VM Hardware Control via Host Agent Mediator

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Managing the control of hardware components by multiple virtual machines in a virtualized computer system is difficult due to the complexity of communication between virtual machines and the host operating system, particularly in scenarios where direct access to the hypervisor is restricted.

Innovation Solution

Implementing agents within each virtual machine and an agent-server that communicate over a virtualized network, allowing users to easily switch control of hardware components like graphics hardware between virtual machines without direct interaction with the hypervisor, using IP addresses stored in a shared directory for efficient communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple virtual machines directly control hardware components through the hypervisor, then hardware access capability is improved, but system complexity and management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware access capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an agent as an intermediary component that runs within each virtual machine and communicates with the host operating system through standardized APIs. This agent mediates between the virtual machine's hardware control requests and the host OS, eliminating the need for direct hypervisor interaction and simplifying the control architecture while maintaining hardware access capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides hardware control functionality into separate agent components that can be independently deployed and managed within each virtual machine. This segmentation allows each virtual machine to have its own dedicated control agent, reducing interdependencies and simplifying overall system management despite multiple virtual machines accessing hardware resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If virtual machines communicate directly with the hypervisor for hardware control, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of hardware controlVSAvoidcontrol signal management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The agent acts as an intermediary that translates virtual machine hardware control requests into standardized API calls that the host operating system can understand and execute. This intermediary layer maintains control precision by ensuring accurate signal transmission while dramatically improving ease of operation through standardized, simplified interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the communication parameters from direct hypervisor protocols to standardized host OS APIs. This parameter change enables easier operation through familiar, standardized interfaces while maintaining control fidelity through proper signal translation and coordination mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a standardized API interface is implemented for hardware control, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidagent-server architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex communication and coordination logic from the virtual machine environment and places it in the host operating system's agent-server architecture. This extraction allows the virtual machines to use simple, standardized APIs while the complexity of managing multiple virtual machine requests, resource allocation, and coordination is handled by the external agent-server system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The agent-server in the host operating system serves as an intermediary that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple virtual machines' hardware access requests. It provides a unified interface for handling requests from multiple agents, managing resource allocation, and ensuring proper signal routing, thereby isolating complexity from the virtual machines while maintaining interface simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11954515B1Managing signals from multiple virtual machines and controlling hardware directly or through an API by a host operating system

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least two virtual machines running on a hardware platform using either a hosted or a bare metal hypervisor. The virtual machines may communicate with an agent-server resident in the host operating system or in one of the virtual machines to switch control of the hardware component, such as graphics hardware, from one virtual machine to another.