Patent Publication Number: US-11048754-B2

Title: Using self-information scores for entities to determine whether to perform entity resolution

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a computer program product, system, and method for using vertex self-information scores for vertices in an entity graph to determine whether to perform entity resolution on the vertices in the entity graph. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Entity resolution refers to techniques to determine whether different records with different data in a database that have unique identifiers may in fact comprise the same real world entity. To compare data records in a database to determine a relationship value of the records, the database server may have to pair wise compare each possible pair of records. An entity graph may then be formed where records that are determined to have a relationship value satisfying a threshold are shown as vertices linked by an edge indicating the relationship among the entities. The resulting entity graph may have vertices indirectly linked along edges. The entity graph may be used to perform entity resolution to determine if two vertices representing different records are in fact the same entity. For instance, if two records are determined to be related, then they may be updated to indicate the same entity. Various other techniques may be used to determine entity relationship using the graph. 
     There is a need in the art for improved techniques to perform entity resolution on an entity graph. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using vertex self-information scores for vertices in an entity graph to determine whether to perform entity resolution on the vertices in the entity graph. A determination is made of pairs of records in the database having a relationship value satisfying a threshold. An entity relationship graph is generated having a vertex for each of the records of the pairs and an edge for each of the determined pairs between two vertices representing records in one of the determined pairs. Each vertex is associated with a self-information score based on content in the record represented by the vertex and is assigned an initial unique entity identifier and an entity information score. For each subject vertex of the vertices, a determination is made of a target vertex directly connected to the subject vertex that has a highest entity information score of at least one vertex directly connected to the subject vertex that has an entity information score greater than the entity information score of the subject vertex. A determination is made as to whether to set the subject vertex entity identifier and entity information score to the entity identifier and entity information score of the target vertex based on the target vertex self-information score. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a database node. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a derive data record. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of an entity graph. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of vertex information for vertices in the entity graph. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of edge information for edges between vertices in the entity graph. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of operations to generate an entity graph. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of operations to link vertices to a common entity. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of operations to perform entity unlinking. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of operations to initiate an entity linking phase using messages among vertices. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of operations to link vertices in response to messages from vertices. 
         FIGS. 11, 12, 13, and 14  illustrate an embodiment of operations to unlink vertices using messages among vertices. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an embodiment of an implementation of the database nodes of the described embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Described embodiments provide techniques to perform entity resolution among vertices in an entity graph representing records in a database. With described embodiments, vertices representing records may consider a self-information score of a directly linked vertex to determine whether update its entity information to that of the linked vertex, if the vertex representing the entity is indirectly linked. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a database node  100 , which may be a sole node or in a distributed database environment. A host (not shown) may communicate input in the form of updates and data to the records in the database 
     The database node may include a local database  102  to store records  104 , a bucket manager  106  to generate derived data  200  that comprises a compressed format of the record including metadata on the record, where the derived data  200  may include only some or all of the content from those fields of the record  104  needed to compare with other records to determine a relationship value. In this way, the derived data  200  may not include data from all fields, only those fields needed for comparison purposes to determine a relationship value. 
     The bucket manager  106  may apply a blocking algorithm  108  to assign data records to buckets  110  based on attributes of the record or derived data  200  of the record  104  matching attributes of the bucket  110 . Bucket attributes may be stored with metadata for the bucket  110 . The bucket manager  106  may then invoke a comparison algorithm  112  to pair wise compare every record in one bucket  110  with every other record in that same bucket using the derived data  200  to generate a relationship value between every pair of records. An entity manager  114  groups records  104  that are resolved or determined to refer to the same real world entity. The entity manager  114  may determine records within one bucket  110  that are in fact the same entity by generating an entity graph  300  comprised of vertices representing records  104  where vertices that have a relationship satisfying a criteria are connected by edges or directly linked. Each vertex may be implemented with vertex code  302  having code to perform vertex operations and interact with other vertices to determine whether different records represent the same entities. Edges  500  represent two vertices that are connected, which means their comparison relationship value exceeds a threshold. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a derived data record  200   i  comprising an instance of the derived data  200 , including a record identifier (ID)  202  identifying a record  104 , a bucket list  204  indicating a bucket  110  in which the record  202  is grouped, and compact content  206  comprising a portion of the content of the record  104  that is used by the comparison algorithm  112  to compare records. The compact content  206  may include a subset of the fields of the record  202 , such as only those fields used by the comparison algorithm  112 , and may include an abbreviated format of the included fields. In this way, the derived data  200   i  provides a compact representation of the record  202 . 
