Cloud Service Self-Service Provisioning Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud provisioning is a cumbersome and error-prone process for cloud administrators due to incomplete or inaccurate information, leading to delays, inefficient resource utilization, and costs, as existing methods require manual configuration and rely heavily on human intervention.
Innovation Solution
A self-service provisioning system that allows subscribers to initiate and manage cloud service activation and provisioning independently, using a user interface to input configuration parameters, which are then used to automatically generate and execute configuration instructions, reducing human involvement and improving control over resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration and human intervention are used for cloud provisioning, then flexibility and control are maintained, but the process becomes cumbersome and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables cloud service instances to self-provision by automatically detecting available resources and configuring themselves without manual intervention. The instance autonomously identifies suitable compute, storage, and network resources from the cloud infrastructure and establishes connections, eliminating the need for administrators to manually configure complex provisioning parameters while maintaining accuracy through automated resource matching algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated electronic discovery and provisioning systems. Instead of administrators physically or manually configuring resources, the system uses automated agents and software-based resource detection mechanisms to identify, allocate, and configure cloud resources electronically, reducing human error while maintaining operational flexibility through programmable interfaces.
2Productivity
If automated provisioning is implemented, then efficiency and resource utilization improve, but control and customization may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning system dynamically adapts its automation level based on instance requirements and available resources. The system can operate in fully automated mode for standard configurations, automatically detecting and allocating resources immediately, while switching to semi-automated modes for specialized instances where administrators can provide guidance parameters. This dynamic approach maintains high provisioning speed for routine operations while preserving customization flexibility for complex deployments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on the provisioning context, adjusting the level of automation, resource allocation strategies, and configuration depth according to instance type, organizational policies, and resource availability. For example, critical infrastructure instances may use conservative parameter settings with enhanced validation, while development instances use aggressive automation with rapid provisioning parameters, optimizing both speed and adaptability across different scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for self-service provisioning and activation of cloud services are disclosed. In some embodiments, a self-service user interface is generated through which a cloud service subscriber may input configuration parameters to customize an instance of the cloud service. The configuration parameters may define topology, deployment, and/or operational configurations for the cloud service. Responsive to receiving configuration parameters through the self-service user interface, a set of instructions may be automatically generated and executed to perform one or more provisioning operations.