Resource utilization management

• US 20030115118A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Reinemann, Jeffrey K.
• Application Number:
  US10/024,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A network of processors share or trade their respective resources with others for improved resource utilization. The utilization of the resources is maintained within a predetermined upper threshold configured by an authorized user. Each of the processors includes an accounting manager that collects accounting information to monitor resources utilization at the processor; a policy manager that releases a portion of the resources to a remote one of the processors; and an out-of-range process that reduces availability of the resources when the upper threshold is exceeded.

Claims

1. A method of managing resources among networked processors that include a host processor and a remote processor, the method comprising:

collecting accounting information at each of the networked processors to monitor utilization of the resources;

releasing a local resource controlled by the host processor to the remote processor, the utilization of the local resource maintained within a pre-determined upper threshold configured by an authorized user; and

if the upper threshold is exceeded, reducing availability of the local resource to the remote processor.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising acquiring another resource from one of the processors.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the acquiring and the releasing occur at substantially different times.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the acquiring and the releasing are negotiated indirectly at a centralized location.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising releasing the local resource in exchange for a credit redeemable at a future time.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein reducing availability of the local resource includes lowering a priority of the remote processor.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the releasing is triggered when a user-defined condition is met.

2. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

negotiating an amount of the local resource and an amount of a remote resource between the host processor and the remote processor; and

releasing the amount of the local resource in exchange for receiving the amount of the remote resource.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the releasing and the receiving occur at substantially different times.

10. A resource management system comprising:

a network;

processors connected by the network, each of the processors including;

resources, the utilization of which is maintained within a pre-determined upper threshold configured by an authorized user;

an accounting manager that collects accounting information to monitor the utilization;

a policy manager that releases a portion of the resources to a remote one of the processors; and

an out-of-range process that reduces availability of the resources when the upper threshold is exceeded.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the policy manager negotiates with the remote processor to determine the portion of the resources to be released in exchange for receiving a remote resource from the remote processor.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the policy manager releases and receives at substantially different times.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the policy manager acquires another resource from one of the processors.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the policy manager acquires and releases at substantially different times.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a centralized server through which the acquiring and the releasing are negotiated.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the policy manager releases the local resource in exchange for a credit redeemable at a future time.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the out-of-range process reduces availability of the resources by lowering a priority of the remote processor.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the policy manager releases the portion of the resources when when a user-defined condition is met.

19. A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

collect accounting information at each of the networked processors to monitor utilization of the resources;

release a local resource controlled by the host processor to the remote processor, the utilization of the local resource maintained within a pre-determined upper threshold configured by an authorized user; and

if the upper threshold is exceeded, reduce availability of the local resource to the remote processor.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to:

negotiate an amount of the local resource and an amount of a remote resource between the host processor and the remote processor; and

release the amount of the local resource in exchange for receiving the amount of the remote resource.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to release the local resource and receive the remote resource at substantially different times.

22. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to acquire another resource from one of the processors.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to acquire the other resource and release the local resource at substantially different times.

24. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to negotiate indirectly at a centralized location.

25. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to release the local resource in exchange for a credit redeemable at a future time.

26. The computer program product of claim 19 further comprising instructions for causing the computer to lower a priority of the remote processor to reduce the availability of the local resource.