     To perform entity resolution and determine records  104  that comprise a same entity, the entity manager  112  may use a graphical approach to entity resolution and generate a graphical representation  120  of the records  104  in one bucket  110  that are in pair wise relationships with other records and that are indirectly or directly connected. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an instance of an entity graph  300   i , where the records are represented as vertices in the graph  300 , e.g.,  312 ,  314  and are directly or indirectly connected by edges, e.g.,  316 , between the vertices, where an edge indicates two records that have a relationship value resulting from the comparison algorithm  112  exceeding a threshold indicating the records are related. Each vertex represents a record  104 , connected by edges, where an edge, e.g.,  316 , between two of the vertices  312 ,  314  indicates a relationship value between the vertices. Each vertex may be implemented with vertex code  302  to perform vertex operations. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of vertex information  400  for each vertex  302  in the graph including a record identifier  402  identifying the record represented by the vertex  400 ; a self-information score  404  of the record that is calculated based on the strength of the compact  206  or full content of the record  402 , such as an entropy value calculated using an entropy measurement technique; an entity identifier  406  identifying an entity that is assigned to the record vertex  400 ; an entity information score  408  comprising the information score for the entity record, which comprises the record  104  that has a self-information score  404  equaling the entity information score  408 , such as the vertex that is a member of the entity group having a largest self-information score, where the entity record is effectively the proxy or representative record for the entity; and an entity record identifier  410  identifying the entity record. The entity record  410  comprises the record having a self-information score  404  equal to the entity information score, i.e., is the entity to which other vertices/records are resolved 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of an edge  500  between two vertices  400   i ,  400   j  in the graph  300 , and includes an edge identifier  502 , two vertices  504  and  506  directly linked by the edge  502 , and a relationship score  508  calculated by the comparison algorithm  112  when doing the pair wise comparison of the records  104 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of operations performed by the entity manager  114  to create an entity graph  300  that can be used to perform entity resolution. Upon initiating (at block  600 ) generating the entity graph  300 , the entity manager  114  determines (at block  602 ) each pair of records  104  in a bucket  110  having a relationship score, as determined by the comparison algorithm  112 , that is greater than a relationship threshold. An entity relationship graph  300  is generated (at block  604 ) having a vertex  302  for each of the records of the pairs in a bucket and an edge  500  for each of the determined pairs between two vertices representing records in one of the determined pairs. The created edge  500  identifies (at block  606 ) the records  504 ,  506  of the pair and a relationship value  508 . The entity manager  114  determines (at block  608 ) information scores for each record based on the compact content of their derived data indicating strength of the information in the record. The entity manager  114  initializes (at block  610 ) for each record  104  an instance of vertex code  302  and vertex information  400  for the vertex having a record ID  402 , information score  404 , unique entity ID  406  and entity information score  408  initialized to the vertex information score  404 . 
