Logical Stack Abstraction for Cloud Deployment Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cloud computing deployment methods are inefficient as users can only specify target platforms at a component level, leading to complex configuration script construction, long deployment times, and difficulties in debugging and transporting platforms across different clouds.

Innovation Solution

Automated generation of deployment workflows based on logical stacks, which transforms physical stacks into logical representations, allowing users to select deployable configurations without detailing platform components, and generates optimized workflows for platform deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users specify target platforms at a component level, then deployment coverage is complete, but device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment coverageVSAvoidconfiguration script complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces logical stacks as an intermediary layer between the physical infrastructure and component-level configurations. This abstraction layer allows users to specify deployment targets at the stack level rather than individually configuring each component, thereby maintaining complete deployment coverage while significantly reducing configuration complexity. The logical stacks serve as mediators that automatically translate high-level stack specifications into detailed component configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration scripts are constructed, then deployment flexibility is achieved, but loss of time increases due to extended deployment periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoiddeployment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining logical stacks with their component configurations, dependencies, and deployment workflows stored in a library. When deployment is required, the system retrieves these pre-configured logical stacks and automatically instantiates them, eliminating the need for manual script construction during deployment. This approach maintains deployment flexibility through customizable stack selections while dramatically reducing deployment time through automated instantiation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If component-level platform specification is used, then deployment precision is high, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform deployment precisionVSAvoidconfiguration ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by creating reusable logical stack templates that encapsulate complete platform configurations. Instead of manually specifying each component's configuration details, users can copy and instantiate predefined logical stacks multiple times with different parameters. This approach maintains high deployment precision by preserving the detailed component configurations within the templates while significantly improving ease of operation through simple template instantiation rather than complex manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Productivity

If platform configurations are shared among users, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases for managing shared configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing logical stacks as multi-functional artifacts that serve multiple purposes: they define platform configurations, specify component dependencies, orchestrate deployment workflows, and enable cross-user sharing. The platform library stores these universal logical stack templates that can be reused by multiple users across different deployments. This approach increases productivity through configuration reuse and sharing while managing complexity centrally through the unified logical stack abstraction rather than through distributed individual configurations.

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

Data Source

PatentUS9985827B2Automated generation of deployment workflows for cloud platforms based on logical stacks
Publication Date: 2018.05.29 FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US9985827B2 patent drawing
  • US9985827B2 patent drawing
  • US9985827B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method implemented in a data center management node including obtaining, from memory, a physical stack describing a configuration of platform components across multiple operating platforms on a data center infrastructure, generating, by a processor, a graph describing correlations between the operating platforms and the data center infrastructure based on a platform library, wherein the platform library describes configurations of the platform components for each of the operating platforms separately, generating, by the processor, one or more logical stacks based on the graph, wherein the one or more logical stacks indicate deployable configurations of the operating platforms without depicting the platform components, and representing the logic stack to a user.