Patent Publication Number: US-10791036-B2

Title: Infrastructure costs and benefits tracking

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application claiming priority to Ser. No. 14/275,160 filed May 12, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,367,694, issued Jul. 30, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a method for tracking an infrastructure and in particular to a method and associated system for tracking benefits and costs associated with an IT infrastructure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Monitoring systems typically includes an inaccurate process with little flexibility. Determining attributes associated with the systems may include a complicated process that may be time consuming and require a large amount of resources. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome at least some of the deficiencies and limitations described herein above. 
     SUMMARY 
     A first aspect of the invention provides a tracking method comprising: modeling, by a computer processor of a computing system, an IT infrastructure as a collection of independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; deploying, by the computer processor, an observer agent on each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; performing, by the computer processor executing each the observer agent, a measurement process with respect to each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components, wherein the performing the measurement process comprises measuring incurred costs and benefits associated with each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; performing, by the computer processor executing each the observer agent, a mapping process associated with the measurement process; deploying, by the computer processor, a centralized aggregation module with respect to results of the mapping process; performing, by the computer processor executing the centralized aggregation module with respect to the results of the mapping process, an aggregation process with respect to the results of the mapping process; generating, by the computer processor, a two dimensional moving graph indicating results of said aggregation process; and displaying, by said computer processor, said two dimensional moving graph. 
     A second aspect of the invention provides a computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, the memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising: modeling, by the computer processor, an IT infrastructure as a collection of independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; deploying, by the computer processor, an observer agent on each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; performing, by the computer processor executing each the observer agent, a measurement process with respect to each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components, wherein the performing the measurement process comprises measuring incurred costs and benefits associated with each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; performing, by the computer processor executing each the observer agent, a mapping process associated with the measurement process; deploying, by the computer processor, a centralized aggregation module with respect to results of the mapping process; performing, by the computer processor executing the centralized aggregation module with respect to the results of the mapping process, an aggregation process with respect to the results of the mapping process; generating, by the computer processor, a two dimensional moving graph indicating results of the aggregation process; and displaying, by the computer processor, the two dimensional moving graph. 
     A third aspect of the invention provides a computer program product, comprising a computer readable hardware storage device storing a computer readable program code, the computer readable program code comprising an algorithm that when executed by a computer processor of a computing system implements a method, the method comprising: modeling, by the computer processor, an IT infrastructure as a collection of independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; deploying, by the computer processor, an observer agent on each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; performing, by the computer processor executing each the observer agent, a measurement process with respect to each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components, wherein the performing the measurement process comprises measuring incurred costs and benefits associated with each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components; performing, by the computer processor executing each the observer agent, a mapping process associated with the measurement process; deploying, by the computer processor, a centralized aggregation module with respect to results of the mapping process; performing, by the computer processor executing the centralized aggregation module with respect to the results of the mapping process, an aggregation process with respect to the results of the mapping process; generating, by the computer processor, a two dimensional moving graph indicating results of the aggregation process; and displaying, by the computer processor, the two dimensional moving graph. 
     The present invention advantageously provides a simple method and associated system capable of monitoring systems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 , including  FIGS. 1A and 1B , illustrates an IT infrastructure associated with a process for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with the IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a system for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a visualization interface for displaying two dimensional graphs for presenting monetary benefits or cost values of an IT infrastructure varying over time, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4 , including  FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C , illustrates an implementation example illustrating a computation associated with an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5 , including  FIGS. 5A and 5B , illustrates an implementation example illustrating a computation associated with operating performance/efficiency for every component of an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an algorithm detailing a process flow enabled by the system of  FIG. 2  for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a computer system used by or comprised by the systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2  for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1 , including  FIGS. 1A and 1B , illustrates an IT infrastructure  100  associated with a process for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with the IT infrastructure  100 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. IT infrastructure  100  may be enabled to allow continuous monitoring and tracking of hardware components and software components to determine cost/financial benefits of the IT infrastructure  100 . IT infrastructure  100  enables a process for visually tracking health indicators of a hardware module (e.g., CPU activity, memory usage, I/O activity, network activity, etc.) and estimating running costs and benefits (e.g., a return on investment (ROI)) of a complex IT infrastructure. IT infrastructure  100  comprises groups  102 ,  104 ,  108 , and  110  of hardware and software components connected via firewalls  114 ,  115 , and  116  and/or a network/Internet  120 . The groups  102 ,  104 ,  108 , and  110  of hardware and software components may include, inter alia:
     1. Servers and mobile computers.   2. Network hubs, switches, routers, cables, etc.   Data center facilities (on-site or remote).   4. Virtual machines.   5. Software platforms.   6. Security software (e.g., firewall, IDS, etc.).   7. Service software (e.g., web servers).   8. Assistance components (e.g., debuggers, monitors, loggers, etc.).   9. Third party software.   10. Redundant storage.   11. Components to ensure high availability of services.   12. Components to fault tolerance and robustness.   

       FIG. 2  illustrates a system  200  for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. System  200  comprises a plurality of sub-systems  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 , and  214  connected to an aggregation module  224 . Aggregation module is connected to a display apparatus  228 . Each of sub-systems  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 , and  214  comprises at least one computing device (e.g., a desk top computer, a laptop computer, a server, a server farm, a data center, etc.), software, and an observer agent. Each observer agent records its associated component&#39;s (i.e., associated computing device(s)) operational parameters (or performance efficiency), and maps it to a monetary value. Every observer agent (periodically) communicates inferred monetary values (i.e., data) to aggregation module  224 . Aggregation module  224  calculates a weighted sum of the inferred monetary values and displays them on a continuously updated graph on a 2-D screen via display apparatus  228 . 
     System  200  models the IT infrastructure as a collection of autonomous components (i.e., components of each of sub-systems  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 , and  214 ) that are connected to additional components to provide a set of business or technical capabilities. Each component is associated with an operational cost and provides a revenue benefit. System  200  measures a running cost and benefit of these components (continuously or periodically) and compares them to a baseline cost or revenue expected from the components. Additionally, system  200  derives an overall cost or benefit generated by the network of these components as a monetary value. The instantaneous or periodic monetary cost or benefit is displayed as a two-dimensional graph providing a realistic view of a return-on-investment (RoI) of an IT infrastructure. System  200  enables a process for visually tracking overall running costs and benefits of a complex IT infrastructure by:
     1. Modeling the IT infrastructure as a collection of interdependent hardware, software, and networking (communication) components.   2. Deploying an observer agent on every component to measure the cost incurred and benefit provided by an associated component on an instantaneous or periodic basis.   3. Enabling observer agents to map a cost and benefit to an incremental monetary value (e.g., in US Dollars).   4. Deploying a centralized aggregation module to perform a weighted aggregation of monetary values received from all observer agents and derive overall monetary cost or benefit of the IT infrastructure at a given instant.   5. Displaying an instantaneous monetary cost or benefit on a graph on a two-dimensional screen for human inspection.   

     Measurement criteria associated with the aforementioned process for measuring an incurred cost and benefit are associated with the following operating parameters:
     1. Hardware parameters: optimal CPU usage, optimal memory usage, I/O read and write latencies, network bandwidth utilization, network latency, network (router) throughput, etc.   2. Software parameters: query throughput, query processing latency, classify operations, processes, services, troubleshooting, failover, error-recovery, etc.   3. Miscellaneous parameters: electricity consumption, water supply, air conditioning, floor space rent for data centers, etc.   

     Baseline parameters may be obtained via specification by a user/enterprise administrator, AI or statistical techniques, etc. Mapping operating parameters to monetary values may be specified by a user/enterprise administrator as follows:
     1. A revenue gain or loss as a function of unit increase or decrease in query processing rates (or percentages).   2. A cost increase or decrease as a function of unit increase or decrease in operating parameter values (or percentages).   3. A function MF: parameter-efficiency=$$   

     A process for tracking and measuring operating parameters is described as follows: 
     Observer agents running on IT system components are programmed to record monetary values of observed features at frequent intervals. Observed features may include, inter alia:
     1. System health indicators such as CPU, memory, I/O activity, network activity.   2. System logs and audits.   

