Declarative Workflow Orchestration Across Cloud Providers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud computing systems lack user-friendly and efficient methods for orchestrating serverless functions across multiple cloud providers, requiring users to code and manage workflows independently, which is not reusable and burdensome.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for executing workflow definitions across multiple cloud services providers by determining the executable provider for each function definition and invoking the appropriate provider function, allowing for provider-agnostic orchestration of serverless functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users code and run workflows independently from cloud computing providers, then cross-provider function orchestration is achieved, but user burden and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary workflow definition language and orchestration mechanism that sits between users and multiple cloud providers. This intermediary layer translates high-level workflow definitions into provider-specific function invocations, enabling cross-provider orchestration without requiring users to manage the complexity of each provider's native interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal workflow definition framework that can orchestrate functions across different cloud providers (AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, Google Cloud Functions, etc.) through a single unified interface. This universal approach allows the same workflow definition to execute across multiple providers without modification, eliminating the need for provider-specific coding.
2Reliability
If proprietary orchestration approaches are used by each cloud provider, then platform-specific optimization is achieved, but cross-provider orchestration capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow definition language acts as an intermediary that preserves platform-specific execution reliability while enabling cross-provider capability. It maintains abstract function definitions that can be executed on any supported platform through provider-specific adapters, thus achieving both reliability and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the orchestration system into two parts: a provider-agnostic workflow definition layer and provider-specific execution adapters. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize for its specific purpose while working together to achieve cross-provider functionality.
3Productivity
If custom scripts are written to orchestrate functions across providers, then workflow execution is achieved, but reusability and ease of operation decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses template-based workflow definitions that can be copied and reused across different providers and scenarios. Instead of writing custom scripts from scratch, users can define workflows once in the declarative language and reuse them across multiple cloud providers, significantly improving ease of operation and reusability.
4Extent of automation
If users manage infrastructure to support orchestration, then workflow control is achieved, but maintenance burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables workflows to be self-describing and self-executing through the declarative definition language. The workflow definitions contain all necessary information for execution, and the system automatically handles provider-specific adaptations, eliminating the need for users to manually manage orchestration infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
System and computer-implemented method for executing a workflow definition with a set of function definitions having code executable with at least one cloud services provider in a plurality of cloud services providers involve reception of a request to execute a function definition from the workflow definition and a determination of whether code contained in the function definition is only executable at that particular cloud services provider. A provider function at the cloud services provider is invoked using the function definition and an execute command for the provider function is transmitted for the provider function.