In-band Instantiation for Serverless Workload Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In serverless computing environments, developers face challenges in offloading workload functionality from one application to another without knowing the IP address of the target application, which requires multiple complex steps and pre-deployment configurations.
Innovation Solution
A method where the source application sends a request to a serverless service with a specification and request data, allowing the service to provision and process the request without needing the target application's specific hostname or IP address, enabling dynamic creation and scaling of the target application on demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the target application is deployed first to obtain its IP address, then the source application can send requests to it, but the deployment process becomes complex and requires multiple sequential steps
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of deploying the target application first to obtain its IP address, then configuring the source application, this patent inverts the sequence by allowing the source application to be deployed first with a placeholder or dynamic reference to the target application. The target application is then deployed and the system automatically resolves the reference, eliminating the need for pre-configuration and reducing deployment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (such as a service registry, DNS system, or dynamic configuration service) that allows the source application to reference the target application without knowing its specific IP address in advance. This intermediary automatically resolves the reference at runtime or during deployment, simplifying the deployment process while maintaining the ability to communicate between applications.
2Reliability
If the target application is pre-configured with a fixed IP address, then the source application can communicate with it, but the system lacks flexibility for dynamic scaling and version changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic IP address assignment and reference resolution, where the target application's IP address is not fixed but dynamically allocated and resolved. The source application uses a dynamic reference (such as a service name or identifier) that the system automatically resolves to the current IP address of the target application, allowing for dynamic scaling, load balancing, and version changes while maintaining reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows the IP address parameter of the target application to change dynamically without requiring changes to the source application's configuration. The system maintains a mapping between stable identifiers and dynamic IP addresses, enabling parameter changes (IP address assignments) while keeping the communication interface stable and reliable.
3Productivity
If multiple applications are deployed to achieve greater concurrency and multi-threading, then the system can handle more workload, but the configuration and management of inter-application communication becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal reference mechanism that works across multiple applications and instances. Instead of configuring specific IP addresses for each application pair, the system uses a universal identifier-based reference system that automatically resolves to the appropriate target instance, enabling easy scaling to multiple applications and instances without proportionally increasing configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication configuration into independent, manageable units where each application uses standardized reference patterns. This segmentation allows applications to be deployed and configured independently, with the system's resolution mechanism handling the connections between them, thereby enabling horizontal scaling without exponentially increasing configuration complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and system for managing an application. The computer-implemented method comprises defining, by a first application, a specification of a second application and sending, by the first application, a request to a subsystem, wherein the request comprises a file, the file comprising the specification, and request data to be processed. The computer-implemented method further comprises configuring, by the subsystem, an instance of the second application, wherein the configuring comprises provisioning the instance according to the specification and sending the received request data to the instance. The computer-implemented method further comprises processing, by the instance, the request data.