Managing resource dependent workflows

• US 8,788,663 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adogla, Eden G., Collins, Jamin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET D
• Application Number:
  US13/331,993
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/224, 709/225, 709/227, 709/229, 718/100, 718/102, 718/104
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/503 Resource availability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/508 Monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5038 considering the execution order of a plurality of tasks, e.g. taking priority or time dependency constraints into consideration scheduling strategies G06F9/4881 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and method for the management of resource dependent workflows are provided. One or more resource control devices monitor usage of a computing resource by server computing devices. Each resource control device may direct a server computing device to proceed with a workflow or to pause processing a workflow. A resource control device may further direct a server computing device to take resource conserving actions. When a computing resource is determined to be available, a resource control device may direct a paused server computing device to resume a workflow.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing resource dependent workflows, the method comprising:

receiving, at a resource control computing device, a set of requests for authorization to access a computing resource associated with at least one workflow stage, wherein each of the set of requests is received from one of a plurality of computing devices, and wherein the resource control device is configured to allocate access of the plurality of computing devices to the computing resource during implementation of a resource dependent workflow by the plurality of computing devices;

determining that a level of availability of the computing resource is below a threshold level, wherein the level of availability of the computing resource is determined in accordance with an allocation of the implementation of the at least one workflow stage to the plurality of computing devices;

transmitting to a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices instructions to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage;

receiving a status identifier from the first computing device, wherein the status identifier indicates that the first computing device is awaiting authorization to access the computing resource;

determining that a level of availability of the computing resource is above a threshold level; and

transmitting to the first computing device instructions to process the at least one workflow stage.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the status identifier from the computing device comprises receiving an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the status identifier from the first computing device comprises receiving at least one of a media access control address or an internet protocol address of the first computing device.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting to the first computing device instructions to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage further comprises transmitting instructions to enter a defined processing state.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein transmitting instructions to enter a defined processing state further comprises transmitting instructions to transmit a status identifier.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising, for each period within a set of periods, receiving an additional status identifier from the first computing device indicating that the first computing device is awaiting access to the computing resource.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transmitting to the first computing device instructions to process the at least one workflow stage comprises transmitting to the first computing device instructions to enter a defined processing state.

7. A system for managing resource dependent workflows, the system comprising:

at least one resource control device associated with a computing resource, wherein the at least one resource control device is configured to allocate access of a plurality of computing devices to the computing resource during attempted implementation of a resource dependent workflow by the plurality of computing devices, and wherein the at least one resource control device is configured to;

receive, from a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, a request for authorization to access the computing resource, wherein the computing resource is associated with at least one workflow stage of the resource dependent workflow;

determine that a level of availability of the computing resource is below a threshold level, wherein the level of availability of the computing resource is determined in accordance with an allocation of the implementation of the at least one workflow stage by the plurality of computing devices;

transmit to the first computing device instructions for the first computing device to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage;

receive a status identifier from the first computing device, wherein the status identifier indicates that the first computing device is awaiting authorization to access the computing resource;

determine that a level of availability of the computing resource is above a threshold level; and

transmit to the first computing device instructions for the first computing device to process the at least one workflow stage.

8. The system claim 7, wherein the status identifier comprises an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request.

9. The system claim 7, wherein the status identifier comprises at least one of a media access control address or an internet protocol address of the first computing device.

10. The system claim 7, wherein the instructions for the first computing device to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage further comprise instructions for the first computing device to enter a defined processing state.

11. The system claim 7, wherein the instructions for the first computing device to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage further comprise instructions for the first computing device to transmit the status identifier.

12. The system claim 7, wherein the at least one resource control device is further configured to, for each time period within a set of time periods, receive an additional status identifier from the first computing device indicating that the first computing device is awaiting access to the computing resource.

14. The system claim 7 further comprising at least one computing device of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the at least one computing device is configured with specific computer-executable instructions to:

receive the resource dependent workflow;

determine the at least one computing resource associated with resource dependent workflow;

transmit the request for authorization to access the computing resource to the at least one resource control device;

receive, from the at least one resource control device, the instructions to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage; and

for each time period within a set of time periods, transmit the status identifier indicating that the at least one computing device is awaiting authorization to access the at least one computing resource.

16. The non-transitory storage media of claim 14, wherein the status identifier comprises an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo request.

17. The non-transitory storage media of claim 14, wherein the status identifier includes at least one of a media access control address or an internet protocol address of the first computing device.

18. The non-transitory storage media of claim 14, wherein the instructions to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage further comprise instructions for the first computing device to enter a defined processing state.

19. The non-transitory storage media of claim 14, wherein the instructions to enter a defined processing state further comprises instructions to transmit the status identifier.

20. The non-transitory storage media of claim 14, wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the resource control device to receive, during each period within a set of periods, an additional status identifier from the first computing device indicating that the first computing device is awaiting access to the computing resource.

21. The non-transitory storage media of claim 14, wherein the instructions for the first computing device to process the at least one workflow stage further comprises instructions for the first computing device to enter a defined processing state.

15. A non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a resource control device, cause the resource control device to:

receive, from a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, a request for authorization to access a computing resource associated with the resource control device, wherein access to the computing resource is associated with implementation of at least one workflow stage of a resource dependent workflow, and wherein the at least one resource control device is configured to allocate access of a plurality of computing devices to the computing resource during attempted implementation of a resource dependent workflow by the plurality of computing devices;

determine that a level of availability of the computing resource is below a threshold level, wherein the level of availability of the computing resource is determined in accordance with an allocation of the implementation of the at least one workflow stage by the plurality of computing devices;

transmit to the first computing device instructions for the first computing device to at least temporarily pause the at least one workflow stage;

receive a status identifier from the first computing device, wherein the status identifier indicates that the first computing device is awaiting authorization to access the computing resource;

determine that a level of availability of the computing resource is above a threshold level; and

transmit to the first computing device instructions for the first computing device to process the at least one workflow stage.