Technique for effectively managing resources in a network
First Claim
1. Apparatus for receiving a service from a predetermined server connected to a network, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor for issuing a request for the service to the predetermined server through the network;
an interface for receiving, from the network, information on a price to be paid for the service, the price varying with at least availability of at least one resource in the predetermined server, said price being received in response to an issued request; and
a controller for electing to receive the service based on a determination involving the price.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an intranet, servers provide services for a price. A user is allotted a budget consisting of a limited amount of electronic credits to pay for the services. When the user requests a selected service from a server, the server offers a service price which can be accepted or rejected by the user, depending on the importance of the service to the user. The service price is determined based on, for example, the workload attendant to the requested service, its quality of service (QOS) requirements and current conditions pertaining to the server, in accordance with a pricing strategy. The latter is implemented to achieve network-wide objectives such as reducing network congestion by balancing load among the servers.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. Apparatus for receiving a service from a predetermined server connected to a network, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor for issuing a request for the service to the predetermined server through the network; an interface for receiving, from the network, information on a price to be paid for the service, the price varying with at least availability of at least one resource in the predetermined server, said price being received in response to an issued request; and a controller for electing to receive the service based on a determination involving the price. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Software including machine readable instructions stored in a tangible medium for performing a process for receiving a service from a predetermined server connected to a network, the process comprising:
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forming a request for the service to the predetermined server through the network; receiving, from the network, information on a price to be paid for the service, the price varying with at least availability of at least one resource in the predetermined server, said price being received in response to an issued request; and determining whether to receive the service based on the price.
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11. Apparatus for providing a service through a network comprising:
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an interface for receiving a request for the service; a processor responsive to the request for computing a price to be paid for the service, the price being based on at least availability of one or more resources in the apparatus to provide the service, the interface receiving from the network pricing strategy information for affecting a computation of the price; and a controller for determining whether the price is accepted before the service is provided. - View Dependent Claims (12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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13. Apparatus for providing a service comprising:
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an interface for receiving a request for the service; a processor responsive to the request for computing a price to be paid for the service, the price being based on at least availability of one or more resources in the apparatus to provide the service, the availability of one or more resources in the apparatus varies with time; and a controller for determining whether the price is accepted before the service is provided.
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18. A system for providing a service comprising:
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first means for computing a price to be paid for the service; second means for receiving the service, the price being applied against a predetermined budget allocated to the second means; and third means for controlling the first means to affect a computation of the price to manage one or more resources in the system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for use in an apparatus for receiving a service from a predetermined server connected to a network including one or more resources, the method comprising:
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forming a request for the service to the predetermined server; receiving, from the network, information on a price to be paid for the service, the price varying with at least availability of at least one of the resources in the predetermined server, said price being received in response to an issued request; and determining whether to receive the service based on the price. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for use in an apparatus for providing a service through a network, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for the service; computing, in response to the request, a price to be paid for the service, the price being based on at least availability of one or more resources in the apparatus to provide the service; receiving from the network pricing strategy information for affecting a computation of the price; and determining whether the price is accepted before the service is provided. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for use in a system for providing a service comprising the steps of:
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computing a price to be paid for the service; receiving the service, the price being applied against a predetermined budget; and controlling the computing step to affect a computation of the price to manage one or more resources in the system. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification