Configuration engine

• US 7,765,521 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DataCloud Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wisterium Development LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bryant, Jeffrey F
• Primary Examiner(s): Dam; Tuan Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, THUY CHAN
• Application Number:
  US10/303,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,801 Days
• Field of Search: 717/107, 717/162, 717/120, 709/219, 709/220, 709/203, 709/226
• US Class Current: 717/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5066 Algorithms for mapping a plurality of inter-dependent sub-tasks onto a plurality of physical CPUs mappping at compile time, see G06F8/451

Abstract

In a distributed computing, object oriented, component based framework, some components may be capable of running some tasks, incapable of running others and capable of running still others, but obtaining only sub-optimal results. Components may already be assigned tasks, and have insufficient capacity remaining to execute additional tasks. A configuration manager seeks to rectify this. The configuration manager gathers information stored in a configuration template associated with each of the components, interrogates the components about their current status and compares the results to a dynamic plan developed by a tasking engine. The configuration engine then assigns tasks to processor managers based on the results obtained by the configuration manager.

Claims

1. A method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed system, the method comprising:

obtaining a plan schematic;

obtaining at least one system configuration template, said at least one system configuration template from a configuration template library, wherein said system configuration template describes a combination of components, said combination of components having been tested to ensure usability in the system and that the combination of components is capable of performing a desired function;

matching said at least one system configuration template with system requirements defined by said plan schematic;

generating a preliminary result from said comparing said system requirements with said system configuration template;

obtaining a current configuration of components in said component based distributed system describing currently available system resources;

matching said current configuration with said preliminary result;

generating a final result of the matching said current configuration and said preliminary result by selecting a system configuration template which minimizes disruption to said components while running and minimizes demands on the currently available system resources; and

communicating said final result to said component based distributed system.

2. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed system according to claim 1 wherein said preliminary result comprises a plurality of useable system configuration templates.

3. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed system according to claim 1 wherein said final result is an optimal configuration for said components given said current configuration of said system.

4. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed system according to claim 1 wherein said method is executed within a framework manager.

5. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed processor system according to claim 4 wherein said plan is formulated by a tasking engine.

6. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed processor system according to claim 1 wherein matching said current configuration with said preliminary result is undertaken so as to obtain a template with an optimal correlation between the requirements of the template and resources available to said system.

7. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed processor system according to claim 1 wherein said components comprise software processing units.

8. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed processor system according to claim 1 wherein said components comprise hardware components.

9. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed processor system according to claim 1 wherein said components are adapted to RF applications.

10. The method for the configuration of components in a component based distributed processor system according to claim 1 wherein said components comprise at least one of components consisting of tuners, channelizers, transmission security components, delay/multi-band radios, modems, communication security components, or decoders.

11. A system for management of a distributed computing system, said system for management being stored in a storage memory and comprising:

a task manager, whereby a plan is formulated describing a task to be carried out by said distributed computing system and detailing system resources required for execution of said task;

a framework manager, communicating with said task manager and comprising;

at least one configuration manager, comprising;

a library wherein are disposed at least one tested system configuration template, said tested system configuration template comprising possible combinations of processing units tested to ensure usability in the system;

a means for ascertaining a current configuration of said distributed computing system as a whole;

a component assignment unit configured to provide a desired or guaranteed performance of a desired function by said system configured according to said tested system configuration template and communicating with said task manager, said library, and said means for ascertaining the current configuration; and

an output whereby said at least one configuration manager directs the allocation of task components to available known system resources.

12. The system for management of a distributed computing system of claim 11 wherein each said tested system configuration template details a tested configuration compliant with said distributed computing system.

13. The system for management of a distributed computing system of claim 11 wherein said component assignment unit is configured to:

compare said required system resources with said each configuration template in said library to select usable tested system configuration templates;

compare said usable configuration templates with said means for ascertaining the current configuration;

determine if system resources required by said usable tested system configuration templates are available; and

select, based on comparisons of said usable templates with said current configuration, an optimal system resource allocation for execution of said task.

14. The system for management of a distributed computing system according to claim 11 wherein said system resources comprise software processing units.

