Reciprocal models for resource allocation

• US 10,474,974 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apptio (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Crivat, Ioan Bogdan, Panasiuk, Mikalai, Hilerio, Israel
• Primary Examiner(s): Koneru, Sujay
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Bathy, Mohamed N
• Application Number:
  US15/260,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20180068246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to managing data models for managing resource allocation. A data model portion may be provided. Allocation information based on resource allocations associated with pass-through objects that may be included in the data model portion. A memory buffer may be configured to include allocation ratio information and fixed resource value information. A reciprocal model based on the memory buffer and the data model portion may be provided. Providing the reciprocal model may include providing an effective resource value engine based on solving a linear system corresponding to the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource value information. If resource information for a pass-through object associated with the reciprocal model may be requested, the reciprocal model may be employed to provide the resource information to the data model.

Claims

1. A method for managing resource allocation, over a network, using a network computer that includes one or more processors, wherein each step of the method is performed by the one or more processors, comprising:

instantiating a resource modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a partitioned portion of a data model comprised of two or more nodes and one or more edges from the data model that is stored in a memory of the network computer, wherein the memory is configured and arranged to store the data model, and wherein each node represents a model object and each edge represents a resource allocation for one or more different types of resources;

providing, by the one or more processors, allocation information based on each resource allocation that is associated with one or more pass-through objects that are included in the data model portion, wherein the allocation information includes a count of resource units allocated by the one or more pass-through objects and a count of fixed resource units allocated to the one or more pass-through objects, and wherein a pass-through object models an intermediate cost to provide a unit of service based on a cost of one or more resources that are employed to provide a service instead of using a fixed cost to provide the unit of service; and

providing, by the one or more processors, a memory buffer that is arranged and configured to contiguously store, in one or more blocks of memory, allocation ratio information adjacent to fixed resource information that is based on the allocation information, wherein the one or more blocks of memory is partitioned to provide concurrent processing of the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information; and

instantiating a reciprocal modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a reciprocal model that is based on the data model portion and the memory buffer that includes the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information, wherein the reciprocal model is associated with the data model portion;

initializing, by the one or more processors, the reciprocal model by generating a first vector data structure and a second vector data structure for tracking allocations to each pass-through object included with the reciprocal model, wherein the first vector data structure includes a slot for tracking each pass-through object and the second vector data structure includes a counter for tracking each fixed resource allocation that is associated with each of the pass-through objects included with the reciprocal model;

using requested resource information for a pass-through object that is associated with the reciprocal model, by the one or more processors, to employ the reciprocal model to provide the requested resource information to the data model portion; and

providing a visual representation of the data model portion for a display, wherein geolocation information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify the visual display of the data model portion based on determined geolocation information for a user, and wherein modifications to the visual display include one or more of a time zone, a currency, a calendar format, or a language.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the reciprocal model, further comprises, providing an effective resource engine based on solving a linear system corresponding to the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the allocation information, further comprises:

when a resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a source object, incrementing a count of resource units allocated to the pass-through object that is the source object; and

when the resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a target object, incrementing a count of fixed resource value units allocated to the pass-through object that is the target object.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing, by the one or more processors, one or more other reciprocal models that correspond to one or more other portions of the data model.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the allocation ratio information further comprises:

storing the allocation ratio information in a matrix data structure; and

storing the fixed resource information in a vector data structure.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, traversing, by the one or more processors, the data model to provide one or more other portions of the data model, wherein the one or more other data model portions each include at least one pass-through object.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing, by the one or more processors, a visualization that displays the data model, wherein the reciprocal model is concealed from a user of the visualization.

