System and method for allocating computing resources of a distributed computing system

• US 7,640,547 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase & Co
• Inventors: Sulzhyk, Roman, Neiman, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): An; Meng-Ai
• Assistant Examiner(s): WAI, ERIC CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US10/065,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,618 Days
• Field of Search: 718104-105, 718/100, 709/104, 705/5, 705/80
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5014 Reservation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

In certain aspects, the invention features a system and method for (1) receiving reservations for a first subset of computing resources of a distributed computing system (DCS), wherein each of the reservations specifies a time period, (2) allocating the first subset according to the reservations, (3) receiving requests for use of at least a second subset of the DCS'"'"'s computing resources, wherein each of the requests specifies a time period, (4) determining whether enough unallocated resources are available to fulfill all of the requests, wherein the unallocated resources include the DCS'"'"'s resources not allocated according to the reservations, (5) allocating resources according to the requests, if there are enough unallocated resources available, and (6) allocating resources in accordance with an allocation criteria if there are not enough unallocated resources available.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

receiving one or more reservations for use of at least a first subset of a plurality of computing resources of a distributed computing system, wherein each of said one or more reservations specifies a period of time for use of at least one computing resource and has a corresponding first monetary cost to a user of said computing resource specified in said reservation, each of said one or more reservations specifies an amount for use of a first and second type of processing device in a normalized unit of processing capability, and said plurality of computing resources comprises;

said first type of processing device having a first processing capability; and

said second type of processing device having a second processing capability, wherein said first and second processing capabilities are different;

allocating said first subset of said computing resources for use in accordance with said one or more reservations;

charging said user said first monetary cost for use of said computing resources;

receiving one or more requests for use of at least a second subset of said plurality of computing resources of said distributed computing system, wherein each of said one or more requests specifies a period of time for use of at least one computing resource and has a corresponding second monetary cost to a user of said computing resource specified in said request;

determining whether a sufficient amount of one or more unallocated computing resources are available to fulfill all of said one or more requests, wherein said one or more unallocated computing resources comprises said computing resources of said distributed computing system that are not allocated in accordance with said one or more reservations and each of said one or more requests comprises an expression of said first and second types of processing device in a normalized unit of processing capability;

responsive to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources being available, temporarily allocating said unallocated computing resources in accordance with said one or more requests; and

responsive to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources not being available, temporarily allocating said unallocated computing resources in accordance with an allocation criteria, wherein said allocation criteria comprises fulfilling said requests beginning with said request comprising a highest bid indication and continuing in descending order of requests comprising said bid indications of lesser values until all of said unallocated resources have been allocated.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying an amount of said plurality of computing resources of said distributed computing system based on consideration of said one or more reservations.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said modifying comprises adding a computing resource while said distributed computing system is in use.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a usage level for at least a portion of said computing resources of said distributed computing system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing data descriptive of said usage level.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said providing data descriptive of said usage level is performed in real time.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising using a graphical user interface to display said data descriptive of said usage level.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said usage level comprises a present usage of said plurality of computing resources.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said usage level comprises a historical usage of said plurality of computing resources.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an allocation status for at least a portion of said computing resources of said distributed computing system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing data descriptive of said allocation status.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing data descriptive of said allocation status is performed in real time.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a graphical user interface to display said data descriptive of said allocation status.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said allocation status comprises a present allocation of said plurality of computing resources.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said allocation status comprises a historical allocation of said plurality of computing resources.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an inventory of computing resources of said distributed computing system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing data descriptive of said inventory.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said providing data descriptive of said inventory is performed in real time.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising using a graphical user interface to display said data descriptive of said inventory.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said inventory comprises a present inventory of said plurality of computing resources.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said inventory comprises a historical inventory of said plurality of computing resources.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of computing resources comprises a processing device.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a user for canceling a reservation.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of computing resources comprises a memory device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said plurality of computing resources further comprises a processing device.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising billing a user of said computing resources.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said billing comprises determining whether a first price or a second price is to be billed.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said first price comprises a peak price.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said first price comprises an off-peak price.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said second price comprises a peak price.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said first price is billed for said computing resources allocated in response to said reservation and said second price is billed for computing resources allocated in response to said request, wherein said first price is higher than said second price.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more requests each comprise a priority indication, and wherein said allocation criteria considers said priority indication of each said request.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said allocation criteria comprises a calculation of a weighted average based at least in part on said priority indications.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising billing a user of said computing resources such that a cost varies in accordance with said priority indication.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocation criteria comprises an equal division of said unallocated computing resources between a plurality of users that have made a request.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein said unallocated computing resources are allocated dynamically.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising re-allocating said unallocated computing resources dynamically.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein said unallocated computing resources are allocated in real time in response to receiving said one or more requests.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more requests each comprise a monetary bid indication, and wherein said allocation criteria considers said monetary bid indication of each said request.

