Virtual Machine Authentication in Community Cloud Resource Pools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cloud computing environments rely on dedicated servers, which are expensive and difficult to maintain, limiting computing capacity and failing to utilize untapped resources from individual and organizational workstations.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism to authenticate and utilize virtual machines on non-dedicated workstations as cloud computing resources, allowing these workstations to be adapted and managed as part of a community cloud, with VMs being downloaded, initialized, and operated based on demand and supply within the cloud environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated servers are used to host virtual machines in a traditional cloud environment, then reliability and service availability are improved, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables ordinary workstations to serve dual purposes: functioning as user devices during personal use and as cloud computing resources when needed. The virtual machine software allows these devices to be dynamically allocated to the cloud environment, transforming single-function dedicated servers into multi-functional systems that serve both personal and cloud computing needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of computing environments that can run on ordinary hardware. Instead of requiring physical dedicated servers, the system uses virtualization to copy server functionality onto standard workstations, eliminating the need for specialized hardware while maintaining service availability through software-based virtual machine instances.
2Power
If dedicated servers are deployed to provide cloud computing services, then computing capacity is ensured, but cost increases and maintenance difficulty worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated discovery and registration mechanisms where workstations automatically advertise their computing resources to the cloud environment. The system self-manages resource allocation, authentication, and workload distribution without requiring manual configuration or specialized maintenance expertise, reducing both cost and maintenance complexity while scaling computing capacity dynamically.
3Reliability
If traditional dedicated cloud infrastructure is used, then service reliability is maintained, but adaptability to different computing needs is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic cloud environment where computing resources are not fixed but can be continuously discovered, registered, and allocated based on changing demands. Workstations can join and leave the cloud environment flexibly, and the system automatically adjusts resource allocation, enabling both reliability through redundancy and adaptability to varying computing needs without dedicated hardware commitments.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism for utilization of virtual machines by a community cloud is disclosed. A method of the invention includes authenticating a virtual machine (VM) to be joined to a cloud environment managed by a central administrative computing device as a cloud computing resource, wherein the VM is operating on a workstation that is not a dedicated cloud computing resource, updating a database of VMs utilized as cloud computing resources with information of the VM related to its operational status, and providing instructions for the VM to operate as a cloud computing resource, the instructions based on current demand for cloud services of the cloud environment and an overall current supply of cloud computing resources presently available in the cloud environment.