System and method for managing usage quotas

Abstract

A system for managing computer resource usage quotas includes a distributed gateway service, a plurality of clients, an internal network, a distributed storage service a system management service, a configuration database, and a distributed metadata service. A method for managing computer resource usage quotas applied to a plurality of users of data includes the steps of defining one or more resource classes, defining at least one usage policy for the resource classes, tracking quota usage for the usage quotas in accordance with the usage policy, and enforcing quota usage for the usage quotas, and storing the data in accord with the resource class definitions. Optionally, the quota usage may be aggregated.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A method for managing the cost of utilization of computer resources, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) defining classes of computer resources based on quality of service attributes the classes having assigned costs;    b) defining computer resource usage policies based on said class definitions;    c) managing the cost of utilization of the computer resources by using the computer resources according to said usage policies; and    d) controlling usage of the computer resources by particular users based on the assigned costs and usage policies.    
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 14  wherein said quality of service attributes are selected from a group including resource performance, resource reliability, resource availability, resource latency, and resource bandwidth.  
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 14  wherein said step a) further includes assigning each class an identification designator.  
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 14  wherein said step b) further includes the step of assigning usage quotas to each of said defined classes.  
   
   
       18 . The system as defined in  claim 17  wherein said usage quotas are hard quotas.  
   
   
       19 . The method as defined in  claim 17  wherein said usage quotas are soft quotas.  
   
   
       20 . A method for managing computer resources, comprising the steps of: 
 a) defining classes of persistent computer resources, said classes having assigned costs;    b) defining computer resource usage policies;    c) applying said usage policies to said classes;    d) generating reports on the usage of said classes; and    e) controlling usage of said persistent computer resources by particular individuals according to said defined classes in accordance with said computer resource usage policies and assigned costs.    
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . The method as defined in  claim 20  wherein said step a) further includes: 
 i) defining quality of service attributes.    
   
   
       23 . The method as defined in  claim 22  wherein said service attributes are selected from a group including resource performance resource reliability, resource availability, resource latency, and resource bandwidth.  
   
   
       24 . The method as defined in  claim 23  wherein each class is assigned a class identification.  
   
   
       25 . The method as defined in  claim 20  wherein said step b) further includes: 
 i) assigning usage quotas to said defined classes.    
   
   
       26 . The method as defined in  claim 25  wherein said step c) further includes: 
 i) tracking, aggregating, and enforcing said usage quotas.    
   
   
       27 . The method as defined in  claim 25  wherein said quotas are hard quotas.  
   
   
       28 . The method as defined in  claim 27  wherein said hard quotas cannot be exceeded under any circumstances.  
   
   
       29 . The method as defined in  claim 25  wherein said quotas are soft quotas.  
   
   
       30 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein said soft quotas may be exceeded for a predetermined period of time.  
   
   
       31 . The method as defined in  claim 26  wherein said enforcement includes sending notification when a usage quota has been exceeded.  
   
   
       32 . The method as defined in  claim 31  further including rejecting or accepting a request to use a computer resource when a quota has been exceeded.