Central Office Virtual PC Resource Allocation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional personal computers (PCs) face issues with security, hardware reliability, remote access, administration, and energy efficiency, including high failure rates, data loss, inconvenient hardware upgrades, poor remote access performance, and excessive energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual PCs (VPCs) based in a central office (CO) of a communication system, which allocates and dynamically reconfigures physical processing and storage resources, providing universal access and reducing the need for hardware upgrades and energy consumption through centralized management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional PCs are used, then users can run applications and access the Internet, but security is compromised and hardware fails frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the PC environment that runs on remote servers instead of physical hardware. The virtual machine includes a virtual CPU, memory, storage, and display that replicate conventional PC functionality while eliminating physical hardware vulnerabilities. This copying approach allows users to access their PC environment from anywhere without exposing physical machines to viruses or hardware failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication network as an intermediary between the user's thin client device and the remote server. This network intermediary enables the thin client to access the virtual PC environment without requiring local hardware resources, thereby isolating the user's physical devices from security threats while maintaining full PC functionality through the network connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hardware is replaced to accommodate new software demands, then application compatibility improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the virtual PC's hardware configuration can be changed remotely by the service provider without user intervention. The virtual machine can dynamically adjust CPU power, memory, storage capacity, and graphics capabilities based on current software demands, eliminating the need for physical hardware replacement while maintaining full adaptability to new applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal virtual PC environment that can run any conventional PC application through software emulation. Instead of requiring physical hardware upgrades to support new software, the virtual machine provides universal compatibility by emulating the necessary hardware architecture, allowing a single physical device to support multiple software requirements.
3Ease of operation
If PCs are left turned on continuously, then accessibility is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables periodic or on-demand activation of the virtual PC environment. Instead of running continuously, the virtual machine can be quickly instantiated or activated only when needed through the communication network. The thin client device maintains a lightweight presence while the full virtual PC environment is deployed periodically, reducing energy consumption while preserving accessibility when required.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual personal computer is implemented in a communication system comprising a plurality of central offices each of which communicates with a plurality of client devices over a corresponding access network. A given one of the central offices comprises at least one compute server and at least one storage server. The virtual personal computer is configured by allocating physical processing resources of the compute server and physical storage resources of the storage server to that virtual personal computer. User access is provided to the virtual personal computer via one of the client devices. The virtual personal computer can be dynamically reconfigured by altering the allocation of at least one of the physical processing resources and the physical storage resources to the given virtual personal computer responsive to particular applications selected by the user to run on the given virtual personal computer.