Bloor White Paper: Complex Event Processing

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(Complex) Event Processing
A White Paper by Bloor ResearchAuthor : Philip HowardPublish date : March 2008We all have an intuitive idea of what an event is. However, when it comes to the use of the term "event" within a business context then it is easy to get confusedPhilip Howard(Complex) Event Processing page 1Introduction
We all have an intuitive idea of what an event is. However, In the first section of this paper we will discuss what we when it comes to the use of the term "event" within a mean by events and why they are important, and we provide business context then it is easy to get confused, and this a brief introduction to the various technologies involved. In isn't helped by the various terms and acronyms used by the remaining sections of this paper we discuss the use of, software vendors and the market. and requirements for, complex event processing in more detail. Nor is it immediately obvious (outside specific environments such as process and manufacturing systems control where Before we do so, it is appropriate to talk briefly about the the concept of shop floor events are well understood) why term 'complex event processing'. This is the expression you should care about events or why you should need typically used by the industry; however, it does not really do specialised technologies to help with the processing and the subject justice. The fact is that when you get a lot of management of events, in ways that might produce a events interacting within a given time period then the business advantage. management of those events, and the ability to see the wood from the trees within those events, becomes increasingly However, the fact is that these technologies can indeed offer difficult and complex. What complex event processing does significant business benefits when implemented is apply the use of sophisticated technology to simplify the appropriately that cannot, in many cases, be achieved (or not whole experience. Thus complex event processing is the as well) via conventional means. processing of complex events, it is not itself complex, at least as far as the user is concerned. This is why, in the title This paper seeks to explain what events are, why they are of this paper, (complex) is placed in parentheses.important to your business, and what the options are for processing and managing these events (depending on their type and volume).
© 2008 Bloor Research A Bloor White Paper(Complex) Event Processing page 2What is an event?
According to Wikipedia an event can be defined as a much about the customer orders that have meant that this "significant change in state". The Patricia Seybold Group stock item has fallen below its threshold but from the point defines it as "a notable thing that happens inside or outside of view of re-ordering you are only interested in the crossing your business" and goes on to add that "an event (business or of the threshold so, again, there is an issue over recognising system) may signify a problem or impending problem, an what is important. The role of the various event processing opportunity, a threshold, or a deviation". Webopedia defines an technologies discussed in this paper is precisely to enable event as "an action or occurrence detected by a program". The the easy definition and identification of the events the Event Processing Technical Society (EPTS) defines an event business is interested in, along with appropriate responses as "something that happens". (which may involve starting off business processes) when such an event is identified. We will discuss this further in The problem with all of these definitions is that they assume due course.that an event, at least as it used in this context, is something that happens, occurs or forces a change of state. There is also the question of the definition of a 'complex event'. While we will discuss this further in due course, for Actually, there is a technical argument raging in the event processing world now we can take a complex event to mean any event that as to whether a non-event is, in fact, a sort of event. The argument is that the timestamp has changed and therefore this represents an event in its own spawns (or causes) a further event. So, for example, a stock right and there is no such thing as a non-event. The issue then becomes one level falling below it... [download for more]