NEGOTIATING AGREEMENTS WITHIN A CLOUD COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110145153A1
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kendzierski, Michael D., Dawson, Christopher J., Seaman, James W., Diluoffo, Vincenzo V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution for agreement/contract negotiations within a Cloud computing environment. Specifically, under the present invention, a resource requirement for performing a task for a first Cloud partner is assessed. Once the resource requirement is known, it can be determined whether a shortfall exists between available resources of the first Cloud partner and the resource requirement. If so, a master agreement with a second Cloud partner is identified to address the shortfall. Typically, the master agreement specifies at least a minimum service requirement and a maximum price for the second Cloud partner to provide resources to address the shortfall. If the terms are agreeable to both Cloud partners, a contract between the two can be formed (e.g., digitally) based on the master agreement.

Claims

1. A method for providing automated contract negotiations within a Cloud computing environment, comprising:

assessing a resource requirement for performing a task for a first Cloud partner within the Cloud computing environment;

determining whether a shortfall exists between available resources of the first Cloud partner and the resource requirement; and

identifying a master agreement between the first Cloud partner and a second Cloud partner to address the shortfall, the master agreement specifying at least a minimum service requirement and a maximum price for the second Cloud partner to provide resources to address the shortfall.

2. The method of claim 1, exchanging the resources at a service level at least equal to the minimum service level and for a price the does not exceed the maximum price specified in the master agreement.

3. The method of claim 1, the identifying comprising searching a master agreement database for the master agreement.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising synchronizing the master agreement database with another master agreement database.

5. The method of claim 3, the searching being based at least on the resource requirement and an identity of the first Cloud partner.

6. The method of claim 1, the master agreement being previously established between the first Cloud partner and the second Cloud partner.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a digitally signed contract between the first Cloud partner and the second Cloud partner based on the master agreement.

8. A system for providing automated contract negotiations within a Cloud computing environment, comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

assess a resource requirement for performing a task for a first Cloud partner within the Cloud computing environment;

determine whether a shortfall exists between available resources of the first Cloud partner and the resource requirement; and

identify a master agreement between the first Cloud partner and second Cloud partner to address the shortfall, the master agreement specifying at least a minimum service requirement and a maximum price for the second Cloud partner to provide resources to address the shortfall.

9. The system of claim 8, the system further being caused to exchange the resources at a service level at least equal to the minimum service level and for a price the does not exceed the maximum price specified in the master agreement.

10. The system of claim 8, the system further being caused to conduct a search a master agreement database for the master agreement.

11. The system of claim 10, the system further being caused to synchronize the master agreement database with another master agreement database.

12. The system of claim 10, the search being based at least on the resource requirement and an identity of the first Cloud partner.

13. The system of claim 8, the master agreement being previously established between the first Cloud partner and the second Cloud partner.

14. The system of claim 8, the system further being caused to generate a digitally signed contract between the first Cloud partner and the second Cloud partner based on the master agreement.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a program product for providing automated contract negotiations within a Cloud computing environment, the computer readable medium comprising program code for causing a computer to:

assess a resource requirement for performing a task for a first Cloud partner within the Cloud computing environment;

determine whether a shortfall exists between available resources of the first Cloud partner and the resource requirement; and

identify a master agreement between the first Cloud partner and a second Cloud partner to address the shortfall, the master agreement specifying at least a minimum service requirement and a maximum price for the second Cloud partner to provide resources to address the shortfall.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to exchange the resources at a service level at least equal to the minimum service level and for a price the does not exceed the maximum price specified in the master agreement.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to conduct a search of a master agreement database for the master agreement.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 17, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to synchronize the master agreement database with another master agreement database.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 17, the search being based at least on the resource requirement and an identity of the first Cloud partner.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the master agreement being previously established between the first Cloud partner and the second Cloud partner.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium containing the program product of claim 15, the computer readable medium further comprising program code for causing the computer to generate a digitally signed contract between the first Cloud partner and the second Cloud partner based on the master agreement.

22. An architecture for providing automated contract negotiations within a Cloud computing environment, comprising:

a first scheduler associated with a first Cloud partner, the first scheduler being configured to;

assess a resource requirement for performing a task for the first Cloud partner,

determine whether a shortfall exists between available resources of the first Cloud partner and the resource requirement, and

access a master agreement database to identify a master agreement between the first Cloud partner and a second Cloud partner to address the shortfall, the master agreement specifying at least a minimum service requirement and a maximum price for the second Cloud partner to provide resources to address the shortfall;

a job management tunnel being configured to communicate with a second scheduler associated with the second Cloud partner to determine whether the second Cloud partner can address the shortfall; and

a contract agent being configured to generate a contract between the first Cloud partner and the second Cloud partner based on the master agreement.

23. The architecture of claim 22, further comprising a synchronization agent for synchronizing the master agreement database with another master agreement database.

24. A method for providing automated contract negotiations within a Cloud computing environment, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

assess a resource requirement for performing a task for a first Cloud partner within the Cloud computing environment;

determine whether a shortfall exists between available resources of the first Cloud partner and the resource requirement; and

identify a master agreement between the first Cloud partner and with a second Cloud partner to address the shortfall, the master agreement specifying at least a minimum service requirement and a maximum price for the second Cloud partner to provide resources to address the shortfall.