Meta-heuristic Heat Maps for Software Discovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional Software Asset Management (SAM) tools require significant time and computing resources for accurate software inventory tracking, leading to a heavy footprint on endpoints and interference with normal operations.

Innovation Solution

The method employs meta-heuristics and heat maps to perform ongoing, minimal footprint scans, using randomized algorithms like simulated annealing to target specific file directories based on usage frequency, reducing resource consumption and interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional SAM tools perform comprehensive software scans to ensure accurate software inventory tracking, then software identification accuracy is improved, but scan time and computing resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware identification accuracyVSAvoidscan time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the software scanning process into two distinct phases: an initial comprehensive scan that establishes baseline software inventory and file directory mappings, and subsequent incremental scans that only monitor changes in file directories. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate software identification while significantly reducing scan time in ongoing operations by focusing only on changed elements rather than re-scanning entire software inventories.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by conducting an initial comprehensive scan to map file directories and establish software inventory baselines before normal operations begin. This preliminary mapping of file directories associated with each software creates a reference framework that enables subsequent scans to efficiently detect changes without repeating comprehensive analysis, thereby reducing ongoing scan time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If traditional SAM tools perform comprehensive software scans to ensure accurate software inventory tracking, then software identification accuracy is improved, but computing resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware identification accuracyVSAvoidcomputing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the computing workload by separating the intensive initial comprehensive scan from subsequent lightweight incremental scans. The initial scan performs resource-intensive file directory mapping and software identification, while ongoing scans only compute changes in file directories. This segmentation dramatically reduces computing resource consumption during normal operations while maintaining software identification accuracy through the established file directory mappings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and monitors only the critical change elements (file directory modifications) rather than re-processing entire software inventories. By extracting the essential change information from file systems and comparing only these extracted elements against the baseline, the system maintains accurate software identification while minimizing computing resource consumption during ongoing scans.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If traditional SAM tools perform comprehensive software scans, then complete software inventory detection is improved, but interference with normal endpoint operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware inventory detection completenessVSAvoidinterference with normal operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the scanning operation into an initial comprehensive phase that establishes complete software inventory and file directory mappings, and subsequent incremental phases that only monitor file directory changes. This segmentation ensures complete software inventory detection is achieved during the initial phase, while ongoing operations experience minimal interference since only lightweight change monitoring is performed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by scheduling incremental scans to monitor file directory changes at intervals rather than performing continuous comprehensive scans. This periodic monitoring approach maintains complete software inventory detection capability while significantly reducing interference with normal endpoint operations between scan intervals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11775842B2Meta-heuristics based on heat maps for software discovery

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

An initial software scan is performed to detect a set of software deployed on an endpoint. An ongoing scan of the endpoint is performed to map a set of file directories associated with each software within the set of software. Via the ongoing scan, a usage frequency for each mapped file directory is determined. A heat map is generated for each mapped file directory, according to usage frequency, using a randomized meta-heuristic. A request is received for a software discovery scan result. The software discovery scan, based on the heat map, is performed in response to the request. The result of the software discovery scan is provided to a user.