603   ? Ss 0:01 /usr/sbin/cron
18421 ? S  0:00  \_ /usr/sbin/cron
18423 ? Ss 0:00  |   \_ /bin/sh /opt/pdi-jobs/4.3.0/CST/CE_Upload/CE_Upload_MON.sh
18425 ? S  0:00  |       \_ /bin/sh ./kitchen.sh -file=/opt/pdi-jobs/4.3.0/...
18444 ? Sl 1:47  |           \_ java -Xmx512m -cp .:./lib/kettle-core.jar...



##</code><code>##

use Proc::ProcessTable;

my $processes = new Proc::ProcessTable;

my @java_processes =
  grep { $_->cmndline =~ /^\/System/ } @{ $processes->table }; # fake pattern, got no java at home ;-)

foreach my $java_process (@java_processes) {
    my $pid = $java_process->pid;
    # more stuff with this pid

    my $ppid = $java_process->ppid;
    my @parent = grep { $_->pid == $ppid } @{ $processes->table };
    # more stuff with the parent

    my $gppid = $parent[0]->ppid;
    my @gparent = grep { $_->pid == $gppid } @{ $processes->table };
    # more stuff with the grandparent

    my $ggppid = $gparent[0]->ppid;
    my @ggparent = grep { $_->pid == $ggppid } @{ $processes->table };
    # more stuff with the great-grandparent
    
}