Technique for effectively managing resources in a network

• US 6,041,307 A
• Filed: 01/23/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Varvarigou, Theodora A., Korilis, Ioannis A., Ahuja, Sudhir R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US09/012,866
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8, 705/20, 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/7.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated

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.

Claims

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the price is a function of time.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the price also varies with a quality of service (QOS) requirement of the service.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the price also varies with a load in the network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a memory for storing a predetermined amount of credits, wherein the price is represented by a second amount of credits, the second amount of credits being applied against the predetermined amount of credits when the controller determines to receive the service.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the determination is at least based on whether the second amount of credits is not greater than the predetermined amount of credits.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the determination is at least based on whether the second amount of credits is within a predetermined range of credits.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is responsive to a user input.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor includes the controller and the interface.

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:

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.

11. Apparatus for providing a service through a network comprising:

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.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the service is a composite service requiring a sub-service from a server, the apparatus further comprising means for receiving a second price to be paid for the sub-service, the computed price being a function of the second price.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the price is also based on a workload required of the apparatus to provide the service.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the request specifies one or more QOS requirements of the service, and the price is also based on the QOS requirements.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein one of the QOS requirements concerns a delay in providing the service.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor includes the controller and the interface.

13. Apparatus for providing a service comprising:

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.

18. A system for providing a service comprising:

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.

19. The system of claim 18 includes an intranet.

20. The system of claim 18 includes at least part of the Internet.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the third means includes means for providing the first means with a methodology for computing the price.

22. The system of claim 18 further comprising a server for delivering the service, the price being based on at least a current condition of the server.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the third means includes means for obtaining information concerning the current condition of the server.

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:

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.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the price is a function of time.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the price also varies with a QOS requirement of the service.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the price also varies with a load in the network.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising storing a predetermined amount of credits, wherein the price is represented by a second amount of credits, the second amount of credits being applied against the predetermined amount of credits when it is determined to receive the service.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein a determination to receive the service is made at least based on whether the second amount of credits is not greater than the predetermined amount of credits.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein a determination to receive the service is made at least based on whether the second amount of credits is within a predetermined range of credits.

31. A method for use in an apparatus for providing a service through a network, the method comprising:

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.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the service is a composite service requiring a sub-service from a server, the method further comprising receiving a second price to be paid for the sub-service, the computed price being a function of the second price.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the availability of one or more resources in the apparatus varies with time.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the price is also based on a workload required of the apparatus to provide the service.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the request specifies one or more QOS requirements of the service, and the price is also based on the QOS requirements.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein one of the QOS requirements concerns a delay in providing the service.

37. A method for use in a system for providing a service comprising the steps of:

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.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the controlling step includes the step of providing the computing step with a methodology for computing the price.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the system includes a server for delivering the service, the price being based on at least a current condition of the server.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the controlling step includes the step of obtaining information concerning the current condition of the server.