Utility computing system having co-located computer systems for provision of computing resources
First Claim
1. A method for providing computer resources to users, the method comprising:
- establishing a plurality of co-located computing systems at a first location, wherein the plurality of co-located computing systems comprises a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, and wherein each of the plurality of co-located computing systems lacks a local human interface system, wherein the performance of the computer resources comprises;
software application cost; and
software application computational demands;
establishing a plurality of remote human interface systems at different respective second locations, wherein the second locations are remote from the first location, and wherein the plurality of remote human interface systems are coupled to the plurality of co-located computing systems over a wide area network (WAN);
providing computer resources of two or more of the co-located computing systems respectively to two or more users of the plurality of remote human interface systems on a one-to-one basis over the WAN in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users;
charging for usage of the computer resources;
providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to at least one of the two or more users or their representatives, wherein the GUI presents available computer resources, wherein the GUI comprises a slider control, wherein the slider control allows the at least one of the two or more users or their representatives to increase or decrease resources used;
receiving input to the GUI requesting use of one or more of the computer resources;
wherein said providing computer resources and said charging for usage are performed in accordance with the requested computer resources;
providing auxiliary services to a user of the two or more users, wherein the auxiliary services include debugging services for the user, and one or more of;
document proof-reading;
editing;
orcommercial printing; and
charging for the auxiliary services.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for providing computer resources to users. The system includes a plurality of co-located computing systems, e.g., blade computers, comprising a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, and located at a first location, each computing system including a processor, a memory medium coupled to the processor, and a plurality of human interface systems, each located at a second location remote from the first location, and each including an interface device, and one or more human interface devices coupled to the interface device, where each human interface system is coupled to the co-located computing systems over a network, such as a LAN or a WAN, via the interface device. Computer resources are provided to users of the plurality of remote human interface systems over the network in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users. Charges may be assessed for usage of the computer resources.
24 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for providing computer resources to users, the method comprising:
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establishing a plurality of co-located computing systems at a first location, wherein the plurality of co-located computing systems comprises a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, and wherein each of the plurality of co-located computing systems lacks a local human interface system, wherein the performance of the computer resources comprises; software application cost; and software application computational demands; establishing a plurality of remote human interface systems at different respective second locations, wherein the second locations are remote from the first location, and wherein the plurality of remote human interface systems are coupled to the plurality of co-located computing systems over a wide area network (WAN); providing computer resources of two or more of the co-located computing systems respectively to two or more users of the plurality of remote human interface systems on a one-to-one basis over the WAN in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users; charging for usage of the computer resources; providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to at least one of the two or more users or their representatives, wherein the GUI presents available computer resources, wherein the GUI comprises a slider control, wherein the slider control allows the at least one of the two or more users or their representatives to increase or decrease resources used; receiving input to the GUI requesting use of one or more of the computer resources; wherein said providing computer resources and said charging for usage are performed in accordance with the requested computer resources; providing auxiliary services to a user of the two or more users, wherein the auxiliary services include debugging services for the user, and one or more of; document proof-reading; editing;
orcommercial printing; and charging for the auxiliary services. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for providing computer resources to users, comprising:
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a plurality of computing systems each located at a first location, wherein the plurality of co-located computing systems comprises a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, wherein the performance of the computer resources comprises one or more of; software application cost; and software application computational demands; wherein each of the plurality of co-located computing systems lacks a local human interface system, and wherein each of the computing systems includes; a processor; and a memory medium coupled to the processor; and a plurality of remote human interface systems at different respective second locations, wherein the second locations are remote from the first location, and wherein the plurality of remote human interface systems are coupled to the plurality of co-located computing systems over a wide area network (WAN); wherein the plurality of computing systems includes at least one management computing system, wherein the at least one management computing system stores program instructions that are executable to; manage the organization and allocation of computer resources, including provision of computer resources of two or more of the co-located computing systems respectively to two or more users of the plurality of remote human interface systems on a one-to-one basis over the WAN in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users, and provision of auxiliary services to a user of the two or more users, wherein the auxiliary services include debugging services for the user, and one or more of; document proof-reading; editing;
orcommercial printing; monitor resource usage and provide logging, analysis, and/or accounting functionality for the system, for assessing charges for usage of the computer resources and the auxiliary services; provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to at least one of the two or more users or their representatives, wherein the GUI presents available computer resources, wherein the GUI comprises a slider control, wherein the slider control allows the at least one of the two or more users or their representatives to increase or decrease resources used; and receive input to the GUI requesting use of one or more of the computer resources; wherein to provide computer resources and assess charges for usage, the program instructions are executable to provide and assess charges for usage in accordance with the requested computer resources. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for providing computer resources to users, the method comprising:
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establishing a plurality of co-located computing systems at a first location, wherein the plurality of co-located computing systems comprises a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, and wherein each of the plurality of co-located computing systems lacks a local human interface system, wherein the performance of the computer resources comprises one or more of; software application cost; and software application computational demands; establishing a plurality of remote human interface systems at different respective second locations, wherein the second locations are remote from the first location, and wherein the plurality of remote human interface systems are coupled to the plurality of co-located computing systems over a local area network (LAN); providing computer resources of two or more of the co-located computing systems respectively to two or more users of the plurality of remote human interface systems on a one-to-one basis in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users; and providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to at least one of the two or more users or their representatives, wherein the GUI presents available computer resources, wherein the GUI comprises a slider control, wherein the slider control allows the at least one of the two or more users or their representatives to increase or decrease resources used; receiving input to the GUI requesting use of one or more of the computer resources; wherein said providing computer resources is performed in accordance with the requested computer resources; providing auxiliary services to a user of the two or more users, wherein the auxiliary services include development and/or debugging services for the user, and one or more of; document proof-reading; editing;
orcommercial printing; and charging for usage of the computer resources and the auxiliary services. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for providing computer resources to users, comprising:
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a plurality of computing systems each located at a first location, wherein the plurality of co-located computing systems comprises a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, wherein the performance of the computer resources comprises one or more of; software application cost; and software application computational demands; wherein each of the plurality of co-located computing systems lacks a local human interface system and wherein each of the computing systems includes; a processor; and a memory medium coupled to the processor; and a plurality of remote human interface systems at different respective second locations, wherein the second locations are remote from the first location, and wherein the plurality of remote human interface systems are coupled to the plurality of co-located computing systems over a local area network (LAN); wherein the plurality of computing systems includes at least one management computing system, wherein the at least one management computing system stores program instructions that are executable to; manage the organization and allocation of computer resources, including provision of computer resources of two or more of the co-located computing systems respectively to two or more users of the plurality of remote human interface systems on a one-to-one basis over the LAN in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users, and provision of auxiliary services to a user of the two or more users, wherein the auxiliary services include debugging services for the user, and one or more of; document proof-reading; editing;
orcommercial printing; monitor resource usage and provide logging, analysis, and/or accounting functionality for the system, for managing the computer resources; provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to at least one of the two or more users or their representatives, wherein the GUI presents available computer resources, wherein the GUI comprises a slider control, wherein the slider control allows the at least one of the two or more users or their representatives to increase or decrease resources used; and receive input to the GUI requesting use of one or more of the computer resources; wherein said provision of computer resources is in accordance with the requested computer resources; and charge for usage of the computer resources and the auxiliary services.
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Specification