Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing computer system management on an activity basis. In one embodiment, computer-system-related items are associated with at least one activity to be performed using the computer system. Then, management procedures are established for the at least one activity. Next, when the computer system is used to perform the at least one activity, the computer-system-related items associated with the at least one activity are managed in accordance with the management procedures established for the at least one activity. In another embodiment, apparatus and methods monitor patterns of use of a computer system. Using information gathered during monitoring operations, activity models are formulated, and for each activity model a management plan is devised. After management plans have been devised for each activity model, the use of the computer system is monitored to identify actions being performed with the computer system.

Abstract: One aspect includes a method for constructing a specified virtual solution, comprising: obtaining a solution profile from a solution repository catalog, wherein the solution profile identifies one or more resources for the specified virtual solution; acquiring the one or more resources identified by the solution profile from one or more devices; and assembling the acquired one or more resources in accordance with the solution profile to construct the specified virtual solution. Another aspect includes a method for providing a Resource-as-a-Service (RaaS) functionality in a cloud architecture, comprising: implementing a software defined infrastructure comprising distributed workload placement, location management, and data management; and implementing a RaaS layer comprising resource discovery and registration of capabilities.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product alter a template used to display content on a user interface. One or more processors receive a transmission from the one or more hardware devices that describes a current cognitive state of a user. The processor(s) receive content to be presented to the user on a user interface, and identify template components that are appropriate for presenting the content to the user based on the current cognitive state of the user. The processor(s) alter an initial template used to present the content, such that altering the initial template creates an altered template, and where the altered template uses the template components that are determined to be appropriate for presenting the content to the user based on the current cognitive state of the user. The processor(s) then present the content on the user interface using the altered template.

Abstract: Offline functionality-based co-ranking and clustering is carried out on a knowledge base that characterizes a heterogeneous information technology services network including a plurality of services, a plurality of providers, and a plurality of attributes. Results of the functionality-based co-ranking and clustering are stored as annotations of the services and the providers in the knowledge base, to obtain an annotated knowledge base. A service requirement is obtained from a customer requiring information technology services. The annotated knowledge base is queried, based on the service requirement; and an ordered list of at least given ones of the services, based on the querying, is returned to the customer.

Abstract: A system for managing cloud-based resources. The system includes a computer interface for receiving a computing resource. A computer including at least one central processing unit is configured to determine that the computing resource is abandoned and, upon determining the computer resource is abandoned, determine a disposition action for the computing resource.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for narrowing a user's web search based on the user's web browsing history, where a log of webpages downloaded by the user is generated. A search query is received in an interface; and, a processor connected to the interface filters results of the search query based on the log. The filtering of the results includes restricting results of the search query to only webpages that were downloaded by a user when the user was in a select emotional state, only webpages that were downloaded by the user when the user was located in a select geographic location, only webpages that were downloaded by the user from a select device, and/or only webpages that were downloaded by the user when at least one select application was running on a device that downloaded the webpages. The filtered results are displayed on a display connected to the processor.

Abstract: A method to generate executables for a business process execution language server includes: defining a process definition that defines a sequence of activities to be performed without specifying computer code used to implement the executables; binding each activity in the sequence to an action within a data type that is representative of a service associated with the corresponding activity; binding each data type to an instance of the corresponding data type that is representative of the service and a provider of the service; and generating the computer code based on the bindings.

Abstract: Software that dynamically updates virtual machine templates at deterministic intervals in order to reduce patching time, by performing the following operations: (i) identifying a virtual machine (VM) provisioned according to a first VM template; (ii) initiating a patching process that applies a set of patch(es) to the VM, thereby creating a patched VM; (iii) determining that an amount of time taken to complete the patching process is greater than a predetermined threshold; and (iv) responsive to determining that the amount of time taken to complete the patching process is greater than the predetermined threshold, generating a second VM template based, at least in part, on the patched VM.

Abstract: Offline functionality-based co-ranking and clustering is carried out on a knowledge base that characterizes a heterogeneous information technology services network including a plurality of services, a plurality of providers, and a plurality of attributes. Results of the functionality-based co-ranking and clustering are stored as annotations of the services and the providers in the knowledge base, to obtain an annotated knowledge base. A service requirement is obtained from a customer requiring information technology services. The annotated knowledge base is queried, based on the service requirement; and an ordered list of at least given ones of the services, based on the querying, is returned to the customer.

Abstract: Software that generates a message containing program instructions for multiple layers in a multi-layer environment, by performing the following operations: (i) receiving an operation to perform across a multilayer computing environment; (ii) generating a message for performing the operation across the multilayer computing environment, wherein the message includes a plurality of layer portions, wherein each layer portion corresponds to a respective layer in the multilayer computing environment and includes computer program instructions for performing a set of sub-operation(s) of the operation; and (iii) orchestrating, by one or more processors, performance of the operation by sending the message between layers in the multilayer computing environment, wherein when the message is located at a respective layer, the layer performs its respective set of sub-operation(s) according to the computer program instructions included in the layer's respectively corresponding layer portion of the message.

