Structured State Capture File for Virtual Machine Session Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for capturing and restoring session state in computer systems rely on memory images, which lack differentiation between application states and require a wholesale recreation of the entire execution state, limiting control and subtlety in capturing and restoring virtual machine states.
Innovation Solution
A metadata-based structured state capture file is used to store session state information, including the current state and the steps or actions that led to that state, allowing for the stepwise recreation of the session state on a different system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional memory image methods are used to capture session state, then the entire execution state can be restored, but the process lacks control and subtlety in capturing and restoring specific application states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monolithic memory image approach into individual application state components. Each application's state is captured separately through metadata descriptions, allowing selective restoration of specific applications rather than requiring wholesale restoration of the entire system state. This segmentation enables precise control over what state information is captured and restored.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary state information from the complete system state. Instead of capturing the entire memory image, the system selectively extracts metadata describing specific application states, steps taken, and actions performed. This extraction approach reduces complexity while maintaining the ability to restore specific application states with greater control and subtlety.
2Measurement precision
If memory images are used for state capture, then complete session state can be restored, but the process requires wholesale recreation of all elements without differentiation between application states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential state information needed for restoration, discarding unnecessary data. Instead of storing complete memory images, the system captures metadata that describes application states, steps taken, and actions performed. This selective extraction achieves precise capture of specific application states while significantly reducing the quantity of data required compared to traditional memory image approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not capturing the complete state and then filtering, but rather by directly capturing only the necessary state descriptors from the beginning. The metadata-based approach records only the essential information about application states, steps, and actions, achieving precision in state capture without the overhead of storing and processing complete memory images.
3Ease of operation
If traditional state capture methods are used, then all applications are restored together, but individual application state control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the restoration process into individual application-level operations. Each application's state is captured as separate metadata, enabling selective restoration of specific applications independently. This segmentation provides both ease of operation for restoring individual applications and the adaptability to choose which applications to restore based on specific needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control over the restoration process. The metadata structure allows the system to adaptively restore only the necessary application states based on user requirements or system conditions. This dynamic approach combines ease of operation with flexibility, allowing simple restoration of individual applications when needed while maintaining the capability for more complex selective restoration scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for capturing and/or restoring session state of a machine without using image files. Session state information for a first computer system may be captured in a structured state capture file (SSCF) using metadata to represent the session state and steps or actions which produced the session state, and does not include a memory image or memory dump of the first computer system. The SSCF may be stored, and subsequently provided for restoration of the session state on the first computer system or a different computer system. A server computer system may store the SSCF (with other SSCFs) and may provide the SSCF to the first computer system or a different computer system over a network for session state restoration, e.g., in response to a request over the network. The first computer system may implement a virtual machine (VM). The session state may be that of the VM.