56. The system of claim 5, wherein said computing device is further configured to determine whether a first price or a second price is to be billed.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said first price comprises a peak price.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein said first price comprises an off-peak price.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein said second price comprises a peak price.

60. The system of claim 56, wherein said first price is billed for said computing resources allocated in response to said reservation and said second price is billed for computing resources allocated in response to said request, wherein said first price is higher than said second price.

40. A system, comprising:

a distributed computing system comprising a plurality of computing resources, wherein said plurality of computing resources comprises;

a first type of processing device having a first processing capability; and

a second type of processing device having a second processing capability, and wherein said first and second processing capabilities are different; and

a computing device configured to;

receive one or more reservations for use of at least a first subset of said plurality of computing resources, wherein each of said one or more reservations specifies a period of time for use of at least one computing resource and has a corresponding first monetary cost to a user of said computing resources specified in said reservation and each of said one or more reservations specifies an amount for use of said first and second types of processing device in a normalized unit of processing capability;

allocate said first subset of said computing resources for use in accordance with said one or more reservations;

charge said user said first monetary cost for use of said computing resources;

receive one or more requests for use of at least a second subset of said plurality of computing resources of said distributed computing system, wherein each of said one or more requests specifies a period of time for use of at least one computing resource, comprises an expression of said first and second types of processing device in a normalized unit of processing capability, and has a corresponding second monetary cost to a user of said computing resource specified in said request;

determine whether a sufficient amount of one or more unallocated computing resources are available to fulfill all of said one or more requests, wherein said one or more unallocated computing resources comprises said computing resources of said distributed computing system that are not allocated in accordance with said one or more reservations;

responsive to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources being available, temporarily allocate said unallocated computing resources in accordance with said one or more requests; and

responsive to said sufficient amount of said unallocated computing resources not being available, temporarily allocate said unallocated computing resources in accordance with an allocation criteria, wherein said allocation criteria comprises fulfilling said requests beginning with said request comprising a highest bid indication and continuing in descending order of requests comprising said bid indications of lesser values until all of said unallocated resources have been allocated.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said computing device comprises a server.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said computing device comprises at least two servers, wherein each server is in a different geographic location.

43. The system of claim 40, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to display data descriptive of a usage level for at least a portion of said plurality of computing resources of said distributed computing system.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said computing device is further configured to provide data descriptive of said usage level in real time.

45. The system of claim 40, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to display data descriptive of an allocation status for at least a portion of said computing resources of said distributed computing system.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said computing device is further configured to provide data descriptive of said allocation status in real time.

47. The system of claim 40, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to display data descriptive of an inventory of computing resources of said distributed computing system.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said computing device is further configured to provide data descriptive of said inventory in real time.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein said computing device is further configured to generate a billing record based on a usage level of said plurality of computing resource.

50. The system of claim 40, further comprising a persistent data storage queue in communication with said computing resources, and wherein a minimum availability of said distributed computing system is defined by an availability of said persistent data storage queue.

51. The system of claim 40, wherein said plurality of computing resources comprises a processing device.

52. The system of claim 40, wherein said computing device is further configured to charge a user for canceling a reservation.

53. The system of claim 40, wherein said plurality of computing resources comprises a memory device.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein said plurality of computing resources further comprises a processing device.

55. The system of claim 40, wherein said computing device is further configured to bill a user of said computing resources.

61. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more requests each comprise a priority indication, and wherein said allocation criteria considers said priority indication of each said request.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein said allocation criteria comprises a calculation of a weighted average based at least in part on said priority indications.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein said computing device is further configured to bill a user of said computing resources such that a cost varies in accordance with said priority indication.

64. The system of claim 40, wherein said allocation criteria comprises an equal division of said unallocated computing resources between a plurality of users that have made a request.

65. The system of claim 40, wherein said computing device is further configured to dynamically allocate said unallocated computing resources.

66. The system of claim 40, wherein said computing device is further configured to allocate said unallocated computing resources in real time in response to receiving said one or more requests.

67. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more requests each comprise a monetary bid indication, and wherein said allocation criteria considers said monetary bid indication of each said request.