15. The system for management of a distributed computing system according to claim 11 wherein said system resources comprise hardware components.

16. The system for management of a distributed computing system according to claim 11 wherein said system resources are adapted to RF (Radio Frequency) applications.

17. The system for management of a distributed computing system according to claim 11 wherein said system resources comprise at least one of resources consisting of tuners, channelizers, transmission security components, delay/multi-band radios, modems, communication security components, or decoders.

18. A configuration manager stored in a storage memory for the assignment of task elements of an application to processing units in a component based distributed system, comprising;

a library wherein are disposed at least one tested system configuration template, said at least one tested system configuration template comprising possible combinations of processing units tested to ensure usability in the system;

a means for ascertaining currently available system resources of said distributed computing system;

a component assignment unit configured to provide a desired or guaranteed performance of a desired function by said component based distributed system configured according to said tested system configuration template and communicating with a task manager, said library, and said means for ascertaining currently available system resources; and

means for communicating assignments of said task elements to said processing units.

19. The configuration manager according to claim 18 wherein said component assignment unit is configured to:

compare said required system resources with said the at least one tested system configuration template in said library to select usable tested system configuration templates;

compare said usable tested system configuration templates with said means for ascertaining the current configuration;

determine if system resources required by said usable tested system configuration templates are available; and

select, based on comparisons of said usable tested system configuration templates with said current configuration, an optimal system resource allocation for execution of said task.

20. The configuration manager according to claim 18 wherein said system resources comprise software processing units.

21. The configuration manager according to claim 18 wherein said system resources comprise hardware components.

22. The configuration manager according to claim 18 wherein said system resources are adapted to RF applications.

23. The configuration manager according to claim 18 wherein said system resources comprise at least one of resources consisting of tuners, channelizers, transmission security components, delay/multi-band radios, modems, communication security components, or decoders.

24. A system for management of a distributed computing system, said system for management being stored in a storage memory and comprising:

a task manager means, for communicating with said distributed computing system, and capable of communicating a plan describing the tasks to be carried out by said distributed computing system and said plan detailing system resources assigned for execution of said tasks;

a framework manager means, for communicating with said task manager means and comprising;

at least one configuration manager means, comprising;

a library containing at least one tested system configuration template, said tested system configuration template comprising possible combinations of processor units tested to ensure usability in the system;

a component configuration engine, in communication with each of the available known system resources of the distributed computing system, configured to ascertain a current configuration of said distributed computing system as a whole;

a component assignment unit, in communication with said task manager means, said library, and said component configuration engine, said component assignment unit configured to generate said plan; and

an output configured to communicate tasks assigned by said plan to the available known system resources.

25. A configuration manager stored in a non-transitory storage medium for the assignment of task elements of an application to processing units in a component based distributed system, the configuration manager comprising:

a library software component containing at least one tested system configuration template, said at least one tested system configuration templates comprising possible combinations of processing units tested to ensure usability in the system;

a component configuration software component in communication with each of the available known processing units of the distributed computing system, configured to ascertain a current configuration of said distributed computing system as a whole;

a component assignment software component, in communication with said library software component and said component configuration software component, said component assignment software component configured to generate assignments of said task elements to said processing units; and

an assignment software component, in communication with each of said processing units and configured to communicate assignments of said task elements to said processing units.

26. A non-transitory storage computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer- executable instructions that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method comprising:

obtaining a plan schematic;

obtaining at least one system configuration template from a configuration template library, wherein said at least one system configuration template describes a combination of processing units, said combination of processing units having been tested to ensure usability in the system and that the processing units are each capable of performing a desired function;

matching said at least one system configuration template with system requirements defined by said plan schematic;

generating a preliminary result from said matching said system requirements with said system configuration template;

obtaining a current configuration of said component based distributed system describing currently available system resources;

matching said current configuration with said preliminary result;

generating a final result of the step of matching said current configuration and said preliminary result by selecting a system configuration template which minimizes disruption to said components while running and minimizes demands on the currently available system resources; and

communicating said final result to said component based distributed system.