Patent ID: 7885947

Claim:
A method for discovering inventory information in a data processing system, wherein a plurality of different providers for discovering the inventory information is available, the method including the steps of: receiving, by the system, a request for discovering selected inventory information based on a selected query pattern, by an inventory tool on the system, estimating an indication of performance of each provider for discovering the selected inventory information, the performance being estimated according to a predictive model of the provider depending on the selected query pattern, selecting one of the providers according to the corresponding estimated performance, discovering the selected inventory information by means of the selected provider, and updating at least part of the models according to a result of the discovery; and detecting an idle condition of the system according to a measured workload thereof, simulating the receiving of a dummy request for discovering further selected inventory information based on a further selected query pattern in response to the idle condition, the dummy request being associated with a further selected provider, further discovering the further selected inventory information by means of the further selected provider, and updating at least part of the models according to a result of the further discovery.