     The result of the operations of  FIG. 6  is an entity graph  300  having vertex code  302  and vertex information  400  for each record  104  grouped in the bucket  110  and an edge  304  between each two vertices representing records having a relationship score satisfying a threshold. The vertex code  302  implementing the vertices in the graph  300  may communicate with each other and the entity manager  114  to adjust the graph to resolve entity relationships among the records. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of operations performed by the entity manager  114  and/or the vertex  302  code to assign vertices representing records to entities of a related vertex because the relatedness of the records/vertices indicates they may be the same entity. Upon initiating an entity linking phase (at block  700 ), a loop of operations is performed between blocks  702  and  712  for each generated vertex i in the graph  300 . At block  704 , a target vertex is determined comprising the directly linked vertex having the highest entity information score  408  if there are multiple directly linked vertex. If (at block  706 ) the entity information score  408  of the target vertex is greater than the entity information score  408  of subject vertex i, then a comparison is made (at block  708 ) to determine whether of the self-information score of the target vertex and the entity information score of the subject vertex i satisfy a criteria to determine whether the strength of the target vertex is sufficient to change the entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410  to that of the target vertex. In one embodiment, the comparison may comprise determining whether the self information score  404  of the target vertex is less than then the subject vertex i entity information score  408  minus a threshold. This makes sure that a very weak target vertex having a relatively low information score  404  relative to the entity score of the subject vertex does not cause the subject linked vertex i to change its entity to that of an indirectly linked entity record linked through the target vertex. The stronger the information score  404  of the target vertex, the more likely the vertex i will change its entity information score  408  to the higher entity information score entity of the target vertex, where the target vertex entity record is directly or indirectly linked to the target vertex. Further, changing the entity information score  404  of the indirectly linked vertex i, will cause the change of the entity information score  404  at all vertices having the common entity ID  406  and entity information score  408  of the subject vertex i. 
     If (at block  708 ) the criteria is satisfied, then the entity identifier  406  and entity information score  408  of vertex i is updated (at block  710 ) to that of the target vertex, which may also cause all the update of the entity information  406 ,  408  for all vertices having the same entity ID  406  and score  408  as the vertex i before it is updated. If the conditions are not satisfied at block  706  or  708  or after updating the entity identifier, from block  710 , control proceeds to consider any further vertices in the entity graph  300 . 
     Further rules to consider in order to update a subject vertex entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410  may involve checking whether the subject vertex being considered for updating is the same record as the entity record  410  of the target vertex. In such case, the subject vertex represents the entity record of the target vertex so no update is needed. If the subject vertex has an entity information score  408  the same as that of the target vertex, then there are two entities having the same score, and the subject vertex has its entity ID  406  and entity record ID  410  updated to the smallest entity ID  406  of the subject vertex and the target vertex. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of operations performed by the entity manager  114  and/or the vertex  302  code to unlink vertices in an entity graph  300  that are determined to no longer be in an entity group. Upon detecting (at block  800 ) a change to the entity scores or information in one of the records  104  in the database  102 , the entity manager  114  generates (at block  802 ) a graph  300  having vertices  302 ,  400  for each of the records  104  having a same entity identifier  410  as the changed records. Edges  304  are generated (at block  804 ) between vertices having a relationship score exceeding a threshold. Two records previously having a relationship score exceeding the threshold may now have a relationship score below the threshold, thus meaning that they are no longer linked. If (at block  806 ) any of the vertices are not directly or indirectly linked to the entity vertex, comprising the vertex having the same self information score  404  as the entity information score  408 , then vertices not directly or indirectly linked to the entity vertex are unlinked (at block  808 ) by assigning a new unique entity identifier to each vertex not linked and control proceeds (at block  810 ) to an entity linking phase of  FIG. 7  to consider whether to update the entity information for those vertices having their entity IDs  408  assigned a new unique entity identifier. When assigning a new entity ID  406  to the vertex information  400  for a vertex, the entity information score  408  would be updated to the self information score  404  of the vertex and the entity record ID  410  would be set to the record ID  402  for the vertex. If (at block  806 ) all vertices are directly or indirectly linked, then control ends. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative embodiment to link vertices in the graph  300  as performed by the vertex code  302  and the entity manager  114  using messaging between the vertices. Upon initiating (at block  900 ) the entity linking phase, the entity manager  114  messages (at block  902 ) an entity linking message to the vertices  302  in the graph  300  to initiate linking. This entity linking message causes the vertex code  302  for each vertex to send (at block  904 ) an advertisement to its directly linked neighbors along an edge  304  including its vertex information, including the record ID  406 , self information score  404 , entity ID  406 , entity information score  408 , and entity record ID  410 . This message the vertices send to their neighbors causes the neighbors to determine whether they will update their entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410  to that of the neighbor sending the message. If (at block  906 ), after sending the entity linking message, the entity manager  114  determines that all vertices have indicated that they have not updated their entity information, then the linking phase ends and the entity manager  114  instructs (at block  908 ) all the vertices  302  to save their new entity IDs to their corresponding data records  104  in the database  110  as part of a persistence phase. Otherwise, if (at block  906 ) not all vertices have indicated they have not updated entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410 , then control proceeds back to block  906  to wait until all vertices have not updated their entity information. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of operations performed by the vertex code  302  implementing each of the vertices to process a linking message from a directly linked sending vertices on an edge  304 . Upon receiving (at block  100 ) one or more linking messages, a target vertex is selected (at block  1002 ), such that if there are multiple linking messages received, the selected target vertex comprises the vertex having the highest entity information score  408 , else the only sending vertex is the target vertex. If (at block  1004 ) the target vertex does have a higher entity score  408  than the local entity score  408  at the receiving vertex, then a comparison is made (at block  1006 ) of the information score  404  of the target vertex and the local entity information score  408  to determine whether a criteria is satisfied indicating whether target vertex information score is too weak to be used to change the entity information score of the receiving vertex. As mentioned, the criteria may comprise determining whether the target vertex information score  404  is less than the local entity information score  408  minus a threshold. 
     If (at block  1006 ) the target vertex information score  404  is not less than, i.e., greater than, the local entity information score less the threshold, then the receiving vertex  302  sends (at block  1010 ) a message to the entity manager indicating that the entity ID  406  has changed. The receiving vertices entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410  is updated (at block  1012 ) to that of the target vertex entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410 . The receiving vertex then sends (at block  1014 ) a linking message to each directly linked vertex with the new updated vertex information  400 , which may cause the receiving vertices to update their entity information according to the operations of  FIG. 10 . 
     If (at block  1004 ) the target vertex does not have a higher entity score or if the comparison does not satisfy the threshold, i.e., the target vertex is too weak, then a message is sent (at block  1008 ) to the entity manager  114  that there is no change to the entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410  of the receiving vertex. 
     With the operations of  FIG. 10 , the vertex code  302  implemented at each vertex sends messages of changed information and responds to changed information from other linked vertices by determining whether to update the local entity information  406 ,  408 ,  410 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an embodiment of operations performed by the entity manager  114  and vertex code  302  to perform the unlinking phase using messaging among the vertices in the graph  300  implemented with vertex code  300 . Upon initiating (at block  1100 ) the determination to determine whether to unlink vertices from other vertices having a common entity ID, the entity manager  114  sends (at block  1102 ) an initiate unlinking message to an entity vertex comprising the vertex having the common entity ID  406  and information score  48  whose self-information score  404  equals the entity information score  408 . This message includes an unlinked list of all vertices having the entity ID of the entity vertex which have not been checked to determine whether they are linked to the entity vertex. The entity vertex sends (at block  1104 ) a link check message to each directly connected vertex (on the edge), where the message includes a linked list including the directly linked vertices and the entity vertex. The entity vertex removes (at block  1106 ) itself and the directly linked vertices from the unlinked list. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of operations performed by the vertex code  302  for a vertex to process a link check message having the linked list indicating vertices that are linked and have received the message. Upon receiving (at block  1200 ) the link check message from a directly connected vertex, the receiving vertex sends (a block  1202 ) to the entity vertex indicating that the link check message was received. The receiving vertex then determines (at block  1204 ) each directly linked vertex not indicated in the forwarded linked list in the unlinking message and adds (at block  1206 ) each determined linked vertex to the received linked list. The receiving vertex then forwards (at block  1208 ) the unlinking message including the updated received linked list to each determined directly linked vertex. The directly linked vertices receiving the forwarded unlinking message would then perform the operations of  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an embodiment of operations performed by the vertex code  302  implemented for the entity vertex to process a reply to the link check message. Upon receiving (at block  1300 ) the reply to the link check message from a replying vertex, which received the link check message, the entity vertex removes the replying vertex from the unlinked list because that replying vertex&#39;s reply demonstrates it is linked. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an embodiment of operation performed by the entity vertex to process vertices in the unlinked list determined to not be linked to the entity vertex. Upon the entity vertex determining (at block  1400 ) that there are no more replies to receive, a determination is made (at block  1402 ) whether there are any vertices indicated in the unlinked list, which comprises vertices that have not been verified as directly or indirectly linked to the entity vertex. If (at block  1402 ) the unlinked list is empty, then control ends. If (at block  1402 ) the unlinked list is non-empty, then the entity vertex sends (at block  1402 ) an unlink message to each vertex indicated in the unlinked list to cause the recipient vertex to unlink. The vertex receiving the unlink message may request a new unique entity ID, which then makes that unlinked vertex no longer part of the group of vertices sharing the common entity ID of the entity vertex. 
