Patent Application
20080278478
The invention relates generally to managing an operations center, and more particularly to a system and method of generating a holographic three dimensional view of an operations center that provides a real time operational mirror of an actual data center.
As greater and greater demands are placed on operations centers, such as those utilized by information technology providers, utility providers, military and intelligence, service centers, etc., the greater the management challenges become. For instance, a data center, which is used to house mission critical computer systems and associated components (e.g., server hardware, environmental controls, redundant/backup power supplies, redundant data communications connections, high security systems, etc.), may be housed in large buildings covering tens of thousands of square feet. Managing all of the operations of such a facility can be both difficult and costly.
One approach to managing such a facility is to utilize some type of virtual representation of the operations center, which can provide operational information and allow the operator to respond or act accordingly. However, such approaches lack the ability to provide robust representations to allow a user to navigate all of the systems in such an environment. Accordingly, a need exists for a virtual network operations center that addresses the above-mentioned issues.
The present invention addresses the above-mentioned problems, as well as others, by providing a virtual network operations center to provide an enhanced method of human interaction with systems and processes in an operations center.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a system for implementing a virtual network operations center, comprising: a system for rendering three dimensional (3D) models in an observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center; a system for rendering a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display provides a message board for operators viewing the observation space; a cueing system for generating cues within the 3D models; and a communications hub for providing bidirectional communications with the associated operations center.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a method for implementing a virtual network operations center, comprising: rendering three dimensional (3D) models in an observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center; rendering a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display provides a message board for operators viewing the observation space; and providing bidirectional communications with the associated operations center.
In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for implementing a virtual network operations center, comprising: rendering three dimensional (3D) models in an observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center; rendering a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display provides a message board for operators viewing the observation space; and providing bidirectional communications with the associated operations center.
In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method for deploying a system for implementing a virtual network operations center, comprising: providing a computer infrastructure being operable to: render three dimensional (3D) models in an observation space, wherein the 3D models mirror actual components in an associated operations center; render a virtual display in the observation space, wherein the virtual display provides a message board for operators viewing the observation space; and provide bidirectional communications with the associated operations center.
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:
Referring now to drawings,
VNOC 18 includes a system for generating an observation platform 20 from which the VNOC 18 can be viewed, a navigation system 22 for navigating about the VNOC 18, an operational interface system 24 for interfacing with the VNOC 18 to effectuate actual changes in the operations center, a system for rendering three dimensional models 26 (also referred to herein as rezzers) from 3D models database 34, a system for rendering virtual displays 28, a cuing system 30, a communications hub 32, and a virtual enterprise (i.e., holographic) service bus 17. These components work together to generate and maintain a mirror image of operations center 36, and to provide spatial, visual, and audio cues that alert and inform operators. Operations centers 36 may comprise any type of enterprise management environment, e.g., a data center, a utility service providers, military command and control systems, etc.
In the illustrative examples described herein, VNOC 18 is generated as a holographic observation space, which is automatically rendered and its state maintained with operations center data 38 from a real operations center 36. As noted, VNOC 18 mirrors both the spatial and operational configuration of the real operations center 36. Thus, an operator may navigate VNOC 18 as if they were inside the real operations center 36. In an illustrative embodiment, the actual place, size, and shape of components in the operations center are maintained in the VNOC 18.
3D models 34 may include a representation of any component found in the real operations center 36, including systems, processes, devices, programs, equipment, servers, HVAC, floor plans, etc. Moreover, the system for rendering 3D models 36 (i.e., rezzers) can be configured to display expanded or layered views of the internals of any component. For example, clicking on a server may show visual cues of the CPU, hard disk, and logical partitions. Further clicking on any of these components shows or expands the next level of detail. Middleware architecture can also be rendered in 3D in the VNOC 18 to show a 3D representation of operating systems, application servers, databases, web services, transaction flows, and ultimately virtual business processes. The hardware and software renderings may be layered in 3D on a rendered platform (e.g., surface or floor), and appears as a virtual “stack” with the systems on the bottom, and business processes on the top.
