Cloud Configuration Visualization System for Infrastructure Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is no effective means to apprehend the entire cloud environment configuration and changes within it, leading to prolonged failure identification and inefficient cloud environment management.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-configuration visualization system that connects to cloud service providers, acquiring and displaying configuration information using a client-server architecture, generating visual diagrams with configuration component icons and connection information to facilitate easy understanding and management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If cloud environment configuration is managed without visualization, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to apprehend configuration and changes is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration informationVSAvoidvisualization system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a visual copy (diagram) of the cloud environment configuration that mirrors the actual infrastructure. This diagram includes icons representing configuration components and lines showing their relationships, allowing users to apprehend the configuration state without adding physical complexity to the underlying system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms abstract configuration data into a two-dimensional visual representation. By mapping configuration components and their relationships onto a graphical plane with spatial arrangements, the system enables human perception and understanding of complex cloud environments that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If detailed configuration information is collected from multiple cloud service providers, then measurement precision is improved, but the time required to acquire and process information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration information accuracyVSAvoidinformation acquisition time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal diagram generation mechanism that can handle configuration information from multiple different cloud service providers through a common interface. The system extracts configuration data from various providers and represents them uniformly using standardized icons and relationship lines, enabling precise configuration apprehension across heterogeneous cloud environments without provider-specific processing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If cloud configuration changes are monitored continuously, then reliability is improved, but the complexity of the monitoring system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure detection capabilityVSAvoidmonitoring system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the visual diagram is updated based on configuration changes detected in the cloud environment. When configuration components change, the diagram automatically reflects these changes, providing continuous feedback about the current state. This enables reliable failure detection through visual comparison without requiring complex monitoring infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3240231B1Cloud-configuration visualization system, cloud-configuration visualization method, and cloud-configuration visualization program
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 HITACHI SYST LTD
  • EP3240231B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3240231B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3240231B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention aims at providing a system with which the configuration of a cloud environment can be apprehended. Accordingly, a cloud-configuration visualization system connected to a cloud service provision system includes a cloud connection information reception part, a cloud configuration display processing part, a cloud connection information DB, and a configuration information acquisition processing part, wherein the system uses a cloud ID of a cloud configuration display request command to acquire cloud connection information from the cloud connection information DB, specifies, based on the cloud connection information, a cloud service provision system for acquiring the cloud configuration information, and acquires the cloud configuration information from the specified cloud service provision system, and wherein the configuration display processing part generates and displays the cloud configuration diagram using the configuration component icon and connection information for each configuration component based on the cloud configuration information.