Non-Intrusive Cloud Services Billing

• US 20150254740A1
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Akolkar, Rahul P., Austel, Paula K., Mikalsen, Thomas A., Munson, Jonathan P., Rendahl, Randy A., Rouvellou, Isabelle M., Segal, Alla, Silva-Lepe, Ignacio, Shaikh, Hidayatullah, Subramanian, Revathi, Shen, Xiao H.
• Application Number:
  US14/199,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20150254740A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0481 Numerical speed values
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/511 characterised by the composition of the liquids or solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/53 using driven stirrers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/565 by introducing liquids in solid material, e.g. to obtain slurries
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/053 characterised by their materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0531 with particular surface characteristics, e.g. coated or rough
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0722 perpendicular with respect to the rotating axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0724 directly mounted on the rotating axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/0725 on the free end of the rotating axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1123 sickle-shaped, i.e. curved in at least one direction
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1125 with vanes or blades extending parallel or oblique to the stirrer axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/192 with dissimilar elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/2312 the position of the rotating shaft being adjustable in the interior of the receptacle, e.g. to locate the stirrer in different locations during the mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/90 with paddles or arms
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides a method for non-intrusive cloud services billing, including storing service log files in a data store, wherein each of the service log files include a lifecycle event of a resource in a service produced by an instance of the service. A log transformer connected to the data store converts the service log files into a standardized format. A metering descriptor describing billable entities for each offering of the service is obtained, wherein each offering of the service has a different metering descriptor, and wherein the billable entities include multiple categories of billing. A billing record generator connected to the log transformer is programmed, wherein the billing record generator converts standardized log records into metering records. The billing record generator generates a metering record with one or more of the service log files in the standardized format and the metering descriptor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing service log files in a data store, each of the service log files including a lifecycle event of a resource in a service produced by an instance of the service;

converting the service log files into a standardized format;

obtaining a metering descriptor describing billable entities for each offering of the service, wherein the billable entities include multiple categories of billing; and

generating a metering record with the billing record generator, wherein the metering record is generated with at least one of the service log files in the standardized format and the metering descriptor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metering record includes a billable entity, a event, and event data.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising assigning a rating to the metering record based on the billable entity.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising generating an invoice for the metering record based on the rating.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising programming a billing record generator that converts standardized log records into metering records.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said programming of the billing record generator includes writing transformative logic to identify billable entities from a collection of standardized logs, the transformative logic being written in a language supported by a services platform.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said programming of the billing record generator includes using a visual tool to read the metering descriptor into the billing record generator and to facilitate said programming.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein each offering of the service has a different metering descriptor.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the billable entities define how the services are billed.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein offering managers program the billing record generator for a specific service offering.

11. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon;

first program instructions executable by a device to cause the device to store service log files in a data store, each of the service log files including a lifecycle event of a resource in a service produced by an instance of the service;

second program instructions executable by the device to cause the device to convert the service log files into a standardized format;

third program instructions executable by the device to cause the device to obtain a metering descriptor describing billable entities for each offering of the service, wherein each offering of the service has a different metering descriptor, and wherein the billable entities include multiple categories of billing;

fourth program instructions executable by the device to cause the device to program a billing record generator that converts standardized log records into metering records; and

fifth program instructions executable by the device to cause the device to generate a metering record with the billing record generator, wherein the metering record is generated with at least one of the service log files in the standardized format and the metering descriptor, and wherein the metering record includes a billable entity, a event, and event data.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11, further comprising assigning a rating to the metering record based on the billable entity.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, further comprising generating an invoice for the metering record based on the rating.

14. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein said programming of the billing record generator includes writing transformative logic to identify billable entities from a collection of standardized logs, the transformative logic being written in a language supported by a services platform.

15. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein said programming of the billing record generator includes using a visual tool to read the metering descriptor into the billing record generator and to facilitate said programming.

16. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein the billable entities define how the services are billed.

17. The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein offering managers program the billing record generator for a specific service offering.

18. A system comprising:

a data store including service log files, each of the service log files including a lifecycle event of a resource in a service produced by an instance of the service;

a log transformer connected to said data store, said log transformer converts the service log files into a standardized format;

a billing record generator connected to said log transformer, said billing record generator generates a metering record with at least one of the service log files in the standardized format and a metering descriptor, wherein the metering descriptor describes billable entities for each offering of the service, and wherein the billable entities include multiple categories of billing.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the metering record includes a billable entity, a event, and event data.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein each service offering has a different metering descriptor.