Cueing system 30 provides a mechanism for cuing an operator of some relevant information associated with a modeled component. In particular, cuing system 30 may present a variety of visual and audio cues to alert operators of conditions in the operations center 36. These cues can for instance comprise alerts that change a color of a component, highlight a component with a 3D arrow, sound an alert message, set off various beacons, etc. Cues may occur in response to hardware faults, middleware or operating system configuration issues, business process performance issues, etc.
Communications hub 32 manages communications between VNOC 18 and operations center 36. In this illustrative embodiment, operations center data 38 is encapsulated in packets using XML-RPC (remote procedure calls) encoded with the Holographic Protocol Architecture (HPA). HPA is a predefined protocol utilized by a scalable interface, e.g., implemented as a ‘2D’ java server that processes operations information associated with operations center 36, which is ultimately rendered in 3D by VNOC 18. Communications hub 32 also manages other communications between VNOC 18 and operations center 36, such as email.
Communications hub 32 receives messages (i.e., operations center data 38), and decodes the packets via a protocol driver. These packets are then used by the VNOC 18 for rendering 3D models 26, by virtual displays, and by cues within the VNOC 18. The communications hub 32 also manages outgoing communications, and has a packet driver and queuing system to dispatch packets over responding XML-RPC connections.
Communications with the VNOC 18 is based on inter-object messages using communications channels and email. For example, the rezzers receive communications about which types of equipment, middleware, and process objects to model, and the virtual displays receive information of interest about the operations being managed. Operators are able to perform all management functions by interacting with 3D models, such as provisioning an LPAR, a cluster, or an entire grid, as well as install and configure operating systems and middleware.
As noted, VNOC 40 also includes a virtual display 46. Virtual display 46 may include any type of information that might be relevant to the operator or operations of the VNOC 40. For instance, it might include operational information, help information, notifications from other operators viewing the VNOC 40, etc. In this case, virtual display 46 is letting the operator know what action they have take, possible courses of action, and a message that the operator has new email.
Referring again to
I/O 14 may comprise any system for exchanging information to/from an external resource. External devices/resources may comprise any known type of external device, including a monitor/display, speakers, storage, another computer system, a hand-held device, keyboard, mouse, voice recognition system, speech output system, printer, facsimile, pager, etc. Bus 17 provides a communication link between each of the components in the computer system 10 and likewise may comprise any known type of transmission link, including electrical, optical, wireless, etc. Although not shown, additional components, such as cache memory, communication systems, system software, etc., may be incorporated into computer system 10.
Access to computer system 10 may be provided over a network 36 such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN), etc. Communication could occur via a direct hardwired connection (e.g., serial port), or via an addressable connection that may utilize any combination of wireline and/or wireless transmission methods. Moreover, conventional network connectivity, such as Token Ring, Ethernet, WiFi or other conventional communications standards could be used. Still yet, connectivity could be provided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-based protocol. In this instance, an Internet service provider could be used to establish interconnectivity. Further, as indicated above, communication could occur in a client-server or server-server environment.
It should be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention could be offered as a business method on a subscription or fee basis. For example, a computer system 10 comprising VNOC 18 could be created, maintained and/or deployed by a service provider that offers the functions described herein for customers. That is, a service provider could offer to provide a virtual network operating system as described above.
It is understood that the systems, functions, mechanisms, methods, engines and modules described herein can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. They may be implemented by any type of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein. A typical combination of hardware and software could be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. Alternatively, a specific use computer, containing specialized hardware for carrying out one or more of the functional tasks of the invention could be utilized. In a further embodiment, part or all of the invention could be implemented in a distributed manner, e.g., over a network such as the Internet.
The present invention can also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods and functions described herein, and which—when loaded in a computer system—is able to carry out these methods and functions. Terms such as computer program, software program, program, program product, software, etc., in the present context mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system 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.
The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
