Hierarchical Virtual Infrastructure Control Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for configuring and managing virtual infrastructures are limited in their ability to freely allocate virtualized resources and build virtual infrastructures that differ from physical device configurations, constraining flexibility and freedom in virtualization.

Innovation Solution

A control server system that includes virtual device providing units and virtual infrastructure providing units, allowing for the hierarchical configuration and management of virtual infrastructures using virtual objects, enabling the integration and control of physical resources in a flexible manner.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical resources are virtualized and hierarchically configured, then flexibility and freedom in virtual infrastructure configuration are improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in virtual infrastructure configurationVSAvoidcomplexity of virtual infrastructure management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the virtual infrastructure into hierarchical layers (physical resource layer, virtualization layer, and virtual infrastructure layer). Each layer is managed independently through separate control servers, dividing the complex management task into smaller, more manageable segments. This allows flexible configuration at each level without overwhelming system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtualization management servers as intermediary components between physical resources and virtual infrastructure. These servers act as mediators that handle the complexity of resource virtualization and allocation, shielding upper-layer virtual infrastructure from the complexity of physical resource management while enabling flexible configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If virtual infrastructure is built to match physical device configuration, then implementation simplicity is improved, but adaptability and freedom of virtual network topology are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of virtual infrastructure implementationVSAvoidfreedom in virtual network topology

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of physical resources through virtualization. Virtual network devices and topologies are instantiated as software-based copies that can be configured independently from physical constraints. This allows virtual infrastructure to be copied, replicated, and reconfigured without being bound to the physical device layout, enabling both simple implementation and high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional virtualization dimension between physical and virtual layers. This extra dimension allows virtual infrastructure to be configured in topological arrangements that differ from physical device configurations. The virtual layer operates in a separate configuration space, enabling freedom in network topology design without being constrained by physical layout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple virtual objects are provided for controlling physical resources, then functional versatility is improved, but control complexity and integration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional versatility of virtual resource controlVSAvoidcomplexity of virtual object integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple virtualization functions into integrated control server systems. The control servers consolidate the management of multiple virtual objects and their relationships with physical resources into unified software platforms. This merging provides functional versatility through multiple virtual objects while reducing integration complexity through centralized control and standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11288087B2Control server, service providing system, and method of providing a virtual infrastructure

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 NEC CORP

AI summary

A service providing system includes a control server and a physical resource(s) controlled by the control server. The control server has a virtual device providing unit(s) that provides at least one virtual object for controlling a physical resource(s), and a virtual infrastructure providing unit(s) that can provide, as a virtual object(s), a virtual infrastructure(s) configured using at least one virtual object provided by the virtual device providing unit(s), wherein the virtual infrastructure providing unit(s) can configure a virtual infrastructure(s) using the virtual object(s) provided by the virtual infrastructure providing unit(s), and can provide the virtual infrastructure(s) as a virtual object(s).