1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring a distributed computing system comprising:
determining, at a node, a first quantity of first agents reporting to the node and limiting the quantity of first agents to not exceed a predetermined threshold, the first agents configured to directly report to the node a first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents;
determining a second quantity of second agents reporting to the node through the first agents, the second agents report a second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents;
notifying the first agents to report to the node the first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents; and
notifying the second agents to report to at least one of the first agents the second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
implementing the node as a system manager of the distributed computing system.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
reporting by at least one of the first agents the first information by sending a first message to the node.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
reporting by the first agents the first information by sending a first message to the node, the first information including performance information at the systems being monitored.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
reporting by at least one of the second agents the second information by sending a second message to at least one of the first agents.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
defining another predetermined threshold for another agent, the other predetermined threshold determined based on capabilities of the other agent.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
assigning one or more first agents to report to the node, the assignment based on a first performance value of each of the one or more first agents; and
assigning one or more second agents to report to the node through the one or more first agents, the assignment based on a second performance value of each of the one or more second agents, the second performance value of at least one of the first agents being less than the first performance of at least one of the second agents.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
implementing the first performance value to include at least one of the following: a processing speed, an amount of memory, a storage capacity, and a network bandwidth.
9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
assigning other agents to a hierarchy based on a performance value of each of the other agents.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
using a performance characteristic of an agent and a performance threshold of another agent to determine whether to assign the agent to the other agent.
11. A computer-readable medium containing instructions to configure a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
determining, at a node, a first quantity of first agents reporting to the node and limiting the quantity of first agents to not exceed a predetermined threshold, the first agents configured to directly report to the node a first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents;
determining a second quantity of second agents reporting to the node through the first agents, the second agents report a second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents;
notifying the first agents to report to the node the first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents; and
notifying the second agents to report to at least one of the first agents the second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
implementing the node as a system manager of the distributed computing system.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
reporting by at least one of the first agents the first information by sending a first message to the node.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
reporting by the first agents the first information by sending a first message to the node, the first information including performance information at the systems being monitored.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein determining at the node further comprises:
reporting by at least one of the second agents the second information by sending a second message to at least one of the first agents.
16. The system of claim 11 further comprising:
defining another predetermined threshold for another agent, the other predetermined threshold determined based on capabilities of the other agent.
17. The system of claim 11 further comprising:
defining the predetermined threshold adaptively based on the processing capabilities at any given time at the system being monitored.
18. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to perform a method comprising:
determining, at a node, a first quantity of first agents reporting to the node and limiting the quantity of first agents to not exceed a predetermined threshold, the first agents configured to directly report to the node a first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents;
determining a second quantity of second agents reporting to the node through the first agents, the second agents report a second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents;
notifying the first agents to report to the node the first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents; and
notifying the second agents to report to at least one of the first agents the second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein determining at the node further comprises:
implementing the node as a system manager of the distributed computing system.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein determining, at the node, further comprises:
reporting by at least one of the first agents the first information by sending a first message to the node.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A device for producing a condensation aerosol comprising
(a) a chamber comprising an upstream opening and a downstream opening, the openings allowing gas to flow therethrough
(b) a heat-conductive substrate, the substrate located at a position between the upstream and downstream openings,
(c) a drug composition film on the substrate, the film comprising a therapeutically effective dose of a drug when the drug is administered in aerosol form
(d) a heat source for supplying heat to said substrate to produce a substrate temperature greater than 300\xb0 C., and to substantially volatilize the drug composition film from the substrate in a period of 2 seconds or less, and
the device produces an aerosol containing less than about 10% by weight drug composition degradation products and at least 50% of the drug composition of said film.
2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for initiating said heat source.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate has an impermeable surface.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate, has a contiguous surface area of greater than 1 mm2 and a material density of greater than 0.5 gcc.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the film has a thickness between 0.05 and 20 microns.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the film is selected to allow the drug composition to volatilize from the substrate with less than about 5% by weight drug composition degradation products.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the drug composition is one that when vaporized from a film on an impermeable surface of a heat conductive substrate, the aerosol exhibits an increasing level of drug composition degradation products with increasing film thicknesses.
