This invention specifies analyzers to be run in conjunction with computer
estimation systems, which may be applied to performance monitoring (APM)
services. A semi-automated analyzer may be used by a human analyst to
periodically evaluate available historical data for establishing a
desired set of input measurements, model parameters, and reporting
criteria, collectively called configuration parameters, to be used by an
estimation system. In addition, a fully automated analyzer may
periodically and automatically reevaluate such configuration parameters
and automatically reconfigure the estimation system accordingly. For both
types of analyzer, the active set of input measurements for the
computerized estimation system can be initially established or
periodically updated to perform any variety of configuration tuning
operations, including the following: removing linearly redundant
variables; removing inputs showing no variation; removing unnecessary or
non-estimable inputs; tuning estimation system operating parameters that
govern learning rates and the use of recent trends; occasional model
accuracy assessment; and tuning monitoring alarm thresholds.