IP Library Granted Patent US 10,270,841
Granted Patent B1
US 10,270,841 · App. 15/061,260 · Granted Apr 23, 2019

Systems and methods of real-time container deployment

Inventors: James Albert Thomason (Las Vegas, NV); David Mortman (Worthington, OH); Campbell McNeill (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Quest Software Inc.
H04L67/10H04L47/78G06F9/5072G06F9/5077G06F15/173G06F2009/4557G06F2009/45595H04L67/142H04L67/32H04L67/34H04L67/42H04L69/329
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,270,841
App. No.
15/061,260
Granted
Apr 23, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a trigger to deploy a particular container on cloud resources accessible thereto such that the cloud resources are provided by a plurality of cloud providers and such that the computer system and the plurality of cloud providers are configured to negotiate container deployment using an information exchange protocol. The information exchange protocol includes a preconfigured inquiry format and a preconfigured inquiry-response format. The method further includes generating a performance inquiry in relation to the particular container. In addition, the method includes transmitting the performance inquiry to the plurality of cloud providers. Moreover, the method includes receiving inquiry responses from at least some of the plurality of cloud providers. Additionally, the method includes causing the particular container to be deployed on resources of the particular cloud provider.

Claims (44)

1. A method comprising, by a computer system:

receiving a trigger to deploy a particular container on cloud resources accessible to the computer system, wherein the cloud resources are provided by a plurality of cloud providers, wherein the computer system and the plurality of cloud providers are configured to negotiate container deployment using an information exchange protocol;

wherein the information exchange protocol comprises a preconfigured inquiry format, a preconfigured inquiry-response format and a preconfigured scheduling format, the preconfigured inquiry format specifying an arrangement of inquiry fields, the preconfigured inquiry-response format specifying an arrangement of response fields, and the preconfigured scheduling format specifying an arrangement of scheduling fields;

responsive to the trigger, generating a performance inquiry in relation to the particular container, wherein the performance inquiry comprises inquiry values corresponding to the arrangement of inquiry fields, wherein the inquiry values comprise an identifier of the particular container and an execution constraint;

transmitting the performance inquiry to the plurality of cloud providers;

receiving inquiry responses from at least some of the plurality of cloud providers, wherein the inquiry responses each comprise response values corresponding to the arrangement of response fields, the response values indicating capacity to execute the particular container in satisfaction of the execution constraint; and

responsive to selection of a particular cloud provider, causing the particular container to be deployed on resources of the particular cloud provider, wherein the causing comprises:

generating a scheduling message in relation to the particular container and the particular cloud provider, wherein the scheduling message comprises scheduling values corresponding to the arrangement of scheduling fields, and wherein the scheduling values comprise an instruction to execute the particular container; and

transmitting the scheduling message to the particular cloud provider.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for at least one of the inquiry responses, the response values comprise a performance metric related to a currently executing instance of the particular container.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the execution constraint indicates a region where the particular container is not permitted to execute.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the execution constraint is selected from the group consisting of a number of central processing units (CPUs), a constraint on a physical location where the particular container can be deployed and a required proximity to at least one other container.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response values identify one or more time slots of available capacity for the particular container.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the response values comprise an articulation of available capacity for each of the one or more time slots.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inquiry values and the response values are expressed in a markup language.

8. An information handling system comprising a processor, wherein the processor is operable to implement a method comprising:

receiving a trigger to deploy a particular container on cloud resources accessible to the information handling system, wherein the cloud resources are provided by a plurality of cloud providers, wherein the information handling system and the plurality of cloud providers are configured to negotiate container deployment using an information exchange protocol;

wherein the information exchange protocol comprises a preconfigured inquiry format, a preconfigured inquiry-response format and a preconfigured scheduling format, the preconfigured inquiry format specifying an arrangement of inquiry fields, the preconfigured inquiry-response format specifying an arrangement of response fields, and the preconfigured scheduling format specifying an arrangement of scheduling fields;

responsive to the trigger, generating a performance inquiry in relation to the particular container, wherein the performance inquiry comprises inquiry values corresponding to the arrangement of inquiry fields, wherein the inquiry values comprise an identifier of the particular container and an execution constraint;

transmitting the performance inquiry to the plurality of cloud providers;

receiving inquiry responses from at least some of the plurality of cloud providers, wherein the inquiry responses each comprise response values corresponding to the arrangement of response fields, the response values indicating capacity to execute the particular container in satisfaction of the execution constraint; and

responsive to selection of a particular cloud provider, causing the particular container to be deployed on resources of the particular cloud provider wherein the causing comprises:

generating a scheduling message in relation to the particular container and the particular cloud provider, wherein the scheduling message comprises scheduling values corresponding to the arrangement of scheduling fields, and wherein the scheduling values comprise an instruction to execute the particular container; and

transmitting the scheduling message to the particular cloud provider.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein, for at least one of the inquiry responses, the response values comprise a performance metric related to a currently executing instance of the particular container.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the execution constraint indicates a region where the particular container is not permitted to execute.

11. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the execution constraint is selected from the group consisting of a number of central processing units (CPUs), a constraint on a physical location where the particular container can be deployed and a required proximity to at least one other container.

12. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the response values identify one or more time slots of available capacity for the particular container.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the response values comprise an articulation of available capacity for each of the one or more time slots.

14. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the inquiry values and the response values are expressed in a markup language.

15. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:

receiving a trigger to deploy a particular container on cloud resources accessible thereto, wherein the cloud resources are provided by a plurality of cloud providers, wherein computer system and the plurality of cloud providers are configured to negotiate container deployment using an information exchange protocol;

wherein the information exchange protocol comprises a preconfigured inquiry format a preconfigured inquiry-response format and a preconfigured scheduling format, the preconfigured inquiry format specifying an arrangement of inquiry fields, the preconfigured inquiry-response format specifying an arrangement of response fields, and the preconfigured scheduling format specifying an arrangement of scheduling fields;

responsive to the trigger, generating a performance inquiry in relation to the particular container, wherein the performance inquiry comprises inquiry values corresponding to the arrangement of inquiry fields, wherein the inquiry values comprise an identifier of the particular container and an execution constraint;

transmitting the performance inquiry to the plurality of cloud providers;

receiving inquiry responses from at least some of the plurality of cloud providers, wherein the inquiry responses each comprise response values corresponding to the arrangement of response fields, the response values indicating capacity to execute the particular container in satisfaction of the execution constraint; and

responsive to selection of a particular cloud provider, causing the particular container to be deployed on resources of the particular cloud provider, wherein the causing comprises:

generating a scheduling message in relation to the particular container and the particular cloud provider, wherein the scheduling message comprises scheduling values corresponding to the arrangement of scheduling fields, and wherein the scheduling values comprise an instruction to execute the particular container; and

transmitting the scheduling message to the particular cloud provider.

16. The computer-program product of claim 15 , wherein, for at least one of the inquiry responses, the response values comprise a performance metric related to a currently executing instance of the particular container.

17. The computer-program product of claim 16 , wherein the execution constraint indicates a region where the particular container is not permitted to execute.

18. The computer-program product of claim 15 , wherein the execution constraint is selected from the group consisting of a number of central processing units (CPUs), a constraint on a physical location where the particular container can be deployed and a required proximity to at least one other container.

19. The computer-program product of claim 15 , wherein the response values identify one or more time slots of available capacity for the particular container.

20. The computer-program product of claim 19 , wherein the response values comprise an articulation of available capacity for each of the one or more time slots.

Assignments (26)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073606/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2025
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.
Reel/Frame 073613/0326 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0649 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2025
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; ERWIN, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 071527/0001 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059105/0479 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
Reel/Frame 058945/0778 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.; ANALYTIX DATA SERVICES INC.; BINARYTREE.COM LLC; ERWIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY LLC; ONELOGIN, INC.; ONE IDENTITY SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058952/0279 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 059096/0683 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0347 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 7, 2018
From: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046327/0486 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 040581/0850 Recorded May 22, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 046211/0735 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 6, 2017
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 044719/0565 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 040587 FRAME: 0624. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: QUEST SOFTWARE INC. (F/K/A DELL SOFTWARE INC.); AVENTAIL LLC
Reel/Frame 044811/0598 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 10, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040587/0624 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 9, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040581/0850 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0467 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040039/0642) Recorded Oct 31, 2016
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 040521/0016 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040030/0187 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038664 FRAME 0908 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040027/0390 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038665 FRAME 0041 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040028/0375 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: AVENTAIL LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040039/0642 →
RELEASE OF REEL 038665 FRAME 0001 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; SECUREWORKS, CORP.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040021/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2016
From: THOMASON, JAMES ALBERT; MORTMAN, DAVID; MCNEILL, CAMPBELL
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.
Reel/Frame 039263/0221 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038664/0908 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038665/0041 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 11, 2016
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 038665/0001 →