Real-Time Auction of Cloud Computing Resources

• US 20100076856A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Mullins, Christopher Lee
• Application Number:
  US12/237,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20100076856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A cloud computing environment may be built out with cloud computing resources in geographically separate regions. An auction process may be used to ensure that the cloud computing resources are utilized at an optimal level on both a per-region basis and global basis. Computing resource auction prices may reflect local peak and off-peak pricing while offering buyers access to off-peak computing from peak-usage regions at some risk of latency or network outages. Long-running jobs may bid for execution resources on a global basis and move execution to follow low cost availability through, for example, off-peak local hours.

Claims

1. A method of allocating resource usage in a cloud computing environment comprising:

providing the cloud computing environment;

auctioning a first resource in the cloud computing environment in a first geographic region for use at a first time of day at a first price; and

auctioning a second resource in the cloud computing environment in a second geographic region at the first time of day at a second price.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein auctioning the first resource comprises setting a floor price corresponding to a historical trend for usage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein auctioning the first resource comprises setting a floor price corresponding to a profitability model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein auctioning the first resource comprises auctioning use of the first resource at a future date.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising building cloud computing resources corresponding to purchased usage at the future date.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein auctioning the first resource comprises setting a floor price corresponding to a current sales level and a utilization target.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

auctioning the first resource in the cloud computing environment in the second geographic region for use at a second time of day at a third price; and

moving execution of a computing job from the first geographic region to the second geographic region corresponding to a lowest price of execution of the computing job.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a floor price for auctioning the first resource to accommodate one of a local physical factor and a local economic factor.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

setting a floor price for auctioning the first resource according to a favorable legal condition, the favorable legal condition comprising one of a tax advantage, a privacy advantage, and a data storage advantage.

10. A system for supporting cloud computing auctions comprising:

a first computing resource in a first geographic region;

a second computing resource in a second geographic region;

a moderator for managing auction bidding for the first and second computing resources and for allocating access to the computing resources to a successful bidder.

11. A method of managing available cloud computing resources to maximize profits comprising:

enabling cloud resources to match demand.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

disabling cloud resources at a location when a cost of production exceeds a target value.