Active Element Manager for Data Storage System Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage system management techniques are cumbersome and time-consuming, as users often need to manually search external websites for information, leading to potential inaccuracies and lack of integration between data storage administration tasks and external resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
An active element manager component that connects to external environments, such as vendor websites, to provide relevant information and facilitate bi-directional communication, allowing for seamless data storage system management, configuration, and monitoring by displaying user-relevant information and context data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users manually search external websites for data storage system management information, then they can obtain external resources and services, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes connections and contexts between the data storage system and external environments. When a user needs external resources, the system has already prepared the connection pathways and relevant context information, eliminating the need for manual website navigation and search.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the data storage system and external environments. This intermediary manages connections, transfers context information, and facilitates automated access to external resources, replacing manual user navigation.
2Loss of information
If users manually navigate and search websites for additional information, then they can obtain relevant data, but the process lacks accuracy and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where context information is automatically exchanged between the data storage system and external environments. This ensures that the information obtained is relevant, accurate, and tailored to the specific system state and user needs, eliminating unreliable manual searches.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures the types of information needed and establishes validation rules before external queries are made. This preliminary preparation ensures that only accurate and relevant information is retrieved and processed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate sessions are used for data storage administration and external information searching, then different tasks can be performed, but information sharing between tasks is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data storage administration session with external information access by integrating the connection management and context sharing mechanisms. This allows information to flow seamlessly between administrative tasks and external resource access within a unified session framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal session framework that can handle both internal data storage administration and external information retrieval through a single integrated interface. This multi-functional approach allows information to be shared across different task types without requiring separate sessions.
4Ease of operation
If help facilities are statically included on the data storage system, then local help is available, but additional information from external sources cannot be accessed
Solution Approach 1:
The help facility is transformed into a multi-functional system that can provide both local static help and dynamically access external help resources. The same interface that provides local help can also initiate connections to external environments, offering a unified help system with expanded capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures the help facility with the capability to access external environments. When help is needed, the system can automatically establish connections to external help resources based on the context, eliminating the need for users to manually search for additional information.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are techniques for performing data storage system management of a data storage system. An active element manager component is provided that performs data storage system management operations. User relevant information is received at said active element manager component from an external environment. The user relevant information includes information about an entity for purchase or license using said external environment which is relevant to a first user identifier. For an active element management session having said first user identifier, the user relevant information is displayed via a user interface. The user interface provides for display a first portion of said user relevant information. Upon selection of the first portion, the active element manager component connects to a target location in said external environment that is associated with the entity and provides context information to said external environment.