USE OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL DATA CENTER TO SUPPORT SERVICING OUTSOURCED OPERATIONS

• US 20080288505A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dillenberger, Donna N., Osias, Michael J., Greenberg, Robert M., Hulber, Mark F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,259,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements

Abstract

A solution for supporting servicing an outsource operation(s) using a three-dimensional (3D) data center is provided. In particular, a solution is provided in which a 3D data center is created from aggregating information technology (IT) resource data received from a plurality of outsourced operation locations that may be geographically or task distributed amongst multiple IT service providers.

Claims

1. A method of servicing an outsourced operation, the method comprising:

receiving information technology (IT) resource data from a plurality of outsourced operation locations, wherein the IT resource data includes elements that the outsourced operation is managing;

aggregating the IT resource data from the plurality of outsourced operation locations;

creating a three-dimensional simulation of the aggregated IT resource data; and

using the three-dimensional simulation to service the outsourced operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the element comprises one selected from a group consisting of:

IT storage system, a computer system, a network system, and an application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating further comprising monitoring one of physical machines, software, and processes of the outsourced operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outsource operation includes a plurality of IT service providers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional simulation depicts a data center.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outsource operation locations are one of task distributed and geographically distributed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing through the three-dimensional simulation near-real time operational capability of one of physical machines, software, and processes of the plurality of outsource operation locations.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises one of:

checking status of one of physical machines, software, and processes of the outsourced operation;

checking a metric of the outsourced operation; and

implementing an operation of the outsourced operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the status is one of utilization of a server, memory usage of a server, and number of transactions an application is supporting;

and wherein the metric is one of response time of an application, and availability measurement of an application.

10. A system for servicing an outsourced operation, the system comprising:

a system for receiving information technology (IT) resource data from a plurality of outsourced operation locations, wherein the IT resource data includes elements that the outsourced operation is managing;

a system for aggregating the IT resource data from the plurality of outsourced operation locations;

a system for creating a three-dimensional simulation of the aggregated IT resource data; and

a system for using the three-dimensional simulation to service the outsourced operation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the element comprises one selected from a group consisting of:

IT storage system, a computer system, a network system, and an application.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the system for aggregating further comprises a system for monitoring one of physical machines, software, and processes of the outsourced operation.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the outsource operation includes a plurality of IT service providers.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the three-dimensional simulation depicts a data center.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of outsource operation locations are one of task distributed and geographically distributed.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the system for receiving comprises one of:

a system for checking status of one of physical machines, software, and processes of the outsourced operation;

a system for checking a metric of the outsourced operation; and

a system for implementing an operation of the outsourced operation.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the status is one of utilization of a server, memory usage of a server, and number of transactions an application is supporting;

and wherein the metric is one of response time of an application, and availability measurement of an application.

19. A computer program comprising program code stored on a computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to implement a method of servicing an outsourced operation, the method comprising:

receiving information technology (IT) resource data from a plurality of outsourced operation locations, wherein the IT resource data includes elements that the outsourced operation is managing;

aggregating the IT resource data from the plurality of outsourced operation locations;

creating a three-dimensional simulation of the aggregated IT resource data; and

using the three-dimensional simulation to service the outsourced operation.

20. A method of generating a system for servicing an outsourced operation, the method comprising:

providing a computer system operable to;

receive information technology (IT) resource data from a plurality of outsourced operation locations, wherein the IT resource data includes elements that the outsourced operation is managing;

aggregate the IT resource data from the plurality of outsourced operation locations;

create a three-dimensional simulation of the aggregated IT resource data; and

use the three-dimensional simulation to service the outsourced operation.