Patent ID: 7873606

Claim:
In a database environment, a software framework, embodied on a computer readable storage medium, for facilitating an interaction between an advisor component and another entity, the software framework comprising: a task configured to perform an operation in a database, in response to a circumstance in the database; a tuning application associated with the task, the tuning application configured to collect information about the circumstance and based on the collected information, select an advisor component from a plurality of advisor components which is equipped to handle the circumstance; and a selected advisor component associated with the task and the tuning component and configured to assist in the performance of the operation, wherein the plurality of advisor components are configured to interact with each of the plurality of advisor components in a standardized manner using a framework which specifies a common data model for which all of the plurality of advisor components and the selected advisor component to comply with, such that each of the plurality of advisor components and the selected advisor are configured to be replaced interchangeably one with another, wherein each of the plurality of advisor components are configured to be interchanged with the selected advisor such that any one of the plurality of advisor components is configured to replace the selected advisor to be designated as the selected advisor, and wherein each of the plurality of advisor components include advisor-specific instructions for determining findings, generating recommendations, and explaining rationales, and wherein based at least on the advisor-specific instructions, the advisor generates a data structure comprising: at least one finding comprising one or more improvements or corrections to the database, wherein the at least one finding further comprises information about a result of an analysis performed by the advisor and wherein the at least one finding is based on a combined analysis of at least one of the plurality of advisor components and the analysis of the selected advisor using the common data model; at least one recommendation based on the at least one finding, wherein the at least one recommendation comprises a set of at least one action to perform in response to the at least one finding; and at least one rationale that explains, to a user, why the advisor component made the at least one recommendation; wherein: the advisor is configured to provide the at least one recommendation and the at least one rationale in a format that may be understood by the entity, such that the entity can perform the at least one action in response to the at least one finding; the advisor is further configured to display, for the user, the at least one finding, the at least one recommendation, and the at least one rationale, and wherein the data structure is configured to be extensible, such that the data structure can be configured to comprise at least one additional data element addressing a specific need of the advisor component.