     Described embodiments provide an entity resolution technique that allows vertices in an entity graph to update their entity information to the entity information of a directly linked vertex based on the self-information score of the directly linked vertex when the entity information of the directly linked record refers to another vertex comprising the entity vertex. 
     The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: 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), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;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&#39;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). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present 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 readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable 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. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). 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 carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     The reference characters used herein, such as i and n, are used herein to denote a variable number of instances of an element, which may represent the same or different values, and may represent the same or different value when used with different or the same elements in different described instances. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates an embodiment of a computer system  1502  which may comprise an implementation of the node  100 . Computer system  1502  is only one example of a suitable 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, computer node  1502  is capable of being implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forth hereinabove. 
     The computer node  1502  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 node  1502  include, but are not limited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thin clients, thick clients, handheld 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. 
     Computer node  1502  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 node  1502  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. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , computer node  1502  is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. The components of computer system/server  1502  may include, but are not limited to, one or more processors or processing units  1504 , a system memory  1506 , and a bus  1508  that couples various system components including system memory  1506  to processor  1504 . 
     Bus  1508  represents one or more 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. 
     Computer node  1502  typically includes a variety of computer system readable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessible by computer node  1502 , and it includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media, and may be used for storing the programs and data used by the programs. 
     System memory  1506  can include computer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM)  1510  and/or cache memory  1512 . Computer node  1502  may further include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storage media. By way of example only, storage system  1513  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  1508  by one or more data media interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below, memory  1506  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. 
     Program/utility  1514 , having a set (at least one) of program modules  1516 , may be stored in memory  1506  by way of example, and not limitation, as well as an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules etc., and program data. Each of the operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data or some combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networking environment. Program modules  1516  generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein. 
     Computer node  1502  may also communicate with one or more external devices  1518  such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display  1520 , etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to interact with the computer node  1502 ; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server  1502  to communicate with one or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output (I/O) interfaces  1522 . Still yet, computer node  1502  can communicate with one or more networks 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  1524 . As depicted, network adapter  1524  communicates with the other components of computer system/server  1502  via bus  1508 . It should be understood that although not shown, other hardware and/or software components could be used in conjunction with computer system/server  1502 . 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. 
     The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the present invention(s)” unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. 
     Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. 
     A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention. 
     Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously. 
     When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article or a different number of devices/articles may be used instead of the shown number of devices or programs. The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the present invention need not include the device itself. 
     The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims herein after appended.