Abstract: Software that dynamically updates virtual machine templates at deterministic intervals in order to reduce patching time, by performing the following operations: (i) identifying a virtual machine (VM) provisioned according to a first VM template; (ii) initiating a patching process that applies a set of patch(es) to the VM, thereby creating a patched VM; (iii) determining that an amount of time taken to complete the patching process is greater than a predetermined threshold; and (iv) responsive to determining that the amount of time taken to complete the patching process is greater than the predetermined threshold, generating a second VM template based, at least in part, on the patched VM.

Abstract: In an approach for adjusting an order of actions to process a request, a processor receives a request that includes a set of actions to be performed in a first order. A processor receives monitored information of a service utilized to perform at least one action of the set of actions. A processor compares the monitored information to previously stored information. A processor determines that at least one aspect of the service is experiencing decreased performance based on the comparison. A processor identifies a first action of the set of actions corresponding to the at least one aspect of the service experiencing decreased performance. A processor adjusts the request, such that the request includes the set of actions to be performed in a second order, wherein the second order includes the first action is in a different position. A processor causes the adjusted request to be processed.

Abstract: In an approach for creating a service composition, a processor receives a plurality of software modules, wherein each software module performs part of a service requested by one or more users on a network. A processor collects one or more attributes and one or more dependencies for each of the plurality of software modules. A processor appends information about the attributes and the dependencies to each respective software module. A processor stores each of the plurality of software modules with the respective appended information in a database. A processor creates a service composition comprised of a combination of the plurality of software modules, based on the appended information and the service requested by the one or more users on the network.

Abstract: A computer processor monitors a service marketplace and a deployed service application that includes one or more services based on a set of service requirements. The computer processor collects consumption data of the deployed service application and service marketplace information including change and trend information associated with the service marketplace. The computer processor analyzes the consumption data and the service marketplace information with respect to the set of service requirements, and the computer processor determines a gap between at least a requirement of the set of requirements and the consumption data, and a gap between at least a requirement of the set of requirements and the service marketplace information.

Abstract: In an approach for creating a service composition, a processor receives a plurality of software modules, wherein each software module performs part of a service requested by one or more users on a network. A processor collects one or more attributes and one or more dependencies for each of the plurality of software modules. A processor appends information about the attributes and the dependencies to each respective software module. A processor stores each of the plurality of software modules with the respective appended information in a database. A processor creates a service composition comprised of a combination of the plurality of software modules, based on the appended information and the service requested by the one or more users on the network.

Abstract: Offline functionality-based co-ranking and clustering is carried out on a knowledge base that characterizes a heterogeneous information technology services network including a plurality of services, a plurality of providers, and a plurality of attributes. Results of the functionality-based co-ranking and clustering are stored as annotations of the services and the providers in the knowledge base, to obtain an annotated knowledge base. A service requirement is obtained from a customer requiring information technology services. The annotated knowledge base is queried, based on the service requirement; and an ordered list of at least given ones of the services, based on the querying, is returned to the customer.

Abstract: A warning system and method include a memory device configured to store one or more condition criteria. A monitoring device is configured to monitor a status of the one or more condition criteria. The monitoring device is triggered by a triggering event related to the status to generate a warning signal responsive to the triggering event. A mobile computing device is configured to communicate with the monitoring device and an external network to receive the warning signal and output a warning message on the external network to one or more designated entities.

Abstract: A natural language specification of at least one high level information technology services requirement is obtained from a user, via a conversational interface; the same is parsed into first pre-defined semi-structured data, using a conversation parser. Based on the first pre-defined semi-structured data, a subset of candidate information technology services is identified, with a dialog engine, from a plurality of candidate information technology services provided by a plurality of vendors, the dialog engine is used to formulate a response including second pre-defined semi-structured data. The response is reverse-parsed into a natural language response, using the conversation parser. The natural language response includes a question for the user to assist in further refining the subset of candidate information technology services; the natural language response is presented to the user via the conversational interface.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes, in an electronic device, forming a hypothesis that a situation exists based on one or more situation definitions and data from one or more sensors accessible by the electronic device. The method includes searching for other electronic devices via one or more network interfaces in the electronic device and establishing a network with one or more other electronic devices found during the searching. The method also includes receiving information from the one or more other electronic devices, the information corresponding to the situation. The method further includes, based at least on the information, modifying the hypothesis that the situation exists. Apparatus and computer readable memory media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements are provided. A method for custom-fitting a service solution to consumer requirements, comprises acquiring a request for the service solution from a consumer via a conversational interface, and issuing a query to a service knowledge base to obtain a set of service knowledge representation items from the service knowledge base and analyzing each service knowledge representation item to determine whether a custom-fit service solution can be developed.