Resource Object Inventory Management for Cloud Provisioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack an efficient method to manage and provision network resources, leading to difficulties in tracking inventory, configuration, and monitoring, which hinders quick and efficient provisioning and control of network resources.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes resource objects to model network resources, allowing for efficient tracking, provisioning, de-provisioning, configuration, and monitoring by updating inventory and configuration information in databases, with components like resource management networks, workflow networks, and inventory management networks interacting to manage and allocate resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional manual methods are used to manage network resources, then system complexity is reduced, but provisioning speed and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses resource objects as virtual copies or representations of physical network resources. These resource objects store configuration information and inventory data, allowing the system to manage resources through software abstraction rather than direct hardware control, thereby increasing provisioning speed without proportionally increasing physical system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces resource objects as intermediary elements between the management system and physical network resources. These intermediaries facilitate automated provisioning by storing configuration details and enabling workflow networks to automatically translate high-level resource requests into specific device configurations, significantly improving provisioning efficiency
2Measurement precision
If detailed tracking of inventory and configuration is implemented, then resource control precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Resource objects serve as detailed virtual copies that store comprehensive configuration information and inventory status for each network resource. This copying approach enables precise tracking of resource states without requiring complex direct monitoring of physical devices, as the resource objects maintain accurate records that can be queried and updated efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The resource objects serve multiple functions simultaneously: they store configuration information, track inventory status, represent resource states, and facilitate automated provisioning workflows. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating multiple management functions into a single unified structure
3Productivity
If automated provisioning workflows are implemented, then provisioning efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the provisioning process into distinct workflow networks that handle different aspects of resource management independently. Each workflow network manages specific tasks such as resource allocation, configuration deployment, or inventory updates, allowing for modular and manageable automation while improving overall provisioning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring resource objects with template information and pre-establishing workflow rules. This allows automated provisioning to proceed efficiently without requiring complex real-time decision-making, as the workflows are predetermined based on resource types and configuration requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A system may receive parameters for provisioning a resource object and may select network resources that correspond to the resource object based on the parameters, inventory information, and configuration information. In addition, the system may configure the selected network resources in accordance with the parameters and may monitor the selected network resources to obtain information on the selected network resources. Further, the system may update the inventory information and the configuration information based on the obtained information to reflect changes in state and configuration of the selected network resources.