     A measurement process (executed by an observer agent) associated with measuring incurred costs and benefits for components of each of sub-systems  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 , and  214  is described as follows:
     1. For each component (M i ).
       A. For each health indicator (H j ).
           a. Record a current operational parameter value: (p j ).   b. Find a difference between current and baseline value: (p j −b j ).   c. Determine an efficiency value of the module w.r.t for parameter: (p j −b j )/b j .   d. Executing a mapping function to convert the determined efficiency value to a monetary value (positive or negative): MF((p j −b j )/b j ).   
           
       

     An aggregation process (executed by aggregation module  224 ) associated with aggregating values calculated by the observer agent is described as follows:
     1. Sum over all modules and associated health indicators: Σ i Σ j MF((p j −b j )/b j ).   2. Transmit the summation to a display agent.   

     A process (executed by system  200 ) for visually tracking running costs and benefits of an IT infrastructure is described as follows:
     1. Observer agents are deployed on every software component, hardware component, and networking component in the IT infrastructure to measure benefits and costs.   2. Each observer agent tracks health indicators of a hardware module. For example, CPU activity, memory usage, I/O activity, network activity, etc.   3. Each observer agent tracks a query servicing efficiency of an associated software module.   4. Each observer agent monitors logs and audits of an associated software module to determine if the associated software module is performing useful work for a specified time period.   5. Each observer agent monitors networking elements (e.g., routers, switches, etc.) to determine efficiency.   6. Each observer agent tracks an ON/OFF status associated with a hardware module or software module to determine the associated hardware module or software module is performing useful work or just incurring an unnecessary cost.   7. Each observer agent compares tracked performance to baseline benefits and costs to determine an efficiency of an associated component. Baseline benefits and costs may be specified by a user or generated via artificial intelligence and statistical techniques.   8. Each observer agent maps an efficiency of an associated component to a monetary value based on a valuation function specified by a human user or administrator.   9. Each observer agent estimates an impact of an associated component on the IT infrastructure based on a degree to which that component is connected to other components and factors impacting a benefit and cost computation.   10. An aggregation module aggregates all values received from the observer agents in an IT infrastructure to generate a monetary benefit or cost value for a given time instant. The monetary benefit or cost value of an IT infrastructure varying over time may be tracked on a 2-dimensional graph on a display device (as described with respect to  FIG. 3 , infra).   11. Running costs and benefits of a single unit or a sub-group of components within an IT infrastructure are measured and visually tracked.   12. A return-on-investment (RoI) associated with reconfiguring an IT infrastructure may be determined on an instantaneous basis. The RoI calculation is performed by using predictive analytics to determine an effect on the overall system with respect to adding or removing sub-components.   

