Computerized cost tracking system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for tracking costs, said system comprising:
- a memory;
an application for monitoring costs associated with performing a computational service, said application being stored in the memory; and
a controller configured to receive cost information in machine-readable form from one or more input mechanisms, and wherein the controller is configured to execute the application to track the costs associated with performing the computational service.
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Abstract
A system for tracking costs includes a memory and an application stored in the memory for monitoring costs associated with performing a computational service. The system also includes a controller configured to receive cost information in machine-readable form from one or more input mechanisms. In addition, the controller is configured to execute the application to track the costs associated with performing the computational service.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A system for tracking costs, said system comprising:
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a memory;
an application for monitoring costs associated with performing a computational service, said application being stored in the memory; and
a controller configured to receive cost information in machine-readable form from one or more input mechanisms, and wherein the controller is configured to execute the application to track the costs associated with performing the computational service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for tracking costs, said method comprising:
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collecting one or more costs in machine-readable form associated with performing a service; and
tracking the one or more costs. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for tracking costs, said system comprising:
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means for collecting one or more costs in machine-readable form associated with performing a service; and
means for tracking the one or more costs. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for tracking costs, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:
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collecting one or more costs in machine-readable form associated with performing a service; and
tracking the one or more costs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for making service performance decisions, said system comprising:
a resource manager configured to receive cost information in machine readable form related to performing a service and at least one of a payment amount for performing a requested service and a penalty amount for failing to perform the requested service, wherein the resource manager is configured to determine which of the cost information and one or both of the payment amount and the penalty amount is higher, and wherein the resource manager is configured to output a decision on whether to perform the service based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for determining whether to perform a requested service, said method comprising:
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receiving a service request;
determining costs associated with performing the requested service;
receiving amounts pertaining to at least one of a payment for performing the requested service and a penalty corresponding to failure to perform the requested service;
comparing the costs associated with performing the requested service with the at least one of the payment and the penalty amounts; and
determining whether to perform the requested service in response to the comparison of the costs and the at least one of the payment and the penalty amounts. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for determining whether resources should be added, said method comprising:
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determining penalties suffered for failing to perform one or more services;
determining whether one or more of the penalties could have been avoided with additional resources;
determining potential additional resources which could have been employed to avoid the one or more penalties;
receiving cost information related to adding the potential additional resources;
comparing the cost information with the one or more penalties; and
outputting an indication as to whether additional resources should be added in response to the comparison step. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A system for making service performance decisions, said system comprising:
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means for receiving a service request;
means for determining costs associated with performing the requested service;
means for receiving amounts pertaining to at least one of a payment for performing the requested service and a penalty corresponding to failure to perform the requested service;
means for comparing the costs associated with performing the requested service with the at least one of the payment and the penalty amounts; and
means for determining whether to perform the requested service in response to the comparison of the costs and the at least one of the payment and the penalty amounts. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for determining whether to perform a requested service, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for:
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determining costs associated with performing the requested service;
receiving amounts pertaining to at least one of a payment for performing the requested service and a penalty corresponding to failure to perform the requested service;
comparing the costs associated with performing the requested service with the at least one of the payment and the penalty amounts; and
determining whether to perform the requested service in response to the comparison of the costs and the at least one of the payment and the penalty amounts. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification