Usage metering system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- (a) collecting a value indicating a level of computer resource utilization in a first computer system;
(b) selecting a bucket from an array corresponding to the collected value, wherein each bucket from the array contains a count value providing a recorded history of how many times a particular computer resource level value was observed;
(c) modifying a count value maintained in the bucket corresponding to the collected value;
(d) repeating, iteratively, the operational acts described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) for a specified period of time; and
(e) generating a report based on the count values contained in the array indicative of the levels of computer resource utilization realized during at least the period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A usage metering system for determining computer resource utilization is described herein. Computer resource utilization is determined by accumulating instances of computer resource utilization based on array of counters. This enables an accurate determination of instances of when a predetermined threshold baseline of computer resource utilization is exceeded over an accumulated period of time. By using an array of counters to collect data rather than averaging values over time, a more accurate indication of computer resource utilization is determined. The usage metering system has little impact on computer system resources, because snapshots can be taken on a fairly infrequent basis, and any computer resource utilization calculations can be performed on computer platforms separated from the system being monitored.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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(a) collecting a value indicating a level of computer resource utilization in a first computer system;
(b) selecting a bucket from an array corresponding to the collected value, wherein each bucket from the array contains a count value providing a recorded history of how many times a particular computer resource level value was observed;
(c) modifying a count value maintained in the bucket corresponding to the collected value;
(d) repeating, iteratively, the operational acts described in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) for a specified period of time; and
(e) generating a report based on the count values contained in the array indicative of the levels of computer resource utilization realized during at least the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for metering computer resource utilization occurring on a computer system, comprising:
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collecting computer resource utilization data indicating an amount of a computer resource used during a particular interval of time;
maintaining an array of buckets corresponding to different levels of computer resource utilization, each bucket having a counter indicating a quantity of instances a level of computer resource utilization was reached over a period of time;
modifying a value of a counter in a bucket of the array of buckets corresponding to a level of computer resource utilization for the particular interval of time;
repeating the steps of collecting computer resource utilization data and modifying a value of the counter for a plurality of interval of times; and
reporting computer resource utilization over a period of time equal to the plurality of interval times based on values of the counters in the array of buckets. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A usage metering system, comprising:
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a collector module, operating on a computer system, the collector module configured to take a snapshot of a process utilization manager of the computer system on a continuous basis over a prescribed period of time and record the performance data in an array;
wherein each snapshot provides a value indicative of a peak amount of a computer resource utilized at a particular time interval, wherein the array comprises a plurality of buckets each bucket representing a particular incremental value of a computer resource utilization, and each bucket having a counter with a count value indicating the number of times a particular computer resource level was observed; and
wherein each value of a snapshot is used by the collector module to select a bucket from the array corresponding to the value of the snapshot, and to modify the count value of the selected bucket each time a particular computer resource level was observed that corresponds to the selected bucket. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification