The present invention generally relates to enterprise systems and applications and more specifically to using three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology to provide an enterprise manager with streaming visual representations of aspects of an enterprise in near real-time.
Expertise in specific hardware, software and network configurations require years to master. The experience to become a skilled mainframe operator or storage analyst or application administrator may reside in disparate physical locations. Resolving problems and providing successful service operations may depend on bringing a group of skills together to view the problem using real data and actual deployed configurations. Current solutions to this problem are to: (1) locate the skilled person(s) and transport them to the client location; (2) invest in creating the skilled expertise in every provider location that requires the service; and/or (3) debug the problem or walk the local provider through the scenario remotely (e.g., on the phone, using email, etc.) as much as possible, guessing what the local people are not stating in terms of relevant data and configuration.
Unfortunately, existing approaches are time-consuming, costly, and/or error prone. In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for an approach that solves at least one of the afore-mentioned deficiencies in the related art.
In general, the present invention creates and/or uses a 3D data center that mirrors physical operations that may not all be co-located in one physical space. The 3D data center can cluster geographically dispersed similar physical assets into one area of the 3D data center, e.g., all of a company's physical world wide mainframes on one virtual floor of the 3D data center. Human experts that reside anywhere geographically could enter the 3D data center, service, manage, monitor their physical machines and applications and/or train other individuals living in different geographical locations, or working for other companies.
Specifically, software monitors the hardware and/or software of the physical assets, aggregates disparate sources of data, optionally applies logic to interpret and analyze the data and sends the data to the 3D data center, which renders the different sources of data into easy to understand and easy to operate visual renditions of the data center operations. The 3D data center allows software (e.g., applications) and/or hardware to be grouped according to their model type, and/or classification, any category which allows for experts in a geographical area to enter the 3D rendition and manage, monitor and/or train other individuals in this virtual visual setting.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a method of using a three-dimensional (3D) data center to share service operations, comprising: monitoring hardware and software of a computer enterprise to obtain corresponding data; identifying and aggregating disparate sources of data of the computer enterprise based on the monitoring; rendering the data into a virtual visual representation; and grouping the hardware and the software to provide at least one of: management of, monitoring of, or training on the computer enterprise.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a system for using a three-dimensional (3D) data center to share service operations, comprising: a module for monitoring hardware and software of a computer enterprise to obtain corresponding data; a module for identifying and aggregating disparate sources of data of the computer enterprise based on the monitoring; and a module for sending the data to the 3D data center.
A third aspect of the present invention provides a program product stored on at least one computer readable medium for using a three-dimensional (3D) data center to share service operations, the at least one computer readable medium comprising program code for causing at least one computer system to: monitor hardware and software of a computer enterprise to obtain corresponding data; identify and aggregate disparate sources of data of the computer enterprise based on the monitoring; render the data into a virtual visual representation; and group the hardware and the software to provide at least one of: management of, monitoring of, or training on the computer enterprise.
A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a method for deploying a system for using a three-dimensional (3D) data center to share service operations, comprising: providing a computer infrastructure being operable to: monitor hardware and software of a computer enterprise to obtain corresponding data; identify and aggregate disparate sources of data of the computer enterprise based on the monitoring; render the data into a virtual visual representation; and group the hardware and the software to provide at least one of: management of, monitoring of, or training on the computer enterprise.
A fifth aspect of the present invention provides computer software embodied in a propagated signal for using a three-dimensional (3D) data center to share service operations, the computer software comprising instructions for causing at least one computer system to: monitor hardware and software of a computer enterprise to obtain corresponding data; identify and aggregate disparate sources of data of the computer enterprise based on the monitoring; render the data into a virtual visual representation; and group the hardware and the software to provide at least one of: management of, monitoring of, or training on the computer enterprise.
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.
For convenience, the Detailed Description of the Invention has the following sections:
As indicated above, the present invention creates and/or uses a 3D data center that mirrors physical operations that may not all be co-located in one physical space. The 3D data center can cluster geographically dispersed similar physical assets into one area of the 3D data center, e.g., all of a company's physical world wide mainframes on one virtual floor of the 3D data center. Human experts that reside anywhere geographically could enter the 3D data center, service, manage, monitor their physical machines and applications and/OR train other individuals living in different geographical locations, or working for other companies.
Specifically, software monitors the hardware and/or software of the physical assets, aggregates disparate sources of data, optionally applies logic to interpret and analyze the data and sends the data to the 3D data center, which renders the different sources of data into easy to understand and easy to operate visual renditions of the data center operations. The 3D data center allows software (e.g., applications) and/or hardware to be grouped according to their model type, and/or classification, any category which allows for experts in a geographical area to enter the 3D rendition and manage, monitor and/or train other individuals in this virtual visual setting.
A holographic enterprise interface 18 is deployed at data center 12. In one embodiment, the holographic enterprise interface 18 is a plug-in based component, where the plug-ins connect to the system management software 16 or more specifically, to each of the back-end enterprise systems. In operation, the holographic enterprise interface 18 transforms information from the application programming interfaces of the back-end enterprise systems into event data which is subsequently dispatched to the manager of the holographic enterprise interface 18. In one embodiment, the plug-ins are subclassed from a plug-in base class which contains interfaces for managing the plug-in instances.
The plug-in manager within the holographic enterprise interface 18 routes the plug-in generated events to the underlying communications systems within the holographic enterprise interface. The plug-in manager 18 also parses an XML configuration file that is the plug-in descriptor defining what plug-ins to load. The communications system within the holographic enterprise interface 18 contains components for encoding event data from the plug-ins into a Holographic Protocol Architecture. The Holographic Protocol Architecture (HPA) is a protocol specification that defines packet types and conversation patterns necessary to interact with a virtual command center 24 via a communications network 20 and gateway 22. In an embodiment, the HPA comprises a packet header detailing the packet type (4 bytes), sequence number (2 bytes), total packets (2 bytes), and a location id (2 bytes).
After the packet header is a tuple based data payload of varying length, based on constraints that may be introduced by the underlying transport. The communications system within the holographic enterprise interface 18 includes a protocol handler that encodes the data from an event system into the HPA. It also decodes the protocol and dispatches events to plug-ins when receiving communications from the virtual command center 24. In addition, there is a packet driver that uses a pluggable cipher component to encrypt the packet. It then interfaces with a pluggable transport provider, such as XML-RPC, to dispatch the communications to the virtual command center 24.
The following configuration enables the virtual command center 24 to operate in synchronous or asynchronous mode with the holographic interface element 18 depending on the underlying transport. In synchronous mode, queuing mechanisms are used to batch transmissions inbound to the holographic interface element 18 from the virtual command center 24. In the event of a stateless synchronous transport, the queued data is encoded into the response to the XML-RPC call, and processed by the communications system within the holographic interface element 18.
Referring back to
The 3D simulator grid 24 has the characteristics of managing a 3D vector space in which objects are placed. These objects are based on elementary geometric shapes and conic sections. They can be manipulated by applying transforms. They can be linked together to form composite objects. Objects can have scripts that are attached to them and govern their behavior. Objects can listen on 65535 channels for messages coming from the simulator environment. Objects can manage their own state.
In addition, the 3D simulator manages the state, script execution, in-world communications, and off-world communications to multiple 3D clients. In one embodiment, multiple simulators can be run on a grid in a parallel processing configuration. In this embodiment, grid infrastructure services manage the quality of service, provisioning, and deployment of simulator instances. Referring back to
A communications hub 30 receives the composite data from the aggregator 28 and decrypts and decodes the packets represented by the composite data. In addition, the communications hub 30 receives communications from other sources such as an in-world virtual network 34, 3D equipment models 32 that mimic real world equipment and software, or other sources. These communications are dispatched to an outbound queue for immediate transmission to the holographic enterprise interface 18 or dispatched on the response string of a stateless synchronous transport.
In one embodiment, the equipment models 32 are placed within proximity to a repeater. In this embodiment, the equipment models 32 listen on assigned frequencies for messages of interest. The applicability of a particular message to a model such as a server can be based on its name, IP address, or another token. As a result, the models can be built from the event data received from the data center. Instead of learning the models, it is possible to import the 3D models from other sources. In any event, the models are used to compare to the composite event data received by the communications hub 30. Any differences determined by the hub 30 are indicative of potentially troubling operation of the data center 12, hardware and middleware 14, system management software 16, or holographic enterprise interface 18. In one embodiment, equipment models and software visualizations can dispatch messages to repeaters by speaking on the appropriate channel. Ultimately these messages are sent to the communications hub for processing, and are handled in-world or sent to a holographic enterprise interface 18.
The communications hub 30 is configured to generate a visualization of both the composite data received from the data centers 12 and any differences that may exist with the 3D models 32. The visualization comprises a 3D composite visual image(s) of the current operation of the enterprise. This visual representation is transmitted to users assigned to manage the enterprise via a communications network 34 and computing units 36. A rendering client operating on the computing units 36 then renders the visualization generated by the visual command center 24. In particular, this rendering client connects to a simulator instance and transmits a protocol which allows the client to render the state of the virtual command center 24 (3D simulator). The protocol includes information such as position and size of objects, textures, images, and animations, and other details necessary to render the 3D world. Those skilled in the art will recognize that different simulators use different protocols and that the virtual command center 24 of this disclosure is not dependent on any specific protocol type or implementation.
