Cloud Infrastructure Resource Repurposing for Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud service providers face inefficiencies in utilizing their resources due to geographic distance and underutilization of infrastructure at customer locations, leading to potential monetization and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
Cloud service providers dynamically repurpose remote infrastructure installed at customer locations by monitoring usage and account status, reallocating underutilized resources to other customers, and utilizing infrastructure processing units (IPUs) to offload intensive tasks, thereby optimizing resource utilization and reducing response times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If cloud service provider installs infrastructure at remote customer locations, then response time is reduced, but resource utilization becomes inefficient due to geographic distance and underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables remote infrastructure to serve multiple functions: primarily serving the local customer while also being available to serve other customers when underutilized. The system dynamically allocates resources between different customers based on demand, transforming dedicated infrastructure into multi-functional infrastructure that improves overall resource utilization while maintaining fast local response times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic resource allocation where the function and availability of remote infrastructure changes based on real-time utilization metrics. When local customer demand is low, resources are dynamically made available to other customers; when demand is high, resources are reserved for the local customer. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining fast response times and achieving high resource utilization.
2Reliability
If cloud service provider dedicates remote infrastructure to single customer, then customer performance is improved, but monetization opportunities are lost due to underutilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms dedicated single-customer infrastructure into universal infrastructure that can serve multiple customers. By implementing a resource sharing model where the same physical infrastructure can be allocated to different customers based on demand, the system maintains reliable performance for each customer while capturing monetization opportunities from multiple customers using the same infrastructure at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the utilization parameter of remote infrastructure from fixed (single customer) to variable (multiple customers based on demand). By monitoring utilization metrics and dynamically adjusting resource allocation, the system ensures that performance requirements are met while maximizing monetization by serving multiple customers when capacity is available.
3Productivity
If cloud service provider uses primary infrastructure, then resource utilization is high, but response time increases due to geographic distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cloud service provider's infrastructure into two parts: primary centralized infrastructure and distributed remote infrastructure. The remote infrastructure segments handle time-sensitive local customer demands to maintain fast response times, while the primary infrastructure handles bulk processing and shared resources to maintain high overall utilization. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functions to different infrastructure segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality by placing infrastructure resources geographically close to customers who need fast response times. Remote infrastructure instances are deployed in different geographic locations to serve local customers with low latency, while maintaining connection to the primary infrastructure for resource sharing. This local presence resolves the response time issue while the shared resource model maintains high utilization.
4Ease of operation
If cloud service provider deploys remote infrastructure, then customer satisfaction improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple infrastructure locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a resource manager as an intermediary that handles the complexity of managing multiple remote infrastructure locations. This intermediary component monitors utilization across all remote instances, makes allocation decisions, and coordinates between primary and remote infrastructure. By centralizing the management logic in this intermediary layer, the system improves customer satisfaction through fast local response times while hiding the underlying infrastructure complexity from customers and simplifying operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described. The method includes a service provider accessing data indicating that at least a portion of an information systems infrastructure that is managed by the service provider and is installed at a tenant's location to perform information services for the tenant is available to perform information services for entities other than the tenant. The method includes the service provider providing information services to at least one of the entities with the portion of the information systems infrastructure.