System for configuration of dynamic computing environments using a visual interface
View Patent ↗The present invention discloses a user interface for creating a dynamic computing environment using allocateable resources. The interface enables the fast, efficient selection and configuration of resources for the computing environment. The resources are fully selectable and allocable by a system architect. In a first embodiment, the ability is provided that allows a customer or system architect to design a system by allocating resources and specifying how the resources are to be used. The system architect may create a computing environment from a remotely accessible user interface such as a web page on the Internet. Thus, the system architect can create, modify and operate the environment from anywhere in the world.
1. A system comprising
a configuration/access server, wherein
said configuration/access server is configured to receive information, and
said information is based on a user requirement for a configuration of a dynamic computing environment; and
an infrastructure server, wherein
said infrastructure server and said configuration/access server are communicatively coupled to one another,
said infrastructure server is configured to receive said user requirement from said configuration/access server, and
said infrastructure server is configured to construct said dynamic computing environment by virtue of being configured to perform an operation using a resource in response to said receipt of said user requirement.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein
said operation comprises at least one of allocating said resource and de-allocating said resource, and
said configuration of said dynamic computing environment comprises at least one of selecting said dynamic computing environment, allocating said dynamic computing environment, configuring said dynamic computing environment and running said dynamic computing environment.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a plurality of resources, wherein
said resource is one of said plurality of resources, and
each of said resources is one of a hardware component, a software component and a communication component.
4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
an isolation level security layer, wherein
said isolation level security layer is coupled between said infrastructure server and said configuration/access server, and
said isolation level security layer is configured to allow access to said infrastructure server only by said configuration/access server.
5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a user interface, wherein
said user interface is communicatively coupled to said configuration/access server,
said user interface is configured to display a visual construction of said dynamic computing environment, and
said user interface is further configured to configure said dynamic computing environment by virtue of displaying said visual construction.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
an access level security layer, wherein
said access level security layer is coupled between said user interface and said configuration/access server, and
said access level security layer is configured to allow a user to access said configuration/access server without another user accessing said configuration/access server becoming aware of said user accessing said configuration/access server.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein
said user interface is configured to accept a first input,
said first input comprises a request to a copy of a device configuration, and
said system is configured to copy said device configuration to said copy of said device configuration and store said copy of said device configuration as a stored configuration.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein
said user interface is further configured to accept a second input,
said second input comprises a request to instantiate a device from said stored configuration, and
said system is further configured to instantiate said device from said stored configuration.
9. The system of claim 5 , wherein
said user interface is further configured to accept an input,
said input comprises a storage request,
said storage request is for at least one of shared storage and private storage, and
said system is further configured to allocate at least one of said shared storage and said private storage.
10. The system of claim 5 , wherein
said user interface is a web-based user interface.
11. A system comprising:
a plurality of resources; and
a visual construction of a dynamic computing environment, wherein
said visual construction is presented via a user interface,
said visual construction is configured to allow said dynamic computing environment to be configured using said user interface,
said configuration of said dynamic computing environment comprises using said user interface to configure said resources, and
said user interface is configured to allow said configuration of said dynamic computing environment by virtue of said visual construction being configured to
accept a first input comprising a type of operating system for use in said dynamic computing environment,
accept a second input comprising a type of hardware for use within said dynamic computing environment, and
accept a third input from said input device comprising software to be used within said dynamic computing environment.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said resources comprise:
a configurable communication link;
at least one of a plurality of hardware devices coupled to said configurable communication link; and
at least one of a plurality of software programs executable by said at least one of said hardware devices, wherein said at least one of said software programs comprise at least one of operating system software and application software.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein
said dynamic computing environment comprises
said configurable communication link, said at least one of said hardware devices and said at least one of said software programs.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein
said user interface is configured to allow said configuration of said dynamic computing environment by virtue of said visual construction being configured to
accept a first input comprising information specifying a new device to be included in said dynamic computing environment,
activate said new device, and
display said dynamic computing environment as comprising said new device.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein
said user interface is configured to allow said configuration of said dynamic computing environment by virtue of said visual construction being configured to
display a plurality of configurations, and
accept a first input comprising information specifying one of said configurations.
16. A system comprising:
a plurality of resources; and
a visual construction of a dynamic computing environment, wherein
said visual construction is presented via a user interface,
said visual construction is configured to allow said dynamic computing environment to be configured using said user interface,
said configuration of said dynamic computing environment comprises using said user interface to configure said resources, and
said user interface is configured to allow said configuration of said dynamic computing environment by virtue of said visual construction being configured to
accept a first input comprising information specifying a constraint on a hardware component of said dynamic computing environment,
accept a second input comprising information specifying a request for private storage,
accept a third input comprising a request for a stored configuration, wherein said stored configuration is a copy of a device configuration, and
accept a fourth input comprising a request to instantiate a device from said stored configuration.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said system is further configured to
allocate said private storage within said dynamic computing environment,
copy said device configuration into said stored configuration, and
instantiate said device from said stored configuration.
18. A system comprising:
a plurality of resources;
a visual construction of a dynamic computing environment, wherein
said visual construction is presented via a user interface,
said visual construction is configured to allow said dynamic computing environment to be configured using said user interface, and
said configuration of said dynamic computing environment comprises using said user interface to configure said resources;
a configuration/access server, wherein
said configuration/access server is configured to generate said visual construction and to receive information from said user interface, and
said information is based on a user requirement for said configuration of said dynamic computing environment; and
an infrastructure server, wherein
said infrastructure server and said configuration/access server are communicatively coupled to one another,
said infrastructure server is configured to receive said user requirement from said configuration/access server, and
said infrastructure server is configured to construct said dynamic computing environment by virtue of being configured to perform an operation using a resource in response to said receipt of said user requirement from said user interface.
19. The system of claim 18 , further comprising:
an isolation level security layer, wherein
said isolation level security layer is coupled between said infrastructure server and said configuration/access server, and
said isolation level security layer is configured to allow access to said infrastructure server only by said configuration/access server.
20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising:
an access level security layer, wherein
said access level security layer is coupled between said user interface and said configuration/access server, and
said access level security layer is configured to allow a user to access said configuration/access server without another user accessing said configuration/access server becoming aware of said user accessing said configuration/access server.