Software Module Deployment Methods and Apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024241709-A1
Application number	US-202118557041-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 25, 2021
Priority date	Apr 25, 2021
Publication date	Jul 18, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Various embodiments include a software module deployment method comprising: acquiring a self-description file of at least one edge device with a management device, the self-description file at least describing a software running environment and hardware resource information of the edge device; deploying a software module mirror image on a suitable edge device and establishing a connection relationship between different software module instances deployed on the edge device; automatically allocating, with the management device, a port number to be used when communication is actually performed to each software module instance deployed on the edge device; and generating a configuration file according to the software module instance deployed on each edge device, the connection relationship between different software module instances on the edge device, and the port number.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A software module deployment method comprising:
acquiring a self-description file of at least one edge device with a management device, the self-description file at least describing a software running environment and hardware resource information of the edge device; deploying a software module mirror image on a suitable edge device and establishing a connection relationship between different software module instances deployed on the edge device; automatically allocating, with the management device, a port number to be used when communication is actually performed to each software module instance deployed on the edge device; and generating a configuration file according to the software module instance deployed on each edge device, the connection relationship between different software module instances on the edge device, and the port number.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: using a container editing tool to actually install, on an edge device, a software module mirror image from the management device according to the configuration file; and
establishing a connection relationship between software module instances on the edge device.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein deploying a software module mirror image on a suitable edge device comprises deploying a software module mirror image on a suitable edge device on the basis of at least one of the following: the software running environment and hardware resource information of the edge device, hardware and software requirements of the software module mirror image in the management device, and user demands.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein deploying the software module mirror image on a suitable edge device comprises at least one of the following:
deploying a software module mirror image requiring a specific hardware resource on an edge device having the specific hardware resource; deploying a software module mirror image capable of realizing communication protocol conversion for an edge device incapable of connecting to an IP network; and deploying a software module mirror image having a real-time performance requirement on an edge device having real-time computing capability.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising displaying, on the graphical interface, a running state, connection relationship, and port number of a software module instance installed on the edge device.

6 . A method for deploying a software module on an edge device, the method comprising:
providing a self-description file of the edge device to a management device, the self-description file at least describing a software running environment and hardware resource information of the edge device; receiving a software module mirror image deployed by the management device and installing the mirror image on the edge device; and performing communication via a port number allocated by the management device on an installed software module instance.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising reporting a running state of the software module instance from the edge device to the management device.

8 . A software module deployment apparatus disposed on a management device, the apparatus comprising:
a self-description file acquisition unit configured to acquire a self-description file of at least one edge device, the self-description file at least describing a software running environment and hardware resource information of the edge device; a deployment unit configured to deploy a software module mirror image on a suitable edge device and establish a connection relationship between different software module instances deployed on the edge device, according to an instruction of a user, on a graphical interface of a graphical management tool of the management device; a port number allocating unit configured to automatically allocate, to each software module instance deployed on the edge device, a port number to be used when communication is actually performed; and a configuration file generating unit configured to generate a configuration file according to the software module instance deployed on each edge device, the connection relationship between different software module instances on the edge device, and the port number.

9 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising an installation unit configured to, according to the configuration file, use a container editing tool to actually install, on an edge device, a software module mirror image on the management device, and establish a connection relationship between software module instances on the edge device.

10 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the deployment unit is further configured to deploy a software module mirror image on a suitable edge device on the basis of at least one of the following: the software running environment and hardware resource information of the edge device, hardware and software requirements of the software module mirror image in the management device, and user demands.

11 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the deployment unit is further configured to execute at least one of the following:
deploying a software module mirror image requiring a specific hardware resource on an edge device having the specific hardware resource; deploying a software module mirror image capable of realizing communication protocol conversion for an edge device incapable of connecting to an IP network; and deploying a software module mirror image having a real-time performance requirement on an edge device having real-time computing capability.

12 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a monitoring unit configured to display, on the graphical interface, a running state, connection relationship, and port number of a software module instance installed on the edge device.

13 . An edge computing system comprising:
a management device; and at least one edge device; wherein the management device is operable to deploy a software module on the at least one edge device by: acquiring a self-description file of at least one edge device with a management device, the self-description file at least describing a software running environment and hardware resource information of the edge device; deploying a software module mirror image on a suitable edge device and establishing connection relationship between different software module instances deployed on the edge device; automatically allocating, with the management device, a port number to be used when communication is actually performed to each software module instance deployed on the edge device; and generating a configuration file according to the software module instance deployed on each edge device, the connection relationship between different software module instances on the edge device and the port number.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Zhang chuan yu
• Li Dong
• Yang xiao bo
• Wang tong zhou
• Kang yao lei
• Zhang Jian Yong

Classifications

• G06F8/63 Primary

  Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order · CPC title