8. The device of claim 5, wherein said drug composition comprises a drug selected from the group consisting of the following, and a film thickness within the range disclosed for said drug:
(1) alprazolam, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(2) amoxapine, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(3) atropine, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(4) bumetanide film thickness between 0.1 and 5 \u03bcm;
(5) buprenorphine, film thickness between 0.05 and 10 \u03bcm;
(6) butorphanol, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(7) clomipramine, film thickness between 1 and 8 \u03bcm;
(8) donepezil, film thickness between 1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(9) hydromorphone, film thickness between 0.05 and 10 \u03bcm;
(10) loxapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(11) midazolam, film thickness between 0.05 and 20 \u03bcm;
(12) morphine, film thickness between 0.2 and 10 \u03bcm;
(13) nalbuphine, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(14) naratriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(15) olanzapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(16) paroxetine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(17) prochlorperazine, film thickness between 0.1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(18) quetiapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(19) sertraline, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(20) sibutramine, film thickness between 0.5 and 2 \u03bcm;
(21) sildenafil, film thickness between 0.2 and 3 \u03bcm;
(22) sumatriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 6 \u03bcm;
(23) tadalafil, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(24) vardenafil, film thickness between 0.1 and 2 \u03bcm;
(25) venlafaxine, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(26) zolpidem, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(27) apomorphine HCl, film thickness between 0.1 and 5 \u03bcm;
(28) celecoxib, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(29) ciclesonide, film thickness between 0.05 and 5 \u03bcm;
(30) eletriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(31) parecoxib, film thickness between 0.5 and 2 \u03bcm;
(32) valdecoxib, film thickness between 0.5 and 10 \u03bcm;
(33) fentanyl, film thickness between 0.05 and 5 \u03bcm.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat source substantially volatilizes the drug composition film from the substrate within a period of less than 0.5 seconds.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat source comprises an ignitable solid chemical fuel disposed adjacent to an interior surface of the substrate, wherein the ignition of said fuel is effective to vaporize the drug composition film.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat source for supplying heat to said substrate produces a substrate temperature greater than 350\xb0 C.
12. A method for producing a condensation aerosol comprising
(a) heating to a temperature greater than 300\xb0 C. a heat-conductive substrate having a drug composition film on the surface, the film comprising a therapeutically effective dose of a drug when the drug is administered in aerosol form;
(b) substantially volatilizing the drug composition film from the substrate in a period of 2 seconds or less, and
(c) flowing air across the volatilized drug composition, under conditions to produce an aerosol containing less than 10% by weight drug composition degradation products and at least 50% of the drug composition in said film.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said substrate has an impermeable surface.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein said substrate has a contiguous surface, area of greater than 1 mm2 and a material density of greater than 0.5 gcc.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the film has a thickness between 0.05 and 20 microns.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the thickness of the film is selected to allow the drug composition to volatilize from the substrate with less than about 5% by weight drug composition degradation products.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the drug composition is one that when vaporized from a film on an impermeable surface of a heat conductive substrate, the aerosol exhibits an increasing level of drug composition degradation products with increasing film thicknesses.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein said drug composition comprises a drug selected from the group consisting of the following, and a film thickness within the range disclosed for said drug:
(1) alprazolam, film thickness between 0.1. and 10 \u03bcm;
(2) amoxapine, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(3) atropine, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(4) bumetanide film thickness between 0.1 and 5 \u03bcm;
(5) buprenorphine, film thickness between 0.05 and 10 \u03bcm;
(6) butorphanol, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(7) clomipramine, film thickness between 1 and 8 \u03bcm;
(8) donepezil, film thickness between 1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(9) hydromorphone, film thickness between 0.05 and 10 \u03bcm;
(10) loxapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(11) midazolam, film thickness between 0.05 and 20 \u03bcm;
(12) morphine, film thickness between 0.2 and 10 \u03bcm;
(13) nalbuphine, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(14) naratriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(15) olanzapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(16) paroxetine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(17) prochlorperazine, film thickness between 0.1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(18) quetiapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(19) sertraline, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(20) sibutramine, film thickness between 0.5 and 2 \u03bcm;
(21) sildenafil, film thickness between 0.2 and 3 \u03bcm;
(22) sumatriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 6 \u03bcm;
(23) tadalafil, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(24) vardenafil, film thickness between 0.1 and 2 \u03bcm;
(25) venlafaxine, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(26) zolpidem, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(27) apomorphine HCl, film thickness between 0.1 and 5 \u03bcm;
(28) celecoxib, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(29) ciclesonide, film thickness between 0.05 and 5 \u03bcm;
(30) eletriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(31) parecoxib, film thickness between 0.5 and 2 \u03bcm;
(32) valdecoxib, film thickness between 0.5 and 10 \u03bcm; and
(33) fentanyl, film thickness between 0.05 and 5 \u03bcm.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein said substantially volatilizing the film is complete within a period of less than 0.5 seconds.
