Graphical Interface for Distributed Service Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional distributed computing systems, installing new services is time-consuming and error-prone as administrators need to manually log in to each application server and manage components without a centralized, intuitive interface, requiring knowledge of machine capabilities and configurations.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) is introduced to manage services in a distributed computing system, allowing users to visually discover available components, display dependencies, and deploy or migrate services by dragging icons representing undeployed services to available components, leveraging a system manager to automate service management and track dependencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual command line installation is used, then service installation can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a graphical user interface as an intermediary between the administrator and the service installation process. The GUI provides visual representations of services, application servers, and deployment targets, allowing administrators to install services by dragging and dropping icons rather than executing command lines. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of the underlying system, making the installation process more intuitive and faster.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/command-based interaction system with a graphical interaction system. Instead of requiring administrators to type commands and navigate text-based interfaces, the system uses visual icons, maps, and drag-and-drop operations. This substitution of the interaction mechanism significantly improves ease of operation and reduces installation time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual service installation is performed, then services can be deployed, but administrators need detailed knowledge of machine capabilities and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the distributed system into visual components represented as icons on a graphical map. Services, application servers, and deployment targets are separated into distinct visual elements that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows administrators to focus on high-level service deployment decisions without needing to understand the underlying machine configurations, reducing perceived system complexity while maintaining deployment flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The graphical user interface acts as an intermediary that translates high-level service deployment intentions into low-level configuration actions. The GUI manages the complexity of machine capabilities and configurations behind the scenes, presenting administrators with simplified visual controls. This intermediary layer enables flexible service deployment without requiring administrators to directly manage system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If centralized service management is implemented, then service installation becomes simpler, but the system requires a graphical interface and visual mapping infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical user interface serves multiple functions within a single unified system: it provides visual discovery of services, displays system topology through maps, shows service dependencies, enables service deployment, and tracks service status. By consolidating these multiple management functions into one universal interface, the patent avoids the complexity of multiple separate management tools while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Available components that make up a distributed computing system are discovered. The available components include available hardware components and available software components that operate on the available hardware components. The available components and dependencies between the available components are graphically displayed in a map of the distributed computing system. A plurality of undeployed services is also graphically displayed. A selection of one of the plurality of undeployed services and a selection of one of the available components is received. The selected undeployed service is deployed to the selected available component.