in communication
with an ID cache 530 and objects database 532. A destroyer module
526, on the other hand, is configured to destroy or erase the ID of
an object upon deregistration of the object while an updater module
528 can update the ID or metadata associated with an object. These
components and steps will be better understood in accordance with
the discussion herebelow.
[0039] Thus, accordance with at least one embodiment of the
invention, objects 534 can register (536) to IMS 524 in an initial
step before receiving an ID. During registration 536, then, objects
534 can specify av-pairs and metadata about themselves such as
protocols understood, services deployed, etc. Generator 502
generates a unique logical ID (e.g., in a manner as described
hereinabove), which in a response step of registration 536 is
returned to the corresponding object 534. Additionally, an entry is
allotted in the ID cache 530 pointing to a record of the object 524
in database 532.
[0040] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,
objects 534 can then, at any point, deregister (538) from the IMS
524 and/or have their metadata updated (540). Each of these steps
(538/540) is two-way in nature, involving request to the IMS 524
and confirmation therefrom. In updating (540), the object sends a
request to update its records, using its allocated unique ID to
gain access to IMS 524 The updater module 528 then finds the
corresponding entry in the ID cache 530 and retrieves the pointer
to database 532, thereafter updating records in either or both of
the cache and database (530/532) as needed (e.g., using a suitable
data exchange protocol). In deregistration (538), once an object
534 requests for deregistration and gains access to IMS 524 via its
unique ID, deregistration module 526 finds the corresponding in the
ID cache 530, retrieves the pointer to database 532, and deletes
both the object record from database 532 and the corresponding
entry from ID cache 530.
[0041] FIG. 6 sets forth a process more generally for object
identification, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the
invention. It should be appreciated that a process such as that
broadly illustrated in FIG. 6 can be carried out on essentially any
suitable computer system or set of computer systems, which may, by
way of an illustrative and on-restrictive example, include a system
such as that indicated at 12' in FIG. 7. In accordance with an
example embodiment, most if not all of the process steps discussed
with respect to FIG. 6 can be performed by way a processing unit or
units and system memory such as those indicated, respectively, at
16' and 28' in FIG. 7.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 6, an identification request is received
from different objects of a network (602). Attributes and values of
each object are ascertained (604), and at least one attribute-value
pair from each object is filtered out (606). An ID is generated for
each object based on at least one remaining attribute-value pair
from the filtering (608).
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 7, a schematic of an example of a
cloud computing node is shown. Cloud computing node 10' is only one
example of a suitable cloud computing node and is not intended to
suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of
embodiments of the invention described herein. Regardless, cloud
computing node 10' is capable of being implemented and/or
performing any of the functionality set forth hereinabove. In
accordance with embodiments of the invention, computing node 10'
may not necessarily even be part of a cloud network but instead
could be part of another type of distributed or other network, or
could represent a stand-alone node. For the purposes of discussion
and illustration, however, node 10' is variously referred to herein
as a "cloud computing node".
[0044] In cloud computing node 10' there is a computer
system/server 12', which is operational with numerous other general
purpose or special purpose computing system environments or
configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems,
environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use
with computer system/server 12' include, but are not limited to,
personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients,
thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems,
microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer
electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframe computer
systems, and distributed cloud computing environments that include
any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
[0045] Computer system/server 12' may be described in the general
context of computer system-executable instructions, such as program
modules, being executed by a computer system. Generally, program
modules may include routines, programs, objects, components, logic,
data structures, and so on that perform particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. Computer system/server
12' may be practiced in distributed cloud computing environments
where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are
linked through a communications network. In a distributed cloud
computing environment, program modules may be located in both local
and remote computer system storage media including memory storage
devices.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, computer system/server 12' in cloud
computing node 10 is shown in the form of a general-purpose
computing device. The components of computer system/server 12' may
include, but are not limited to, at least one processor or
processing unit 16', a system memory 28', and a bus 18' that
couples various system components including system memory 28' to
processor 16'.
[0047] Bus 18' represents at least one of any of several types of
bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a
peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or
local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of
example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry
Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA)
bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards
Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component
Interconnects (PCI) bus.
[0048] Computer system/server 12' typically includes a variety of
computer system readable media. Such media may be any available
media that is accessible by computer system/server 12', and it
includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and
non-removable media.
[0049] System memory 28' can include computer system readable media
in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM)
30' and/or cache memory 32'. Computer system/server 12' may further
include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile
computer system storage media. By way of example only, storage
system 34' can be provided for reading from and writing to a
non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown and typically
called a "hard drive"). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive
for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic
disk (e.g., a "floppy disk"), and an optical disk drive for reading
from or writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk such as a
CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided. In such
instances, each can be connected to bus 18' by at least one data
media interface. As will be further depicted and described below,
memory 28' may include at least one program product having a set
(e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to
carry out the functions of embodiments of the invention.
[0050] Program/utility 40', having a set (at least one) of program
modules 42', may be stored in memory 28' by way of example, and not
limitation, as well as an operating system, at least one
application program, other program modules, and program data. Each
of the operating system, at least one application program, other
program modules, and program data or some combination thereof, may
include an implementation of a networking environment. Program
modules 42' generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies
of embodiments of the invention as described herein.
[0051] Computer system/server 12' may also communicate with at
least one external device 14' such as a keyboard, a pointing
device, a display 24', etc.; at least one device that enable a user
to interact with computer system/server 12; and/or any devices
(e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computer
system/server 12' to communicate with at least one other computing
device. Such communication can occur via I/O interfaces 22'. Still
yet, computer system/server 12' can communicate with at least one
network such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area
network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via
network adapter 20'. As depicted, network adapter 20' communicates
with the other components of computer system/server 12' via bus
18'. It should be understood that although not shown, other
hardware and/or software components could be used in conjunction
with computer system/server 12'. Examples, include, but are not
limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units,
external disk drive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data
archival storage systems, etc.
[0052] It should be noted that aspects of the invention may be
embodied as a system, method or computer program product.
Accordingly, aspects of the invention may take the form of an
entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment
(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an
embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all
generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or
"system." Furthermore, aspects of the invention may take the form
of a computer program product embodied in at least one computer
readable medium having computer readable program code embodied
thereon.
[0053] Any combination of at least one computer readable medium may
be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer
readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A
computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not
limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a
non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would
include the following: an electrical connection having at least one
wire, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access
memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a
portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage
device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of
the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable
storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or
store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0054] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated
data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein,
for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a
propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including,
but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable
combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any
computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage
medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program
for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,
apparatus, or device.
[0055] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be
transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited
to wireless, wire line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any
suitable combination of the foregoing.
[0056] Computer program code for carrying out operations for
aspects of the invention may be written in any combination of at
least one programming language, including an object oriented
programming language such as Java.RTM., Smalltalk, C++ or the like
and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language or similar programming languages. The program
code may execute entirely on the user's computer (device), partly
on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly
on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely
on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the
remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any
type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide
area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external
computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet
Service Provider).
[0057] Aspects of the invention are described herein with reference
to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods,
apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to
embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block
of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and
combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block
diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions.
These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor
of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other
programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such
that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the
computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create
means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the
flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0058] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other
programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to
function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored
in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture
including instructions which implement the function/act specified
in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0059] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other
devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on
the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to
produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions
which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus
provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in
the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0060] This disclosure has been presented for purposes of
illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive
or limiting. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments were chosen and
described in order to explain principles and practical application,
and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the
disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as
are suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0061] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been
described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is
to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not
limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other
changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in
the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the
disclosure.
* * * * *
References