Selective computer component activation apparatus method and system

• US 20050039061A1
• Filed: 08/13/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schultz, Craig Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]

Abstract

An apparatus for selectively activating a component on a computing device includes an authorization server that authorizes activation of a component on a computing device in response to an activation request, a component management module that activates the component in response to receiving authorization from the authorization server, and a tracking system that receives transaction data corresponding to the component in response to activating the component. The apparatus may also include a billing system that charges a customer account in response to activation of the component. In certain embodiments, the component management module includes a detection module that requests component activation in response to detecting an increased computing load on the computing device. The detection module may also request component deactivation in response to detecting a decreased computing load on the computing device. Thus the present invention integrates dynamic adjustment of computing power with secure transactions and automatic billing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively activating a component on a computing device, the apparatus comprising:

an authorization server configured to authorize activation of a component on a computing device in response to an activation request;

a component management module configured to activate the component in response to receiving authorization from the authorization server; and

a tracking system configured to receive transaction data corresponding to the component in response to activating the component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component management module is further configured to deactivate the component in response to an authorized deactivation request.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a billing system configured to generate charges against a customer account in response to activation of the component.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the charges are based on a component capacity.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the charges are based on usage of the component.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the authorization module is further configured to transmit an encrypted key to the component management module in response to authorizing activation of the component.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the computing device comprises an activation module configured to receive the encrypted key from the component management module and activate the component in response to receiving the encrypted key.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a detection module configured to request component activation in response to detecting an increased computing load on the computing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detection module is further configured to request component deactivation in response to detecting a decreased computing load on the computing device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component management module comprises a remote access module configured to communicate with the authorization server via an intersite network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the intersite network is selected from the group consisting of a wide area network and the Internet.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component management module comprises a component selection module configured to select the component from a group of components on the computing device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component management module comprises a log configured to append transaction data in response to activating the component.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein transaction data comprises data selected from the group consisting of component identification data, user identification data, billing data, and time data corresponding to a time of activation of the component.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a tape storage device, storage space on a tape storage device, microcode instructions, a storage volume, storage space on a storage volume, a memory module, storage space on a memory module, a cache memory, storage space in a cache memory, a firmware module, a software module, a software library, network bandwidth, and a processor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of a controller, an interface adapter card operably connected to a controller, microcode instructions for a controller, firmware updates for a controller, and a memory operably connected to a controller.

14. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the log is further configured to append transaction data in response to deactivating the component.

18. A method for selectively activating a component on a computing device, the method comprising:

requesting authorization to activate a component on a computing device;

activating the component in response to receiving authorization; and

recording transaction data corresponding to the component in response to activating the component.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising deactivating the component in response to receiving authorization to deactivate the component.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising requesting payment from a customer in response to activating the component.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting an activation confirmation in response to activating the component.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving authorization comprises receiving an encrypted key.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein activating the component in response to receiving authorization comprises activating the component in response to receiving the encrypted key.

24. A method for selectively activating a component in a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a request to authorize activation of a component on a computing device;

transmitting authorization to the computing device in response to authorizing the request; and

receiving confirmation of the activation of the component in response to activation of the component.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising recording transaction data corresponding to the component in response to receiving confirmation of the activation of the component.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising generating charges against a customer account in response to receiving confirmation of the activation of the component.

27. An apparatus for selectively activating a component on a computing device, the apparatus comprising:

authorization means for authorizing activation of a component on a computing device in response to receiving a request;

activation means for activating the component; and

recording means for recording transaction data corresponding to the component, in response to activation of the component by the activation means.

28. A system for selectively activating a component on a computing device, the system comprising:

a customer site;

an intersite server residing at the customer site, the intersite server operably connected to an intersite network;

a control console residing at the customer site, the control console operably connected to the internet server;

a computing device residing at the customer site, the computing device operably connected to the control console;

an authorization server operably connected to the intersite network, the authorization server configured to authorize activation of a component on the computing device in response to receiving a request;

a component management module residing on the control console, the component management module configured to activate the component in response to receiving authorization from the authorization server; and

a tracking system operably connected to the authorization server, the tracking system configured to receive transaction data corresponding to the component in response to activating the component.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising at least one support console configured to receive support requests from the customer site and perform support operations on the computing device.

30. The system of claim 28, further comprising a billing system operably connected to the intersite network, the billing system configured to charge a customer account in response to activating the component.

31. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code for selectively activating a component on a computing device, the program code configured to:

request authorization to activate a component on a computing device;

activate the component in response to receiving authorization; and

record transaction data corresponding to the component in response to activating the component.