IP Library Granted Patent US 11,107,273
Granted Patent B2
US 11,107,273 · App. 16/530,034 · Granted Aug 31, 2021

Dynamic three-dimensional map generation for computing environment

Inventors: James R. King (Norwood, MA); Nicole Reineke (Northborough, MA)
Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
G06T17/05H04L67/1061
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,107,273
App. No.
16/530,034
Granted
Aug 31, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a computing environment comprising a plurality of equipment racks wherein each equipment rack comprises one or more of compute, storage and network assets, the method captures an image of at least one equipment rack in the computing environment. The method identifies a known object in the image to determine physical characteristics of the equipment rack. The method receives, from a peer-to-peer network, positioning beacon signals respectively associated with at least a portion of the compute, storage and network assets in and around the equipment rack. The method determines a closest asset among the portion of the compute, storage and network assets for which positioning beacon signals are received. The method obtains data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the closest asset, obtains a model of the computing environment based on the obtained data, and then obtains a three-dimensional map of the computing environment based on the model.

Claims (43)

1. A method, comprising:

in a computing environment comprising a plurality of equipment racks wherein each equipment rack comprises one or more of compute, storage and network assets, capturing an image of at least one equipment rack in the computing environment;

identifying a known object in the image to determine physical characteristics of the equipment rack;

receiving, from a peer-to-peer network, positioning beacon signals broadcasted by one or more signal emitters respectively associated with at least a portion of the compute, storage and network assets in and around the equipment rack;

determining a closest asset among the portion of the compute, storage and network assets for which positioning beacon signals are received;

obtaining data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the closest asset;

obtaining a model of the computing environment based on the obtained data; and

obtaining a three-dimensional map of the computing environment based on the model;

wherein the steps are performed via at least one processing device comprising a processor and a memory.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, from the peer-to-peer network, one or more compute, storage and network assets in a proximity of the closest asset.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining relative coordinates for the one or more compute, storage and network assets in the proximity of the closest asset.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising obtaining data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the one or more compute, storage and network assets in the proximity of the closest asset.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising updating the model of the computing environment using the obtained data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the one or more compute, storage and network assets in the proximity of the closest asset.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising obtaining an updated three-dimensional map of the computing environment based on the updated model.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising repeating the model and three-dimensional map updating steps until each of the plurality of equipment racks and their corresponding compute, storage and network assets are rendered in the three-dimensional map of the computing environment.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the closest asset among the portion of the compute, storage and network assets for which positioning beacon signals are received further comprises comparing received signal strength values for the received positioning beacon signals to determine the closest asset.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peer-to-peer network is a gossip-based mesh network.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of updating the model and the three-dimensional map are performed on a device that performs the capturing, identifying, receiving and determining steps.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of updating the model and the three-dimensional map are performed remote from a device that performs the capturing, identifying, receiving and determining steps.

12. A system, comprising:

at least one processor, coupled to a memory, and configured to:

in a computing environment comprising a plurality of equipment racks wherein each equipment rack comprises one or more of compute, storage and network assets, capture an image of at least one equipment rack in the computing environment;

identify a known object in the image to determine physical characteristics of the equipment rack;

receive, from a peer-to-peer network, positioning beacon signals broadcasted by one or more signal emitters respectively associated with at least a portion of the compute, storage and network assets in and around the equipment rack;

determine a closest asset among the portion of the compute, storage and network assets for which positioning beacon signals are received;

obtain data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the closest asset;

obtain a model of the computing environment based on the obtained data; and

obtain a three-dimensional map of the computing environment based on the model.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor and memory are further configured to determine, from the peer-to-peer network, one or more compute, storage and network assets in a proximity of the closest asset.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor and memory are further configured to determine relative coordinates for the one or more compute, storage and network assets in the proximity of the closest asset.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor and memory are further configured to obtain data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the one or more compute, storage and network assets in the proximity of the closest asset.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor and memory are further configured to update the model of the computing environment using the obtained data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the one or more compute, storage and network assets in the proximity of the closest asset.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor and memory are further configured to obtain an updated three-dimensional map of the computing environment based on the updated model.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor and memory are further configured to repeat the model and three-dimensional map updating steps until each of the plurality of equipment racks and their corresponding compute, storage and network assets are rendered in the three-dimensional map of the computing environment.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a processor-readable storage medium having encoded therein executable code of one or more software programs, wherein the one or more software programs when executed by at least one processing device implement steps of:

in a computing environment comprising a plurality of equipment racks wherein each equipment rack comprises one or more of compute, storage and network assets, capturing an image of at least one equipment rack in the computing environment;

identifying a known object in the image to determine physical characteristics of the equipment rack;

receiving, from a peer-to-peer network, positioning beacon signals broadcasted by one or more signal emitters respectively associated with at least a portion of the compute, storage and network assets in and around the equipment rack;

determining a closest asset among the portion of the compute, storage and network assets for which positioning beacon signals are received;

obtaining data indicative of physical characteristics associated with the closest asset;

obtaining a model of the computing environment based on the obtained data; and

obtaining a three-dimensional map of the computing environment based on the model.

20. The article of claim 19 , wherein the peer-to-peer network is a gossip-based mesh network.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053311/0169) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060438/0742 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (050724/0571) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060436/0088 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 050406 FRAME 421 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058213/0825 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0169 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Oct 15, 2019
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050724/0571 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 17, 2019
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 050406/0421 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: KING, JAMES R.; REINEKE, NICOLE
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 049940/0975 →