Referring now to
In any event, monitoring module 68 will monitor hardware 64 (e.g., disparate sources of data) and software 62 (e.g., programs and/or modules) of computer enterprise 60 to obtain corresponding data. Typically, this data corresponds to at least one of: a configuration, a location, or an operation of hardware 64 and/or software 62. Aggregation module 70 will identify and aggregate the disparate sources of data of the computer enterprise 60 based on the monitoring (e.g., using the data). Along these lines, logic module 72 can be used to interpret and analyze the data. Regardless, communication module 74 will send the data to 3D data center 76. Upon receipt, rendering module 78 will render a virtual visual representation 82 corresponding to computer enterprise 60 (e.g., of hardware 64 and/or software 62) using the data. This will allow hardware 64 and software 62 to be grouped via grouping module 80 to provide at least one of: management of, monitoring of, or training for computer enterprise 60. Such grouping can be based on any number of factors such as a model type, a classification, or a geographic area of software 62 and/or hardware 64.
In the computing infrastructure 100 there is a computer system 102 (e.g. such as computer system 65 of
The exemplary computer system 102 may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules shown in
As shown in
Bus 108 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.
The computer system 102 typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Such media may be any available media that is accessible by computer system 102, and it includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.
In
Computer system 102 may further include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. By way of example only,
The drives and their associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for computer system 102. Although the exemplary infrastructure described herein employs a hard disk 116, a removable magnetic disk 118 and a removable optical disk 122, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computer readable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, RAMs, ROM, and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating infrastructure.
A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk 116, magnetic disk 120, optical disk 122, ROM 112, or RAM 110, including, by way of example, and not limitation, an operating system 128, one or more application programs 130, other program modules 132, and program data 134. Each of the operating system 128, one or more application programs 130 (e.g., service operations program 66), other program modules 132, and program data 134 or some combination thereof, may include an implementation of the system 10 shown in
A user may enter commands and information into computer system 102 through optional input devices such as a keyboard 136 and a pointing device 138 (such as a “mouse”). Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, serial port, scanner, camera, or the like. These and other input devices are connected to the processor unit 104 through a user input interface 140 that is coupled to bus 108, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB).
An optional monitor 142 or other type of display device is also connected to bus 108 via an interface, such as a video adapter 144. In addition to the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers, which may be connected through output peripheral interface 146.
Computer system 102 may operate in a networked infrastructure using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote server/computer 148. Remote computer 148 may include many or all of the elements and features described herein relative to computer system 102.
Logical connections shown in
In a networked infrastructure, program modules depicted relative to the personal computer system 102, or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,
Application programs 130 may be stored on or transmitted across some form of computer readable media. Computer readable media/ium can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise “computer storage media” and “communications media.”
“Computer storage media” include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer. It is understood that the terms computer-readable medium or computer useable medium comprises one or more of any type of physical embodiment of the program code.
“Communication media” typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communication media also includes any information delivery media.
The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.
While shown and described herein as a method, system, and program product for using a 3D data center to share service operations, it is understood that the invention further provides various alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable/useable medium that includes computer program code to enable a computer infrastructure to user a 3D data center to share service operations. To this extent, the computer-readable/useable medium includes program code that implements each of the various process of the invention.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, could offer to use a 3D data center to share service operations. In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc., a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure 63 (
In still another embodiment, the invention provides a computer-implemented method for using a 3D data center to share service operations. In this case, a computer infrastructure, such as computer infrastructure 63 (
As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and “computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a computing device having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, program code can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program, component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basic I/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or I/O device, and the like.
A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code can be provided hereunder and can include at least one processor communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, to memory element(s) through a system bus. The memory elements can include, but are not limited to, local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/O devices (including, but not limited to, keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.
Network adapters also may be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems, remote printers, storage devices, and/or the like, through any combination of intervening private or public networks. Illustrative network adapters include, but are not limited to, modems, cable modems and Ethernet cards.
It is apparent that there has been provided with this disclosure an approach for management of enterprise systems and applications using three-dimensional visualization technology. While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.
This application is related in some aspects to commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 11/747,147 entitled “HOLOGRAPHIC ENTERPRISE NETWORK”, assigned attorney docket number END92000184US1, filed May 10, 2007, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application also is related in some aspects to commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 11/747,157, entitled “VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATIONS CENTER”, assigned attorney docket number END920070185US1, filed May 20, 2007, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application also is related in some aspects to commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 11/747,182, entitled “MANAGEMENT OF ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL VISUALIZATION TECHNOLOGY”, assigned attorney docket number END920070188US1, filed May 10, 2007, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application also is related in some aspects to commonly owned patent application number (to be provided), entitled “USE OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL DATA CENTER TO SUPPORT SERVICING OUTSOURCED OPERATIONS”, assigned attorney docket number YOR920070259US1, filed concurrently herewith, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.