Bidirectional Data Center Asset Connectivity via Inversion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Cloud-based data center management systems face challenges with one-way communication channels that are often hindered by firewalls, proxies, and complex network setups, making real-time, secure management of data center assets on customer premises difficult.

Innovation Solution

A connectivity management system that establishes a secure, bidirectional communication channel between a data center asset and a connectivity management system client, enabling real-time management actions by providing a secure communication channel for provisioning requests and information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a one-way communication channel is used for cloud-based data center management, then the system can maintain simplicity and avoid complex network setups, but real-time secure management of data center assets becomes difficult due to firewalls and proxies blocking bidirectional communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork setup complexityVSAvoidreal-time management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the cloud-based management system initiate communication through firewalls and proxies (the traditional approach), the patent inverts the communication model by having the data center asset initiate the connection to the cloud. This reversal allows the asset to establish an outbound connection that bypasses firewall restrictions, enabling reliable real-time management while keeping the network setup relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a connectivity management system as an intermediary layer between the data center asset and the cloud-based management system. This intermediary handles the complex communication protocols, authentication, and connection management, allowing the asset to communicate reliably with the cloud without requiring complex direct network configurations or dealing directly with firewall and proxy complications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a secure bidirectional communication channel is established for real-time management, then real-time secure management actions can be performed, but the communication channel becomes more complex and difficult to establish through firewalls and proxies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure management capabilityVSAvoidcommunication channel complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reverses the traditional client-server communication model where the server (cloud management system) initiates connections. Instead, the data center asset (acting as the initiator) establishes outbound connections to the cloud, which naturally works around firewall and proxy restrictions. This inversion simplifies the communication channel establishment while maintaining security and bidirectionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The data center asset performs self-provisioning and self-configuration when establishing the communication channel. It automatically authenticates itself, establishes secure connections, and configures communication parameters without requiring manual intervention or complex pre-configuration. This self-service approach reduces the overall system complexity while ensuring secure bidirectional communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If traditional one-way communication channels are used, then network setup remains simple, but provisioning and management operations cannot be performed in real-time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement operation speedVSAvoidcommunication channel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By inverting the communication initiation from cloud-to-asset to asset-to-cloud, the system enables real-time bidirectional communication without requiring complex network infrastructure. The asset can proactively send provisioning requests, status updates, and receive management commands in real-time, dramatically improving operational speed while keeping the communication structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes continuous bidirectional communication channels that allow provisioning and management operations to occur in real-time without interruption. The connectivity management system maintains persistent connections between assets and the cloud, eliminating the delays and batch processing inherent in traditional one-way communication, thereby continuously enabling productive management operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11924285B2Data center asset deployment via a connectivity management deployment operation

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for performing a data center connectivity management operation. The connectivity management operation includes: providing a data center asset with a connectivity management system client; establishing a secure communication channel between the connectivity management system client and a connectivity management system; exchanging information between the connectivity management system client and the connectivity management system via the secure communication channel between the connectivity management system client and the connectivity management system, the information including a provisioning request; and, providing provisioning information to the data center asset via the secure communication channel.