20. An assembly for use in a condensation aerosol device comprising
(a) a heat-conductive substrate having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
(b) a drug composition film on the substrate exterior surface, the film comprising a therapeutically effective dose of a drug when the drug is administered in aerosol form, and
(c) a heat source for supplying heat to said substrate to produce a substrate temperature greater than 300\xb0 C. and to substantially volatilize the drug composition film from the substrate in a period of 2 seconds or less.
21. The assembly of claim 20, wherein said substrate has an impermeable surface.
22. The assembly of claim 20, wherein said substrate surface has a contiguous surface area of greater than 1 mm2 and a material density of greater than 0.5 gcc.
23. The assembly of claim 20, wherein the film has a thickness between 0.05 and 20 microns.
24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the thickness of the film is selected to allow the drug composition to volatilize from the substrate with less than about 5% by weight drug composition degradation products.
25. The assembly of claim 24, the drug composition is one that when vaporized from a film on an impermeable surface of a heat conductive substrate, the aerosol exhibits an increasing level of drug composition degradation products with increasing film thickness.
26. The assembly of claim 20, wherein said drug composition comprises a drug selected from the group consisting of the following, and a film thickness within the range disclosed for said drug:
(1) alprazolam, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(2) amoxapine, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(3) atropine, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(4) bumetanide film thickness between 0.1 and 5 \u03bcm;
(5) buprenorphine, film thickness between 0.05 and 10 \u03bcm;
(6) butorphanol, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(7) clomipramine, film thickness between 1 and 8 \u03bcm;
(8) donepezil, film thickness between 1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(9) hydromorphone, film thickness between 0.05 and 10 \u03bcm;
(10) loxapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(11) midazolam, film thickness between 0.05 and 20 \u03bcm;
(12) morphine, film thickness between 0.2 and 10 \u03bcm;
(13) nalbuphine, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(14) naratriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(15) olanzapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(16) paroxetine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(17) prochlorperazine, film thickness between 0.1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(18) quetiapine, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(19) sertraline, film thickness between 1 and 20 \u03bcm;
(20) sibutramine, film thickness between 0.5 and 2 \u03bcm;
(21) sildenafil, film thickness between 0.2 and 3 \u03bcm;
(22) sumatriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 6 \u03bcm;
(23) tadalafil, film thickness between 0.2 and 5 \u03bcm;
(24) vardenafil, film thickness between 0.1 and 2 \u03bcm;
(25) venlafaxine, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(26) zolpidem, film thickness between 0.1 and 10 \u03bcm;
(27) apomorphine HCl, film thickness between 0.1 and 5 \u03bcm;
(28) celecoxib, film thickness between 2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(29) ciclesonide, film thickness between 0.05 and 5 \u03bcm;
(30) eletriptan, film thickness between 0.2 and 20 \u03bcm;
(31) parecoxib, film thickness between 0.5 and 2 \u03bcm;
(32) valdecoxib, film thickness between 0.5 and 10 \u03bcm; and
(33) fentanyl, film thickness between 0.05 and 5 \u03bcm.
27. The assembly of claim 20, wherein said heat source substantially volatilizes the drug composition film from the substrate within a period of less than 0.5 seconds.
28. The device of claim 20, wherein said heat source comprises an ignitable solid chemical fuel disposed adjacent to the interior surface of the substrate, wherein the ignition of said fuel is effective to vaporize the drug composition film.