Event management system utilizing dynamic adaptation for external devices

Abstract

An Event Management System (EMS) for logging and correlating alarm events in a network, and a method of efficiently integrating the EMS, which communicates in a standard format, with external devices and external viewers which communicate in device-specific formats. A plurality of core EMS components which log and correlate events are functionally separated from a plurality of EMS boundary components which interact with external devices and external viewers. The boundary components perform both generic external interface functions and device-specific functions. An external device's information, including a class and location for a protocol handler and a content handler for the external device, is stored in an information repository associated with the EMS. When a connection is initiated from the external device to one of the boundary components, the boundary component obtains the external device information from the information repository. The boundary component then remotely loads the protocol handler class and the content handler class, instantiates the protocol handler class and the content handler class, and connects the protocol handler class and the content handler class to the external device to convert information in the device's device-specific format to information in the standard format utilized by the EMS.