Method, system, and computer program product for on demand enablement of dormant computing resources

• US 20040215748A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Godwin, Lisa L., Swick, Bradley D., Gregor, Michael L., Lambert, Danna M., Boonie, E. Maria, Janey, Richard H. Jr., Seidell, Jeffrey L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,334,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A method for enabling dormant computer hardware resources in a computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources. The method includes accepting a customer request to enable a set of dormant hardware resources, and providing computer readable instructions to a customer accessible console in communication with the computer system. The instructions are installable by the customer, and are capable of enabling dormant computer hardware resources upon installation. An order process establishes prerequisites, facilitates customer order placement, and provides rapid order fulfillment. Prerequisites include contract terms, information describing the computing system configuration, access to provider systems, and customer system setup. Ordering is facilitated through information management, configuration rules, and an interactive interface, presenting valid configuration options to the customer. Fulfillment is facilitated through parallel processing, providing computer readable upgrade instructions nearly concurrently with provider'"'"'s internal order approval. An alternative embodiment provides upgrade instructions before provider'"'"'s internal order approval.

Claims

1. A method of enabling a subset of dormant computer hardware resources in an upgradeable computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources, said method comprising:

accepting an electronic customer request to enable said subset of dormant computer hardware resources;

providing, to a customer accessible console in communication with said upgradeable computer system, computer readable instructions capable of enabling said subset of dormant resources, said computer readable instructions being customer installable.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an invoice upon customer download of said computer readable instructions, said invoice reflecting all resources said computer readable instructions are capable of enabling.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing data at a supplier server prior to said accepting, said data indicative of a current hardware configuration of said upgradeable computer system, said data reflecting currently installed resources, currently enabled resources, and dormant resources.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising modifying said data upon customer installation of said computer readable instructions, said data indicative of a new hardware configuration of said upgradeable computer system and reflecting resources actually enabled.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, prior to said accepting, presenting information describing a current hardware configuration of said upgradeable computer system, and information describing said set of dormant resources available to be enabled.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to said accepting, generating a pricing methodology for enabling said subset of dormant resources.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said pricing methodology comprises:

establishing a price per unit of performance of said upgradeable computing system, and

storing a plurality of performance values, each of said performance values being indicative of the increase in performance expected to be achieved by enabling a member of said set of dormant resources, and

generating an order price by multiplying said price per unit of performance by a sum of said performance values associated with said subset of dormant resources.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to said accepting:

providing first information related to a current configuration of said upgradeable computer system, and

providing second information related to a proposed configuration of said upgradeable computer system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said second information comprises:

an order price, and

information describing resources that would be enabled after installation of said computer readable instructions.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said second information further comprises a warning if said proposed configuration is invalid.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer readable instructions are provided on a temporary basis.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising approving said customer request.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said approving is performed substantially concurrently with said providing.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said providing is performed prior to said approving.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an indicia of approval prior to said accepting, and wherein said accepting is performed only upon said receiving.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said upgradeable computing system is leased.

17. At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of enabling a subset of dormant computer hardware resources in an upgradeable computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources, said method comprising:

accepting an electronic customer request to enable said subset of dormant computer hardware resources;

providing, to a customer accessible console in communication with said upgradeable computer system, computer readable instructions capable of enabling said subset of dormant resources, said computer readable instructions being customer installable.

18. The at least one program storage device of claim 17 further comprising, prior to said accepting, presenting information describing a current hardware configuration of said upgradeable computer system, and information describing said set of dormant resources available to be enabled.

19. The at least one program storage device of claim 17, further comprising prior to said accepting:

providing first information related to a current configuration of said upgradeable computer system, and

providing second information related to a proposed configuration of said upgradeable computer system.

20. The at least one program storage device of claim 19, wherein said second information comprises:

an order price, and

information describing resources that would be enabled after installation of said computer readable instructions.

21. The at least one program storage device of claim 19, wherein said second information further comprises a warning if said proposed configuration is invalid.

22. The at least one program storage device of claim 17, wherein said providing is performed prior to order approval.

23. The at least one program storage device of claim 17 further comprising receiving an indicia of approval prior to said accepting, and wherein said accepting is performed only upon said receiving.

24. A system for enabling a subset of dormant computer hardware resources in an upgradeable computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources, said system comprising:

means for accepting an electronic customer request to enable said subset of dormant computer hardware resources;

means for providing, to a customer accessible console in communication with said upgradeable computer system, computer readable instructions capable of enabling said subset of dormant resources, said computer readable instructions being customer installable.

25. A system for enabling a subset of dormant computer hardware resources in an upgradeable computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources, said system comprising:

at least one server, said server having;

a user interface for receiving an electronic customer request to enable said subset of dormant computer hardware resources;

at least one database for storing computer readable instructions capable of enabling said subset of dormant resources, said computer readable instructions being customer installable;

a communication link to said upgradeable computer system for providing said computer readable instructions to a customer accessible console in communication with said upgradeable computer system.