Data Center Asset Allocation via Dynamic Inventory Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data centers often face challenges in efficiently managing and allocating their asset resources, leading to underutilization or overutilization of resources, which can impact the performance and reliability of services offered, as knowledge of available resources is not always readily available and resources may not be optimally allocated to workloads.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for performing data center monitoring and management operations that involve identifying asset resources, maintaining an inventory of available resources, determining which resources to allocate based on workload needs, and performing data center asset allocation operations to optimize resource utilization across multiple workloads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional resource allocation methods are used in data centers, then resource management is simplified, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates leading to underutilization or overutilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidresource management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors resource utilization metrics and allocation patterns, then uses this information to dynamically adjust resource allocation decisions. This closed-loop control enables the system to learn from past allocation outcomes and improve resource utilization efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through automated adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs self-service mechanisms where resource allocation is performed automatically based on predefined policies and real-time conditions, without requiring manual intervention for each allocation decision. This automation resolves the contradiction by enabling sophisticated resource optimization through self-managing algorithms that adapt to changing conditions while keeping operational complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If resources are allocated without real-time inventory knowledge, then allocation decisions are made quickly, but resource availability accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource availability accuracyVSAvoidallocation decision time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing resource inventories and allocation policies before actual allocation requests occur. Resource availability is pre-assessed and cached, allowing the system to provide accurate availability information while making allocation decisions rapidly when requests are received, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual or mechanical resource tracking methods with automated electronic inventory systems that continuously monitor and update resource availability in real-time. This substitution enables the system to maintain accurate resource inventory knowledge without adding proportional time delays, as the electronic system updates availability information automatically as resources are allocated or released.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If static resource allocation is used, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to workload changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkload adaptation capabilityVSAvoidallocation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where allocation parameters and policies can change in response to workload conditions. The system transitions from static pre-defined allocations to dynamic adjustments based on real-time monitoring of workload demands and resource utilization patterns, enabling adaptability while managing complexity through structured dynamic control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs parameter changes by adjusting allocation parameters such as resource thresholds, priority weights, and allocation ratios based on observed workload patterns and performance metrics. This enables the system to adapt to changing conditions by modifying operational parameters rather than requiring complete system redesign, thus achieving versatility while controlling complexity through parameter-based flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11411815B1System for data center asset resource allocation

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for performing a data center monitoring and management operation. The data center monitoring and management operation includes: identifying a plurality of asset resources within a data center; selecting a workload for allocation of asset resources; maintaining an inventory of available asset resources from the asset resources of the plurality of asset resources; determining which asset resources of the plurality of asset resources to allocate to the workload, determination of which asset resources of the plurality of asset resources to allocate taking into account the inventory of the available asset resources; and, performing a data center asset allocation operation, the data center asset allocation operation allocating resources the workload based upon the determining.