SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING A SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION IN A CLOUD NETWORK

• US 20110213686A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: FERRIS, James Michael, Riveros, Gerry Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,667 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5077 Logical partitioning of resources; Management or configuration of virtualized resources specific details on emulation or internal functioning of virtual machines G06F9/455
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/72 using reservation actions during connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/783 Distributed allocation of resources, e.g. bandwidth brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/83 based on usage prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing a software subscription between an independent software vendor (ISV) and a cloud network provider. In embodiments, the software subscription can be a Software as a Service (SaaS) agreement whereby an amount of resources of the cloud network to be operated by end users can be specified. In embodiments, a resource tracking module associated with the cloud network can track the actual amount of resources operated by the end users in executing applications associated with the ISV. The resource tracking module can compare the actual amount to the amount specified in the SaaS, and adjust the resources of the cloud network accordingly. In embodiments, the SaaS can be updated based on the adjustment.

Claims

1. A method of managing a software subscription, comprising:

receiving, from a software vendor, a request to use a set of virtual machines in a cloud network, wherein the set of virtual machines is configured to serve at least one application to an end user;

tracking usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the set of virtual machines;

comparing the usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the set of virtual machines to a usage specified in the request;

adjusting an allocation of resources associated with the set of virtual machines based on the comparison; and

updating a subscription plan of the software vendor for use of the set of virtual machines in response to adjusting the allocation of the resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software vendor is a registered independent software vendor (ISV).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the allocation of the resources associated with the set of virtual machines comprises increasing or decreasing an amount of available virtual machines.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the allocation of the resources associated with the set of virtual machines comprises increasing or decreasing an amount of time available for the end user to use the set of virtual machines.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the subscription plan comprises adjusting a fee structure charged to the software vendor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the set of virtual machines is tracked based on an amount of time the end user uses the set of virtual machines.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the set of virtual machines is tracked based on an amount of resources operated when the end user uses the set of virtual machines.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the use of the set of virtual machines is implemented through a plurality of cloud networks, and the registered independent software vendor (ISV) is registered to each of the plurality of cloud networks.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one application is provided by the software vendor.

5. (canceled)

11. A subscription service managing system, comprising:

an interface to a cloud network to which a software vendor is registered and in which at least one user-level virtual machine is hosted; and

a processor, communicating with the cloud network, the software vendor, and the at least one user-level virtual machine via the interface to the cloud network, the processor being configured to—

receive, from the software vendor, a request to use the at least one user-level virtual machine in the cloud network, wherein the at least one user-level virtual machine is configured to serve at least one application to an end user;

track usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the at least one user-level virtual machine;

compare the usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the at least one user-level virtual machine to a usage specified in the request;

adjust an allocation of resources associated with the at least one user-level virtual machine based on the comparison; and

update a subscription plan of the software vendor for use of the at least one user-level virtual machine in response to adjusting the allocation of the resources.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the software vendor is an independent software vendor (ISV) registered with the cloud network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the allocation of the resources associated with the at least one user-level virtual machine is adjusted by increasing or decreasing an amount of user-level virtual machines available in the at least one cloud network.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the allocation of the resources associated with the at least one user-level virtual machine is adjusted by increasing or decreasing an amount of time available for the end user to use the at least one user-level virtual machine.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the subscription plan is updated by adjusting a fee structure charged to the software vendor.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the at least one user-level virtual machine is tracked based on an amount of time the end user uses the at least one user-level virtual machine.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the at least one user-level virtual machine is tracked based on an amount of resources operated when the end user uses the at least one user-level virtual machine.

15. (canceled)

19. A vendor system, comprising:

an interface to a cloud network to which a cloud management system is registered and in which at least one user-level virtual machine is hosted; and

a processor, communicating with the cloud network, the at bast one cloud management system, and the at least one user-level virtual machine via the interface to the cloud network, the processor being configured to—

transmit a request to use the at least one user-level virtual machine in the cloud network, wherein the at least one user-level virtual machine is configured to serve at least one application associated with a software vendor to an end user;

receive a response to the request based on a comparison of a usage, by the end user, of the at least one application on the at least one user-level virtual machine to a usage specified in the request, wherein the response comprises an indication of an adjustment of an allocation of resources associated with the at least one user-level virtual machine based on the comparison; and

update a subscription plan of the software vendor for use of the at least one user-level virtual machine based on the adjustment of the allocation of the resources.

20. (canceled)