       FIG. 3  illustrates a visualization interface  300  for displaying two dimensional graphs  302   a ,  302   b , and  302   c  presenting monetary benefits or cost values of an IT infrastructure varying over time, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Each X-axis represents a moving time window. Each Y-axis represents a monetary value. Two dimensional graphs  302   a ,  302   b , and  302   c  collectively illustrate an example of a visual cost/benefit tracking presentation on a 2-dimensional graphical user interface. Two dimensional graphs  302   a  illustrates a variation plot with respect to a revenue benefit gained by a sample IT infrastructure. Two dimensional graph  302   b  illustrates a cost variation comprising monetary values (e.g., U.S. dollars). Two dimensional graph  302   c  an user observed display comprising variations indicated as belonging to different zones: higher than expected revenue gain  304 , lower than expected revenue gain  305 , and a net loss  307 . Two dimensional graph  302   c  additionally presents an expected revenue gain or baseline. 
       FIG. 4 , including  FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C , illustrates an implementation example illustrating a computation associated with an IT infrastructure  402 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. IT infrastructure  402  comprises hardware components  402   a ,  402   b , and  402   c  and associated software components Worklight Server, WAS/Web Sphere Application Server, and DB2 Database Manager. Parameters  407  illustrate details with respect to observations and baseline values. Parameters  409  illustrate computations associated with baseline/expected benefit values, cost values, and net revenue gain values. 
       FIG. 5 , including  FIGS. 5A and 5B , illustrates an implementation example  500  illustrating a computation associated with operating performance/efficiency of every component of an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Implementation example  500  illustrates subsequent mapping to a monetary value via the mapping functions illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Blocks  504   a  . . .  504   c  illustrate incremental benefits and cost computations and a net incremental benefit. Graph  510  illustrates a time instant at which the computation takes place and subsequent marking of the computed net incremental benefit value. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an algorithm detailing a process flow enabled by system  200  of  FIG. 2  for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Each of the steps in the algorithm of  FIG. 6  may be enabled and executed in any order by a computer processor executing computer code. In step  600 , an IT infrastructure is modeled as a collection of independent hardware components, software components, and networking components. In step  602 , an observer agent is deployed on each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components. In step  604 , a measurement process is performed (by each of the observer agents) with respect to each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components. The measurement process includes measuring incurred costs and benefits associated with each of the independent hardware components, software components, and networking components. In step  608 , a mapping process associated with the measurement process is performed. In step  610 , a centralized aggregation module is deployed with respect to results of the mapping process. In step  612 , an aggregation process is performed with respect to results of the mapping process. In step  614 , a two dimensional moving graph indicating results of the aggregation process is generated and displayed for a user and the process is terminated in step  618 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a computer system  90  used by or comprised by the systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2  for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.” 
     The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     The computer system  90  illustrated in  FIG. 7  includes a processor  91 , an input device  92  coupled to the processor  91 , an output device  93  coupled to the processor  91 , and memory devices  94  and  95  each coupled to the processor  91 . The input device  92  may be, inter alia, a keyboard, a mouse, a camera, a touchscreen, etc. The output device  93  may be, inter alia, a printer, a plotter, a computer screen, a magnetic tape, a removable hard disk, a floppy disk, etc. The memory devices  94  and  95  may be, inter alia, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical storage such as a compact disc (CD) or a digital video disc (DVD), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), etc. The memory device  95  includes a computer code  97 . The computer code  97  includes algorithms (e.g., the algorithm of  FIG. 6 ) for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure. The processor  91  executes the computer code  97 . The memory device  94  includes input data  96 . The input data  96  includes input required by the computer code  97 . The output device  93  displays output from the computer code  97 . Either or both memory devices  94  and  95  (or one or more additional memory devices not shown in  FIG. 7 ) may include the algorithm of  FIG. 6  and may be used as a computer usable medium (or a computer readable medium or a program storage device) having a computer readable program code embodied therein and/or having other data stored therein, wherein the computer readable program code includes the computer code  97 . Generally, a computer program product (or, alternatively, an article of manufacture) of the computer system  90  may include the computer usable medium (or the program storage device). 
     Still yet, any of the components of the present invention could be created, integrated, hosted, maintained, deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service supplier who offers to monitor, measure, and track costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure. Thus the present invention discloses a process for deploying, creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and/or integrating computing infrastructure, including integrating computer-readable code into the computer system  90 , wherein the code in combination with the computer system  90  is capable of performing a method for monitoring, measuring, and tracking costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure. In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service supplier, such as a Solution Integrator, could offer to monitor, measure, and track costs and benefits associated with an IT infrastructure. In this case, the service supplier can create, maintain, support, etc. a computer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service supplier can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service supplier can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties. 
     While  FIG. 7  shows the computer system  90  as a particular configuration of hardware and software, any configuration of hardware and software, as would be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, may be utilized for the purposes stated supra in conjunction with the particular computer system  90  of  FIG. 7 . For example, the memory devices  94  and  95  may be portions of a single memory device rather than separate memory devices. 
     While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.