John M Whitfield

US Patent:

7281045, Oct 9, 2007

Filed:

Aug 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/926585

Inventors:

Vijay Kumar Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
David Werner Bachmann - Leander TX, US
Uzi Hardoon - Golden Beach FL, US
Craig M. Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Raymond P. Pekowski - Austin TX, US
Christopher Andrew Peters - Round Rock TX, US
Lorin Evan Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Patrick Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709226, 709228, 718105

Abstract:

A method and software for fulfilling a resource request in a data processing network includes specifying characteristics of the requested resource responsive to detecting the resource request. A set of attributes is then derived from the specified characteristics. The specified characteristics indicate broad or general properties of the needed resource while the derived attributes preferably indicate the hardware and software components of a resource ideally suited to fulfill the resource request. Attribute information associated an available resource is then evaluated against the attributes derived from the specified characteristics. An available resource is then selected, based on the evaluation, to satisfy the resource request. The attributes of the selected resource best match the attributes derived from the specified characteristics. The requested resource may be a server resource and specifying the characteristics of the requested resource may includes specifying a server type from a constrained set of server types.

US Patent:

7484242, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Sep 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/942421

Inventors:

Vijay Kumar Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
David Werner Bachmann - Leander TX, US
Uzi Hardoon - Golden Beach FL, US
Craig M. Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Raymond P. Pekowski - Austin TX, US
Christopher Andrew Peters - Round Rock TX, US
Lorin Evan Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Patrick Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04L 9/32

US Classification:

726 7, 705 8

Abstract:

Enabling automated provisioning on a data processing network includes providing the network with access to an automated provisioning controller. The controller enables a user to specify resource allocation priorities and uses the user-specified priorities, in conjunction with a resource stabilization policy, to resolve conflicting resource requests. The resource allocation priorities include priorities for demand-based resource requests and maintenance-based resource requests. The stabilization policy includes a policy for constraining allocation of a resource based on forecasted demand and a policy for constraining allocation of a resource based on a scheduled maintenance task.

US Patent:

7499865, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Dec 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/016235

Inventors:

Vijay Kumar Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
Craig Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher Andrew Peters - Round Rock TX, US
Lorin Evan Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00
G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 1, 705 7, 705 10, 705 28, 703 27, 714 6, 714 12, 714 15, 707 10, 707200, 711170

Abstract:

Environment asset inventories of computing environment assets are arranged into computing environments, and at least one collector interface is disposed between the environments to detect movement of an asset and to produce asset movement reports. Upon receipt of a movement report, one or more backup copies of a environment asset inventory are accessed, and compared a modified environment asset inventory. A history of each asset in each inventory is maintained. A history report regarding the life of an asset from first introduction into an environment throughout movements between environments is produced, including any applicable patches and upgrades configured into an environment. A discrepancy report is generated including assets, locations, status, and a revision level indicators.

US Patent:

7953703, May 31, 2011

Filed:

Feb 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/060606

Inventors:

Vijay Kumar Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
Craig Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher Andrew Peters - Round Rock TX, US
P. G. Ramachandran - Austin TX, US
Lorin Evan Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Patrick Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 11/00

US Classification:

707654, 709203, 709223, 714100

Abstract:

Near clones for a set of targeted computing systems are provided by evaluating different configurations of the targeted computing systems including lists of installed hardware components and installed software components; determining a subset of components in common among the different configurations; determining an initial pseudo-clone configuration including the subset of components and excluding components which are not in common among the different target hardware configurations; for each of the targeted computing systems, producing a finish-out workflow of installation steps and components to be installed into an incompletely configured computer system according to the pseudo-clone configuration to produce an operational clone system; and outputting the pseudo-clone configuration and the workflow to a provisioning management system for subsequent realization of a pseudo-clone backup computing system and further subsequent realization of one or more operational clone systems.

US Patent:

8301643, Oct 30, 2012

Filed:

May 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/105583

Inventors:

Vijay Kumar Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
Craig Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher Andrew Peters - Round Rock TX, US
P. G. Ramachandran - Austin TX, US
Lorin Evan Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Patrick Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 7/30

US Classification:

707754, 709203, 709223, 714100

Abstract:

Near clones for a set of targeted computing systems are provided by determining a highest common denominator set of components among the computing systems, producing a pseudo-clone configuration definition, and realizing one or more pseudo-clone computing systems as partially configured backups for the targeted computing systems. Upon a planned failover, actual failure, or quarantine action on a targeted computing system, a difference configuration is determined to complete the provisioning of the pseudo-clone system to serve as a replacement system for the failed or quarantined system. Failure predictions can be used to implement the pseudo-clone just prior to an expected first failure of any of the targeted systems. The system can also interface to an on-demand provisioning management system to effect automated workflows to realize pseudo-clones and replacement systems automatically, as needed.

US Patent:

8311991, Nov 13, 2012

Filed:

May 11, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/105552

Inventors:

Vijay Kumar Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
Craig Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher Andrew Peters - Round Rock TX, US
Lorin Evan Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Patrick Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707654, 709203, 709223, 714100

Abstract:

Near clones for a set of targeted computing systems are provided by determining a highest common denominator set of components among the computing systems, producing a pseudo-clone configuration definition, and realizing one or more pseudo-clone computing systems as partially configured backups for the targeted computing systems. Upon a planned failover, actual failure, or quarantine action on a targeted computing system, a difference configuration is determined to complete the provisioning of the pseudo-clone system to serve as a replacement system for the failed or quarantined system. Failure predictions can be used to implement the pseudo-clone just prior to an expected first failure of any of the targeted systems. The system can also interface to an on-demand provisioning management system to effect automated workflows to realize pseudo-clones and replacement systems automatically, as needed.

US Patent:

8606659, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Dec 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/341261

Inventors:

Vijay Kumar Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
Craig Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher Andrew Peters - Round Rock TX, US
Lorin Evan Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705 28, 705 11, 705 711

Abstract:

A system for establishing and maintaining inventories of computing environment assets comprising one or more custom collector interfaces that detect movement of assets from one environment to another, and an inventory scanner which modifies inventories for each environment based on monitored asset movements. The present invention is of especial benefit to autonomic and on-demand computing architectures.

US Patent:

20060136490, Jun 22, 2006

Filed:

Dec 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/016210

Inventors:

Vijay Aggarwal - Austin TX, US
Craig Lawton - Raleigh NC, US
Christopher Peters - Pflugerville TX, US
Lorin Ullmann - Austin TX, US
John Whitfield - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

70710300R

Abstract:

Workflows for execution by an autonomic provision management system to yield near clones and replacement systems for a set of targeted computing solutions are provided by determining a common denominator set of workflow steps among the workflows for the targeted computing systems, including workflows to morph a near clone to a specific targeted solution when executed a provisioning management system. Common portions of workflows are identified and archived as workflow templates for re-use in development of new workflows, thus virtualizing the process of subsequent workflow design which use the templates. Multi-level criteria-based searching is provided to workflow designers for finding and re-using existing workflows and workflow templates according to degree of matching common steps, quickest implementation, highest available, or other criteria.