Secure VM Throttle Control for Guest Resource Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual machine communication technologies fail to effectively manage resource utilization across guest virtual machines, leading to overconsumption of resources on physical platforms, as guest virtual machines lack information about available resources and the state of other virtual machines.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method for inter-virtual machine communication using tagged control blocks that allow a secure virtual machine to monitor platform environment attributes and adjust resource usage by setting throttle values in guest virtual machines, specifically for processes like virus scanning and antivirus updates, to reduce resource consumption when thresholds are exceeded.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If guest virtual machines are configured to use more resources than physically available, then resource utilization flexibility is improved, but resource overconsumption occurs leading to system instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the secure virtual machine continuously monitors resource consumption by guest virtual machines and platform environment attributes. When resource thresholds are exceeded, the system sends feedback signals to throttle resource usage, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains stability while allowing flexible resource allocation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The secure virtual machine acts as an intermediary between the guest virtual machines and the physical platform resources. It mediates resource access by monitoring consumption patterns and enforcing throttle values, preventing direct overconsumption while maintaining the illusion of abundant resources for guest VMs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If guest virtual machines lack information about available resources, then resource management autonomy is improved, but resource overconsumption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguest VM autonomyVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The secure virtual machine serves as an intermediary information source, providing guest virtual machines with controlled knowledge about resource availability through monitored platform environment attributes, enabling informed resource usage decisions without compromising guest autonomy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to guest virtual machines about resource consumption status and throttle values, allowing them to adjust their behavior autonomously based on platform conditions while maintaining overall resource balance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If resource-intensive processes are allowed to run without restriction, then process execution freedom is improved, but system performance deteriorates under resource constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess execution freedomVSAvoidsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic throttle values that adjust resource allocation for processes based on real-time platform conditions. Resource-intensive processes can execute freely when resources are abundant, but automatically receive throttled allocation when platform capacity is constrained, optimizing overall system performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the throttle parameter dynamically based on platform environment attributes and resource consumption patterns, allowing process execution freedom to vary with system conditions rather than being fixed, thereby maintaining performance under varying loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2591415B1Techniques for interaction with a guest virtual machine
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 GEN DIGITAL INC
  • EP2591415B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2591415B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2591415B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for inter-virtual machine communication are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for interaction with a guest virtual machine comprising monitoring image loads into electronic memory of a guest virtual machine using a secure virtual machine, identifying a memory structure having a specified format, and performing, using the secure virtual machine, at least one of reading one or more portions of the identified memory structure and setting a value in the identified memory structure.