Method, system and program product for outsourcing resources in a grid computing environment

• US 20060227810A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce, Childress, Rhonda L., Pennell, Neil R., Crawford, Catherine Helen, Magnone, Paolo Franco
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/477
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/503 Resource availability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals

Abstract

A technique for efficiently processing resource allocation requests in an on-demand environment. When a user logs into a resource allocation request manager, various resource requirements entered are immediately sent to a remote resource manager to allow for dynamic, real-time feedback to the user who is entering the resource requirements as to any issues or concerns regarding the requested resource(s) or plug-in element(s), such as lack of availability. The user can thus reconfigure or otherwise modify the various resource requests based on this feedback to optimize the overall resource allocation request. This also allows an organization providing services such as computer hosting services to re-allocate resources in advance if a new resource request would exceed a service level agreement outlined in advance with a customer, thereby improving resource planning in a data center environment. In addition, the dynamic feedback on the new resource request that exceeds a service level agreement can be used to develop a new service level agreement or temporary service offer that addresses the unique resource condition.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a plurality of resources in a data processing environment comprising a resource requester and a resource provider, comprising the steps of:

generating a conglomerate resource request by receiving user input specifying a plurality of resource requests;

responsive to receiving a first user input for a first resource request, sending a signal to the resource provider identifying the first resource request;

determining, by the resource provider, if a resource is available for fulfilling the first resource request; and

if the resource is available, providing a response from the resource provider to the resource requester indicating that the resource is available, wherein the response is provided to the resource requester while the conglomerate resource request is being generated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the resource is available, reserving the resource by the resource provider for use by the resource requester.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if the resource is not available, releasing the resource by the resource provider, and providing a response from the resource provider to the resource requestor indicating that the resource is not available for use.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises reserving the resource for subsequent use.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a conglomerate resource request comprises a step of populating a hierarchical resource request template with the specified plurality of resource requests.

6. A method for on-demand processing of resource requests, comprising the steps of:

receiving a hierarchical resource request from a user in real time;

identifying atomistic resources associated with the hierarchical resource request;

determining availability of the atomistic resources; and

signaling the user if at least one of the atomistic resources is currently unavailable.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of initiating a process for processing received resource requests.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the process is a finite state machine that uses a resource database to determine if the received requested resources are available.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the process temporarily commits resources until all signals for a given resource request have been received.

10. A method for real-time processing of resource requests, comprising the steps of:

responsive to a user action, providing a hierarchical description of an atomistic resource model and signaling a resource request comprising the hierarchical description to a data processing system; and

parsing the hierarchical description by the data processing system and invoking at least one module within the data processing system to fulfill the resource request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one module is a plug-in module, and further comprising steps of:

determining, by the at least one plug-in module, if the resource request can be fulfilled; and

signaling a resource fulfillment status to the user.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising a step of using a finite state machine and a resource database for determining if a received resource request is available.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising a step of responsive to receiving, by the user, the resource fulfillment status, modifying the hierarchical description and signaling another resource request comprising the modified hierarchical description to the data processing system.

14. A system for accessing a plurality of resources in a data processing environment, comprising

a resource requestor that generates a conglomerate resource request by receiving user input specifying a plurality of resource requests and responsive to receiving a first user input for a first resource request, sends a signal identifying the first resource request;

and

a resource provider that, responsive to receiving the signal, determines if a resource is available for fulfilling the first resource request and, if the resource is available, provides a response indicating that the resource is available, wherein the response is provided to the resource requestor while the resource requester is generating the conglomerate resource request.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein if the resource is available, the resource is reserved by the resource provider for use by the resource requester.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein if the resource is not available, the resource is released by the resource provider, and a response is provided by the resource provider to the resource requestor indicating that the resource is not available for use.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the conglomerate resource request comprises a hierarchical resource request template with the specified plurality of resource requests.

18. An apparatus for on-demand processing of resource requests, comprising:

means for receiving a hierarchical resource request from a user in real time;

means for identifying atomistic resources associated with the hierarchical resource request;

means for determining availability of the atomistic resources; and

means for signaling the user if at least one of the atomistic resources is currently unavailable.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for processing received resource requests, wherein the means for processing uses a resource database to determine if a received requested resource is available.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for processing temporarily commits resources until all signals for a given resource request have been received.

21. A system for real-time processing of resource requests by a data processing system, comprising:

a hierarchical description of an atomistic resource model; and

a process for parsing the hierarchical description and invoking at least one plug-in module within the data processing system to fulfill the resource request.

22. The system of claim 22, wherein the process comprises a state machine that uses a resource database to determine if a received resource request is available.

23. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system, comprising:

instructions for generating a conglomerate resource request by receiving user input specifying a plurality of resource requests;

instructions for sending, responsive to receiving a first user input for a first resource request, a signal to the resource provider identifying the first resource request;

instructions for determining if a resource is available for fulfilling the first resource request; and

instructions for providing a response from the resource provider to the resource requester indicating whether the resource is available, wherein the response is provided to the resource requester while the conglomerate resource request is being generated.

24. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system, comprising:

instructions for receiving a hierarchical resource request;

instructions for identifying atomistic resources associated with the hierarchical resource request;

instructions for determining availability of the atomistic resources; and

instructions for signaling if at least one of the atomistic resources is currently unavailable.