On-Demand Standby Resource Activation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

In capacity on demand systems, standby resources often fail to be activated in time to meet specific needs, leading to underutilization and inefficiencies due to delayed activation, which can result in poor performance during peak periods.

Innovation Solution

A system that informs users of potential performance gains from activating standby resources by comparing results with and without active standby resources, allowing for manual or automatic activation based on detected needs, such as large queries, to optimize resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If standby resources are activated only when needed, then cost is reduced, but response time increases causing resources to be activated too late

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource activation costVSAvoidresource activation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation by comparing first results (without standby resources) and second results (with standby resources) to identify tasks that would benefit from standby resource activation. This preliminary analysis enables proactive resource management decisions before actual resource activation is needed, resolving the contradiction by preparing activation recommendations in advance rather than reacting after performance degradation occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If standby resources are activated early, then response time is improved, but resource utilization decreases leading to underutilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource activation speedVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring task performance and comparing first results with second results to determine when standby resource activation would be beneficial. This feedback loop ensures resources are activated based on actual performance needs rather than predetermined schedules, optimizing both response time and utilization efficiency by activating resources only when the performance differential indicates genuine benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If manual activation process is used, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to delayed resource activation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation system complexityVSAvoidtask completion efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service automation by automatically comparing first and second results, identifying tasks that would benefit from standby resources, and triggering activation decisions without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains operational simplicity while dramatically improving productivity through timely resource activation, resolving the contradiction between system complexity and task completion efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS7500140B2System for on demand task optimization

Publication Date: 2009.03.03 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

An apparatus, method and program product determines information indicative of a performance differential between operation of a computer with the standby resource activated and operation of the computer with the standby resource inactivated. The information is communicated to a user. The standby resource may be activated in response to the determination.