8. A system for managing resource allocations over a network, comprising:

a network computer, comprising;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

one or more processor devices that execute instructions that perform actions, including;

instantiating a resource modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a partitioned portion of a data model comprised of two or more nodes and one or more edges from the data model that is stored in a memory of the network computer, wherein the memory is configured and arranged to store the data model, and wherein each node represents a model object and each edge represents a resource allocation for one or more different types of resources;

providing, by the one or more processors, allocation information based on each resource allocation that is associated with one or more pass-through objects that are included in the data model portion, wherein the allocation information includes a count of resource units allocated by the one or more pass-through objects and a count of fixed resource units allocated to the one or more pass-through objects, and wherein a pass-through object models an intermediate cost to provide a unit of service based on a cost of one or more resources that are employed to provide a service instead of using a fixed cost to provide the unit of service; and

providing, by the one or more processors, a memory buffer that is arranged and configured to contiguously store, in one or more blocks of memory, allocation ratio information adjacent to fixed resource information that is based on the allocation information, wherein the one or more blocks of memory is partitioned to provide concurrent processing of the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information; and

instantiating a reciprocal modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a reciprocal model that is based on the data model portion and the memory buffer that includes the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information, wherein the reciprocal model is associated with the data model portion;

initializing, by the one or more processors, the reciprocal model by generating a first vector data structure and a second vector data structure for tracking allocations to each pass-through object included with the reciprocal model, wherein the first vector data structure includes a slot for tracking each pass-through object and the second vector data structure includes a counter for tracking each fixed resource allocation that is associated with each of the pass-through objects included with the reciprocal model; and

using requested resource information for a pass-through object that is associated with the reciprocal model, by the one or more processors, to employ the reciprocal model to provide the requested resource information to the data model portion; and

a client computer, comprising;

a client computer memory that stores at least instructions; and

one or more processor devices that execute instructions that perform actions, including;

providing a request for resource information; and

displaying one or more visualization of the requested resource information, wherein geolocation information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify the visualization in a display of the data model portion based on determined geolocation information for a user, and wherein modifications to the visual display include one or more of a time zone, a currency, a calendar format, or a language.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein providing the reciprocal model, further comprises, providing an effective resource engine based on solving a linear system corresponding to the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein providing the allocation information, further comprises:

when a resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a source object, incrementing a count of resource units allocated to the pass-through object that is the source object; and

when the resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a target object, incrementing a count of fixed resource value units allocated to the pass-through object that is the target object.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, providing, by the one or more processors, one or more other reciprocal models that correspond to one or more other portions of the data model.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein providing the allocation ratio information further comprises:

storing the allocation ratio information in a matrix data structure; and

storing the fixed resource information in a vector data structure.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, traversing, by the one or more processors, the data model to provide one or more other portions of the data model, wherein the one or more other data model portions each include at least one pass-through object.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, providing, by the one or more processors, a visualization that displays the data model, wherein the reciprocal model is concealed from a user of the visualization.

15. A processor readable non-transitory storage media that includes instructions for managing resource allocations over a network, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more hardware processors performs actions, comprising:

instantiating a resource modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a partitioned portion of a data model comprised of two or more nodes and one or more edges from the data model that is stored in a memory of the network computer, wherein the memory is configured and arranged to store the data model, and wherein each node represents a model object and each edge represents a resource allocation for one or more different types of resources;

providing, by the one or more processors, allocation information based on each resource allocation that is associated with one or more pass-through objects that are included in the data model portion, wherein the allocation information includes a count of resource units allocated by the one or more pass-through objects and a count of fixed resource units allocated to the one or more pass-through objects, and wherein a pass-through object models an intermediate cost to provide a unit of service based on a cost of one or more resources that are employed to provide a service instead of using a fixed cost to provide the unit of service; and

providing, by the one or more processors, a memory buffer that is arranged and configured to contiguously store, in one or more blocks of memory, allocation ratio information adjacent to fixed resource information that is based on the allocation information, wherein the one or more blocks of memory is partitioned to provide concurrent processing of the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information; and

instantiating a reciprocal modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a reciprocal model that is based on the data model portion and the memory buffer that includes the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information, wherein the reciprocal model is associated with the data model portion;

initializing, by the one or more processors, the reciprocal model by generating a first vector data structure and a second vector data structure for tracking allocations to each pass-through object included with the reciprocal model, wherein the first vector data structure includes a slot for tracking each pass-through object and the second vector data structure includes a counter for tracking each fixed resource allocation that is associated with each of the pass-through objects included with the reciprocal model;

using requested resource information for a pass-through object that is associated with the reciprocal model, by the one or more processors, to employ the reciprocal model to provide the requested resource information to the data model portion; and

providing a visual representation of the data model portion for a display, wherein geolocation information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify the visual display of the data model portion based on determined geolocation information for a user, and wherein modifications to the visual display include one or more of a time zone, a currency, a calendar format, or a language.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein providing the reciprocal model, further comprises, providing an effective resource engine based on solving a linear system corresponding to the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information.

