METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECLAIMING UNUSED RESOURCES IN A NETWORKED APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT

• US 20150236976A1
• Filed: 05/04/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Netflix, Inc.
• Inventors: TSEITLIN, Ariel, SADHU, Praveen
• Granted Patent: US 9,577,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5022 Mechanisms to release resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/76 using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation requested by the user or requested by the network in response to changing network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for reclaiming resources within a distributed computing system. A reclamation application searches the distributed computing architecture for unused resources, classifies the unused resources, and determines an expiration period based on the classification. The reclamation application determines a candidate owner of the resource based on one or more characteristics of the resource. The reclamation application then notifies the candidate owner that the resource is to be reclaimed unless claimed by the candidate owner within the expiration period. If the candidate owner claims the resource within the expiration period, then the reclamation application terminates the reclamation of the resource. If the candidate owner does not claim the resource within the expiration period, then the reclamation application reclaims the resource after the duration of the expiration period. Advantageously, reclaiming resources results in more efficient utilization of resources, lower operation and maintenance costs, and improved system security.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining a classification for a resource within a distributed computing architecture based on one or more classification criteria;

generating a notification that the resource is to be reclaimed at the termination of an expiration period; and

if the resource is claimed within the expiration period, then terminating the reclamation of the resource;

or

if the resource is not claimed within the expiration period, then reclaiming the resource.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the expiration period associated with the classification.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a username associated with one or more data files stored within the resource.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a username to which the resource is registered.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more classification criteria comprise a date on which the resource was last accessed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple instances of a software application exist within the distributed computing architecture, and wherein the one or more classification criteria comprise a software version number of the software application.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to extend the expiration period;

in response to the request, extending the expiration period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resource comprises an instance of a software application, a user account, or a storage volume.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining a classification for a resource within a distributed computing architecture based on one or more classification criteria;

generating a notification that the resource is to be reclaimed at the termination of an expiration period; and

if the resource is claimed within the expiration period, then terminating the reclamation of the resource;

or

if the resource is not claimed within the expiration period, then reclaiming the resource.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising determining the expiration period associated with the classification.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising determining a username associated with one or more data files stored within the resource.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising determining a username to which the resource is registered.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more classification criteria comprise a date on which the resource was last accessed.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein multiple instances of a software application exist within the distributed computing architecture, and wherein the one or more classification criteria comprise a software version number of the software application.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request to extend the expiration period;

in response to the request, extending the expiration period.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the resource comprises an instance of a software application, a user account, or a storage volume.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform an operation, by;

determining a classification for a resource within a distributed computing architecture based on one or more classification criteria;

generating a notification that the resource is to be reclaimed at the termination of an expiration period; and

if the resource is claimed within the expiration period, then terminating the reclamation of the resource;

or

if the resource is not claimed within the expiration period, then reclaiming the resource.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising determining the expiration period associated with the classification.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising determining a username associated with one or more data files stored within the resource.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising determining a username to which the resource is registered.