Patent ID: 7590513

Claim:
A method for detecting faults in a distributed transaction system, said method comprising the steps of: measuring transaction flow intensity data at a plurality of monitoring points in the distributed transaction system with at least one of monitoring agents and tools during normal operation of the system; learning, with a processor of a computer a model of flow dynamics in the distributed transaction system using said transaction flow intensity data, said processor learning said model by deriving a relationship that characterizes a normal transaction flow intensity through a segment of the distributed transaction system by: calculating a simulated transaction flow intensity output using an observed flow intensity input; comparing said simulated transaction flow intensity output with an observed flow intensity output to define an estimation error; deriving a model parameter that minimizes said estimation error; and deriving a fitness score for said model parameter; measuring real-time transaction flow intensity data at the plurality of monitoring points in the distributed transaction system with the at least one of monitoring agents and tools during real-time operation of the system; and comparing said real-time transaction flow intensity data to said model of flow dynamics with said processor to detect deviations from said model of flow dynamics, said deviations representing faults in said distributed transaction system.