17. The media of claim 15, wherein providing the allocation information, further comprises:

when a resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a source object, incrementing a count of resource units allocated to the pass-through object that is the source object; and

when the resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a target object, incrementing a count of fixed resource value units allocated to the pass-through object that is the target object.

18. The media of claim 15, further comprising, providing, by the one or more processors, one or more other reciprocal models that correspond to one or more other portions of the data model.

19. The media of claim 15, wherein providing the allocation ratio information further comprises:

storing the allocation ratio information in a matrix data structure; and

storing the fixed resource information in a vector data structure.

20. The media of claim 15, further comprising, traversing, by the one or more processors, the data model to provide one or more other portions of the data model, wherein the one or more other data model portions each include at least one pass-through object.

21. A network computer for managing resource allocations over a network, comprising:

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

one or more processor devices that execute instructions that perform actions, including;

instantiating a resource modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a partitioned portion of a data model comprised of two or more nodes and one or more edges from the data model that is stored in a memory of the network computer, wherein the memory is configured and arranged to store the data model, and wherein each node represents a model object and each edge represents a resource allocation for one or more different types of resources;

providing, by the one or more processors, allocation information based on each resource allocation that is associated with one or more pass-through objects that are included in the data model portion, wherein the allocation information includes a count of resource units allocated by the one or more pass-through objects and a count of fixed resource units allocated to the one or more pass-through objects, and wherein a pass-through object models an intermediate cost to provide a unit of service based on a cost of one or more resources that are employed to provide a service instead of using a fixed cost to provide the unit of service; and

providing, by the one or more processors, a memory buffer that is arranged and configured to contiguously store, in one or more blocks of memory, allocation ratio information adjacent to fixed resource information that is based on the allocation information, wherein the one or more blocks of memory is partitioned to provide concurrent processing of the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information; and

instantiating a reciprocal modeling engine to perform actions, including;

providing, by the one or more processors, a reciprocal model that is based on the data model portion and the memory buffer that includes the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information, wherein the reciprocal model is associated with the data model portion;

initializing, by the one or more processors, the reciprocal model by generating a first vector data structure and a second vector data structure for tracking allocations to each pass-through object included with the reciprocal model, wherein the first vector data structure includes a slot for tracking each pass-through object and the second vector data structure includes a counter for tracking each fixed resource allocation that is associated with each of the pass-through objects included with the reciprocal model;

using requested resource information for a pass-through object that is associated with the reciprocal model, by the one or more processors, to employ the reciprocal model to provide the requested resource information to the data model portion; and

providing a visual representation of the data model portion for a display, wherein geolocation information from a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify the visual display of the data model portion based on determined geolocation information for a user, and wherein modifications to the visual display include one or more of a time zone, a currency, a calendar format, or a language.

22. The network computer of claim 21, wherein providing the reciprocal model, further comprises, providing an effective resource engine based on solving a linear system corresponding to the allocation ratio information and the fixed resource information.

23. The network computer of claim 21, wherein providing the allocation information, further comprises:

when a resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a source object, incrementing a count of resource units allocated to the pass-through object that is the source object; and

when the resource allocation includes a pass-through object that is a target object, incrementing a count of fixed resource value units allocated to the pass-through object that is the target object.

24. The network computer of claim 21, wherein providing the allocation ratio information further comprises:

storing the allocation ratio information in a matrix data structure; and

storing the fixed resource information in a vector data structure.

25. The network computer of claim 21, further comprising, traversing, by the one or more processors, the data model to provide one or more other portions of the data model, wherein the one or more other data model portions each include at least one pass-through object.

26. The network computer of claim 21, further comprising, providing, by the one or more processors, a visualization that displays the data model, wherein the reciprocal model is concealed from a user of the visualization.