Patents by Inventor James Michael Ferris

James Michael Ferris has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160301591
    Abstract: A monitoring system can monitor computing processes in clouds. The monitoring system can monitor the clouds for certain events associated with the computing processes. The monitoring system can receive, from the user, a particular event and an action to perform upon the occurrence of the event. Once received, the monitoring system can compare the information collected during monitoring against the event specified by the user. Once the event occurs, the monitoring system can perform the action associated with the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Publication number: 20160277312
    Abstract: A method of generating application build options in a cloud computing environment that includes receiving application usage data by a set of currently instantiated applications. The method further includes identifying, in view of the application usage data, a set of application resources in a cloud computing environment. The method further includes identifying additional application resources to be added to the set of application resources, to produce a modified set of application resources. The method further includes determining a cost of utilizing the modified set of application resources. The method further includes generating, in view of the cost of utilizing the modified set of application resources, a recommendation to modify the set of currently instantiated applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Patent number: 9442769
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating cloud deployment targets based on predictive workload estimation. In aspects, a set of usage histories can store records for user workloads in a host cloud-based network recording the consumption of processor, memory, storage, operating system, application, or other resources subscribed to by the user. The operator of the cloud management system hosting the workloads of one or more users can track, identify, and manage the predictive marginal resource capacities of the set of host clouds, based on those historical usage patterns. The collective usage history can indicate, for instance, that a number of operating workloads tend to display a small under-utilization of processor or memory resources during certain overnight periods on a regular basis. The operator can then harvest those predictive marginal capacities, and offer a new user or workload a potential hosting subscription based on those expected resource availabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Publication number: 20160261683
    Abstract: Data migration among cloud-based storage networks is described. A method may include analyzing, by a processor, whether data from a data distribution service is consistent with a data payload of a host cloud provider. The method also includes determining, by the processor, in view of the analyzing, whether the data is a replica of the data payload of the host cloud provider. The method further includes determining, by the processor, whether to initiate a transport of the data to a resource associated with a target cloud provider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9436459
    Abstract: A compatibility service can determine the compatibility of different software programs provide by different vendors in a cloud. The compatibility service can identify the software programs provided by different vendors in the cloud and which of the identified software programs are compatible. The compatibility service can generate and store a record of the compatible software programs and provide identification, tracking, and mapping services based on the record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Patent number: 9438484
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to managing multi-level service level agreements (SLAs) in cloud-based networks. A resource managing module can manage resources in the cloud-based networks in response to the detection of one or more triggering events. In embodiments, the triggering events can be changeovers in time periods, or meeting or exceeding thresholds associated with end user operation of the resources in the cloud-based networks. The multi-level SLAs can specify how to adjust the resources in the cloud-based networks in response to the detection of the triggering events. The resource managing module can adjust applicable resources in the cloud-based networks as specified by the multi-level SLAs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Patent number: 9419913
    Abstract: Cloud resource provisioning is described. A cloud resource provisioning method may include obtaining cloud resource usage data by a process, wherein the cloud resource usage data identifies a cloud resource consumed by the process and a usage level associated with the cloud resource. The method may also include assigning an importance indicator to the cloud resource, and identifying a recommended cloud resource having available capacity with respect to the usage level in view of the importance indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Patent number: 9413811
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for establishing upload channels to a cloud data distribution (CDD) service. In particular, an administrator of a user network can desire to migrate data to a cloud-based network via the CDD service. The administrator can provide specifications for transferring the data to the CDD service via a connection between the CDD service and the user network. The CDD service can generate a set of options for transferring the data based on the specifications and a specification of the connection. The set of options can be provided to the administrator, the administrator can select one of the options, and the transfer of the data can be initiated according to the selected option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9407572
    Abstract: A processor replicates a request for a computer resource to a plurality of clouds, and updates a repository in view of resource offerings received from the plurality of clouds. The repository stores resource and service data for each cloud. The processor identifies resource and service data in the repository that match information specified in the request in view of the updated repository, and provides information to a requesting entity indicating resource and service data in the repository satisfy the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9389980
    Abstract: A monitoring system can monitor computing processes in clouds. The monitoring system can monitor the clouds for certain events associated with the computing processes. The monitoring system can receive, from the user, a particular event and an action to perform upon the occurrence of the event. Once received, the monitoring system can compare the information collected during monitoring against the event specified by the user. Once the event occurs, the monitoring system can perform the action associated with the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Patent number: 9363198
    Abstract: A record of computing resources for a cloud computing environment and an additional cloud computing environment may be maintained. Available computing resources in the cloud computing environment and the additional cloud computing environment may be determinable from the record of computing resources. A request to instantiate a virtual machine in the cloud computing environment may be received. The virtual machine may be instantiated in the additional cloud computing environment in response to determining that the cloud computing environment lacks the available computing resources and inactive reserve resources to support the virtual machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9354939
