Resource Chain Visualization for Computing System Troubleshooting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Monitoring and managing computing systems, such as converged infrastructure systems, is challenging due to the complexity of interrelated resource components, where issues in one component may appear as errors in another, requiring in-depth knowledge and significant time to troubleshoot.

Innovation Solution

The method involves obtaining resource component data from multiple managers, organizing it to establish logical relationships, and displaying these relationships as resource chains that define communication paths between components, facilitating more efficient troubleshooting by presenting configurations in a structured manner.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If resource components are monitored individually without context, then monitoring simplicity is improved, but troubleshooting accuracy deteriorates due to inability to identify root causes among interrelated components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring simplicityVSAvoidtroubleshooting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex computing system into distinct resource components (virtual machines, virtual switches, physical switches, network adapters) while maintaining their contextual relationships through resource chains. This allows monitoring of individual components without losing the systemic context needed for accurate troubleshooting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces resource chains as an intermediary structure that connects individual resource components in a hierarchical manner. This intermediary layer provides both the simplicity of individual component monitoring and the accuracy of contextual relationship analysis, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If detailed context of all resource components is provided for troubleshooting, then troubleshooting accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases making monitoring more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetroubleshooting accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex system information into segmented resource chains that hierarchically organize components from virtual to physical layers. This segmentation presents detailed contextual information in a structured, manageable format that reduces perceived system complexity while maintaining troubleshooting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to resource component organization through resource chains, transforming flat complex data into multi-level structured information. This dimensional change allows detailed context to be presented in an organized manner that reduces complexity while preserving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If resource components are organized with full contextual relationships, then troubleshooting accuracy is improved, but time required for analysis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetroubleshooting accuracyVSAvoidanalysis time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary organization of resource components into hierarchical chains before troubleshooting occurs. This pre-structuring of contextual relationships enables rapid analysis during actual troubleshooting, reducing the time required to identify root causes while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual analysis of complex component relationships with an automated hierarchical resource chain structure. This substitution eliminates time-consuming manual tracing of relationships while preserving the accuracy benefits of full contextual organization.

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

Data Source

PatentUS10305764B1Methods, systems, and computer readable mediums for monitoring and managing a computing system using resource chains
Publication Date: 2019.05.28 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC
  • US10305764B1 patent drawing
  • US10305764B1 patent drawing
  • US10305764B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer readable mediums for monitoring and managing a computing system using resource chains are disclosed. In some examples, a method includes obtaining resource component data from each of a plurality of resource managers in a computing system and organizing the resource component data to establish logical relationships among resource components included in the computing system. The method further includes defining a resource configuration that identifies at least two of the resource components used to facilitate a communication path between a virtual resource in the computing system to a designated network element and displaying the resource configuration as a resource chain that defines a linking order among the at least two of the resource components that facilitate the communication path.