System and method for dynamic domain-specific sequence diagram visualization

Abstract

A system, method and computer-readable storage devices for enhancing the presentation of structured log files. A system configured according to this disclosure can track events of a computing entity. The computing entity can be a state machine, a virtual machine, a thread, a process, a software component, or a hardware component. The computing entity can be any device that generates or contributes to an event log. The events can be tracked from at least one of a structured log file and a stream of event data, for example. The system can identify event types for the events. The system can identify relationships between the events, and generate a sequence diagram of the events. The sequence diagram can include visual indications of the relationships based on the event types. The system can further select an icon for each event from an event-specific icon directory based on event type.

1 . A method comprising:
 identifying a plurality of event types for a plurality of events;   identifying relationships between the plurality of events; and   generating a sequence diagram including visual indications positioned between respective ones of the plurality of events to illustrate a respective relationship of the relationships between the respective ones of the plurality of events.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein,
 the plurality of events are associated with a plurality of entities, and 
 the plurality of entities include at least one of a state machine, a thread, or a logical entity. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of events are tracked from a plurality of structured log files output from multiple hardware and/or software components acting in concert. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting different icons for different ones of the plurality of events from an event directory based on the event types.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the different icons are selected from an event-specific event directory. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving an input to switch from a first icon set to a second icon set, wherein each of the first icon set and the second icon set targets a different domain with different, domain-specific visual cues; and   transitioning the visual indications based on the second icon set.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 rendering at least a portion of the sequence diagram on a display; and   presenting controls on the display to visually navigate within the sequence diagram.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a region of interest within the sequence diagram; and   highlighting the region of interest with a visual indicator.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the region of interest is identified based on at least one of an input, a profile, and/or data contained in a file associated with plurality of events. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 identify a plurality of event types for a plurality of events; 
 identify relationships between the plurality of events; and 
 generate a sequence diagram including visual indications positioned between respective ones of the plurality of events to illustrate a respective relationship of the relationships between the respective ones of the plurality of events. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein,
 the plurality of events are associated with a plurality of entities, and   the plurality of entities include a state machine, a thread, or a logical entity.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of events are tracked from a plurality of structured log files output from multiple hardware and/or software components acting in concert. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising further instructions, which when executed cause the at least one processor to: select different icons for different ones of the plurality of events from an event directory based on the event types. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the different icons are selected from an event-specific event directory. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , comprising further instructions, which when executed cause the at least one processor to:
 receive input to switch from a first icon set to a second icon set, wherein each of the first icon set and the second icon set targets a different domain with different, domain-specific visual cues; and   transition the visual indications based on the second icon set.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising further instructions, which when executed cause the at least one processor to:
 render at least a portion of the sequence diagram on a display; and   present controls on the display to visually navigate within the sequence diagram.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising further instructions, which when executed cause the at least one processor to:
 identify a region of interest within the sequence diagram;   and highlight the region of interest with a visual indicator.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the region of interest is identified based on at least one of an input, a profile, and/or data contained in a file associated with the events. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the processor to:
 identify a plurality of event types for a plurality of events;   identify relationships between the plurality of events; and   generate a sequence diagram including visual indications positioned between respective ones of the plurality of events to illustrate a respective relationship of the relationships between the respective ones of the plurality of events.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 19 , comprising further instructions, which when executed cause the at least one processor to:
 select different icons for different ones of the plurality of events from an event directory based on event type, the different icons selected from an event-specific event directory;   receive input to switch from a first icon set to a second icon set, each of the first icon set and the second icon set targeting a different domain with different, domain-specific visual cues; and   transition the visual indications based on the second icon set.