IT Resource Allocation Method for User Experience

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current performance testing methods cannot determine the exact quantity of resources required on a production infrastructure to guarantee a predetermined level of user experience for a computer application, as they do not account for resource consumption effectively during testing.

Innovation Solution

A method that iteratively adjusts resource consumption on a test infrastructure, simulating production conditions, by reducing resource usage until the desired user experience level is met, using a load test scenario and measuring response times to quantify user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If performance testing is conducted on production infrastructure to accurately measure user experience, then measurement precision is improved, but the testing process disrupts normal production operations and consumes excessive resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience measurement accuracyVSAvoidproduction operation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The infrastructure is divided into two separate segments: production infrastructure for normal operations and test infrastructure for performance testing. The test infrastructure replicates production resources and configuration, allowing accurate user experience measurement without disrupting production stability. This segmentation enables both measurement precision and production reliability to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If resource consumption is increased during performance testing to simulate real-world scenarios, then productivity of testing is improved, but the cost and resource usage of testing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting throughputVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of testing directly on production infrastructure with real resources, a copy of the production environment (test infrastructure) is created with equivalent resource specifications. This copying approach allows high-intensity testing that simulates real-world scenarios without consuming actual production resources, thereby improving testing productivity while controlling resource consumption costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the test infrastructure is configured with resources equivalent to production infrastructure, then adaptability of testing to production conditions is improved, but the complexity of setting up and maintaining test infrastructure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting realismVSAvoidinfrastructure configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The test infrastructure is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a testing environment and a validation platform for production configurations. By making the test infrastructure universal and equivalent to production, it can adapt to various testing scenarios while maintaining production-like conditions, reducing the need for multiple specialized test environments and simplifying overall infrastructure management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3106989B1Method for determining an amount of available resources ensuring a quality user experience
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 BULL SA
  • EP3106989B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method (9) for determining the amount of available resources of a production IT infrastructure, said amount of available resources guaranteeing a predetermined level of user experience associated with a computer application (2), the application (2) being intended for production on said production infrastructure, the method (9) comprising the following steps: - A: consuming (12) an initial amount of the resources (3, 4) of a test infrastructure (1), on which the application (2) is installed - B: executing (13) a load test scenario, during which a plurality of requests (R1, ...Rq) are sent to the application (2) installed on the test infrastructure (1) - C: measuring (14) a parameter quantifying the user experience, based on a scenario report containing data relating to responses (R'1, ...R'q) to said requests (R1, ...Rq) - D: if (15) the measured parameter is less than the predetermined level of user experience: decrease the consumption of resources (3, 4) of the test infrastructure (1), then repeat steps B, C and D - E: calculate (16) the amount of available resources guaranteeing the predetermined level of user experience, as a function of an amount of resources consumed for which the measured parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined level of user experience, and a total amount of resources of the production infrastructure.