    Abstract: A decision system for providing customized application build options to users of a cloud computing environment. The decision system can receive user usage history data and determine a customized set of application resources based on the usage history data. Information about the customized set of application resources can then be supplied to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Patent number: 9344484
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for data migration among a plurality of cloud-based storage networks. In aspects, an administrator of a data payload may wish to migrate the data payload from a host cloud network to a target cloud provider to leverage cost, security, redundancy, consolidation, or other advantages. A data distribution service can identify data sets replicated from the data payload and located on the data distribution service or other staging sites. The data distribution service or other logic can examine consistencies and/or differences between the data payload in the host cloud network and the replicated data payloads. Depending on the consistencies and/or differences, the data distribution service can directly transport a replicated data payload from the respective staging site to a target cloud in lieu of migrating the data payload out of the host cloud network to the target cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9306868
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cross-cloud computing resource usage tracking. An example method comprises: receiving a request comprising an operational specification of a computing resource; selecting a first provisioning cloud in view of the operational specification; receiving an updated operational specification of the computing resource; receiving a first provisioning offer from the first provisioning cloud and a second provisioning offer from a second provisioning cloud responsive to the updated operational specification; selecting the second provisioning cloud in view of the first and second provisioning offers; providing an interface between the first computing resource and a second computing resource residing in a second provisioning cloud; and tracking resource usage data of the first computing resource across the provisioning clouds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Patent number: 9262498
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating optimized host placement of data payload in a cloud-based storage network. In aspects, a user can maintain a user premise network including servers, clients, local area networks, data stores, and/or other network assets. An administrator or other user of the premise network may wish to extract data from the premise network and transfer that data payload to a set of host storage clouds to leverage cost, redundancy, consolidation, or other cloud advantages. The placement tool can evaluate potential target cloud-based data stores based on various or multiple parameters for the hosting features offered by different cloud providers. The tool can generate a determination of the target host or hosts which can provide the best-matched or optimized data hosting facilities or services for the user's data payload in the cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9225791
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for staged data migration between data sources and a cloud-based storage network. In aspects, a user can maintain a user premise network including servers, clients, local area networks, data stores, and/or other network assets. An administrator or other user of the premise network may wish to extract data from the premise network and transfer that data payload to a set of host storage clouds to leverage cost, redundancy, consolidation, or other cloud advantages. A cloud data delivery (CDD) service can be established to stage the upload of the data payload to the set of host storage clouds using a set of managed or dedicated lines to the CDD service, and to the host storage clouds at network edge. The connections between the premise network/CDD service and CDD service/host storage clouds can be selected and/or optimized to provide high-bandwidth connections tailored to the schedule, cost, or other requirements of the data payload to be transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9210173
    Abstract: An originator of an appliance can independently secure the appliance for instantiation in the cloud, separate from the security level of the cloud. The originator can secure the appliance utilizing a secure rights application. The secure rights application can be configured to “wrap” an appliance in a security container. The security container can limit access to the applications and operating systems contained in the appliance, but allow the appliance to operate normally once instantiated in the cloud. The secure rights application can be configured to cryptographically secure the appliance in order limit the ability of unauthorized parties from accessing the components of the appliance while maintaining the functionality of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventor: James Michael Ferris
  • Patent number: 9202225
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the aggregate monitoring of utilization data for vendor products in cloud networks. A service can be abstracted and provided external to a set of cloud networks which can access the management system(s), vendor databases, or other resources in those clouds, and generate selective reports on application or other usage across those diverse cloud networks. A network user may wish to generate a report on the usage history of software or services in multiple host clouds, without establishing or accessing individual tracking servers or services in each of the host cloud networks. In aspects, the user may also wish to generate an aggregate report combining multiple vendors, user groups, software, or other attributes. The usage report(s) can be configured to use different criteria or generate different outputs on a dynamic basis, e.g. in different times frames, or altering reports under different usage conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Publication number: 20150319068
    Abstract: A system and method include determining, by a processing device, a first quantity associated with usage of a hardware resource on which a virtual machine is instantiated in a cloud, determining, by the processing device from the virtual machine, a second quantity associated with usage of a software resource utilized on the virtual machine, and determining usage of the cloud in view of the first quantity and the second quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros
  • Publication number: 20150242600
    Abstract: A processor receives, from a software vendor system, a rule for converting a software license associated with a software program to a cloud software license associated with using the software program in a cloud computing environment, and receives, from an owner computer of the software license, a request to convert the software license to the cloud software license. The request includes an identifier of the software vendor system and a license identifier. The processor identifies the rule for converting the software license to the cloud software license in view of the received identifier of the software vendor system and the license identifier and converts the software license to the cloud software license in response to the request by changing one or more terms of the software license, in view of the rule, wherein the cloud software license controls usage of a subscription for the software program in the cloud computing environment. The processor transmits the cloud software license to the owner computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: James Michael Ferris, Gerry Edward Riveros