Partitioned System Reconfiguration Using Dependency Graph Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing system reconfiguration methods in virtualized environments are disruptive, prone to errors, time-consuming, and dependent on manual intervention, leading to inefficiencies and prolonged downtimes, especially in multi-tenant scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilizes a reconfiguration program to determine necessary changes, generate a dependency graph, divide it by logical partitions, sort actions based on priorities, and simulate changes to minimize operational impact by isolating reconfiguration within partitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If reconfiguration is performed in a transactional manner (single step), then the reconfiguration process is simple and fast, but all partitions must be offline simultaneously causing prolonged downtime and operational disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereconfiguration speedVSAvoiddowntime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reconfiguration process by partition, allowing each partition to be reconfigured independently rather than requiring all partitions to be reconfigured simultaneously. This divides the monolithic transactional reconfiguration into multiple smaller, independent reconfiguration units that can proceed in parallel or sequence without blocking all system operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by simulating reconfiguration for each partition before actually applying the changes. This simulation phase validates the reconfiguration order and identifies potential issues beforehand, ensuring that when changes are applied, they can be done with minimal disruption and without requiring all partitions to be offline simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual reconfiguration is performed to limit impact on individual partitions, then operational disruption is reduced, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidreconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling automated determination of reconfiguration actions and generation of dependency graphs without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically analyzes partition dependencies, determines the optimal reconfiguration order, and executes changes independently for each partition, eliminating the need for manual analysis and staging while maintaining operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through simulation that validates reconfiguration actions before execution. The simulation provides feedback on whether the determined reconfiguration order is valid and identifies any potential issues, allowing the system to adjust the reconfiguration plan automatically without manual intervention and reduce errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If all partitions are reconfigured simultaneously, then the total reconfiguration time is reduced, but all operating systems and applications must be changed together causing widespread disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereconfiguration efficiencyVSAvoidoperational impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the reconfiguration process by partition, allowing each partition to be reconfigured independently rather than requiring all partitions to be reconfigured simultaneously. This divides the monolithic transactional reconfiguration into multiple smaller, independent reconfiguration units that can proceed in parallel or sequence without blocking all system operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by determining and applying reconfiguration actions specific to each individual partition based on its unique dependencies and requirements. Rather than applying a uniform reconfiguration approach to all partitions, the system tailors the reconfiguration process to each partition's local characteristics, minimizing operational impact while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If manual staging of reconfiguration is performed, then user impact is limited, but the process requires significant administrator intervention and is prone to errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidreconfiguration process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling automated determination of reconfiguration actions and generation of dependency graphs without requiring manual intervention. The system automatically analyzes partition dependencies, determines the optimal reconfiguration order, and executes changes independently for each partition, eliminating the need for manual analysis and staging while maintaining operational continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of analyzing and staging reconfiguration with an automated computational system that generates dependency graphs and determines reconfiguration orders algorithmically. This substitution eliminates human error and reduces process complexity by using systematic automated methods instead of manual procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4505298B1Dynamic system reconfiguration by partition
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • EP4505298B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4505298B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4505298B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

In an approach to optimizing dynamic system reconfiguration, a computer receives an active system configuration and a target system configuration from a system administrator, where the target system configuration includes two or more logical partitions. A computer determines one or more reconfiguration actions required to transform the active system configuration to the target system configuration. A computer generates a dependency graph based on the determined reconfiguration actions. A computer divides the dependency graph along the two or more logical partitions. A computer sorts the determined reconfiguration actions by associated dependencies. A computer orders the determined reconfiguration actions based on a priority of each of the two or more logical partitions. A computer runs a first simulation of the determined reconfiguration actions for each of the two or more logical partitions. A computer performs the determined reconfiguration actions for each of the two or more logical partitions.