Providing metered capacity of computer resources

Abstract

An apparatus and method provides the capability of metering temporary capacity on demand in a computer system. A resource-time is specified, such as processor-days. The actual usage of the resource is monitored, and the customer is charged for only the actual usage of the resource. In this manner a customer may purchase a specified resource-time, and is only charged for the time that the resource is actually used. The preferred embodiments extend to metering temporary capacity on demand in a logically partitioned computer system. If a resource is shared, the actual usage of the resource is monitored, and the customer is only billed for actual usage that exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor;   a memory coupled to the at least one processor;   a plurality of logical partitions defined on the apparatus;   at least one resource that provides temporary capacity when requested by a user of the apparatus; and   a capacity manager residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the capacity manager managing access to the at least one resource by the plurality of logical partitions, the capacity manager receiving an enablement code from a user of the apparatus wherein the enablement code includes a specified resource-time the capacity manager determining whether the enablement code is valid, and if the enablement code is valid, performing the steps of:
 enabling the at least one resource for metered operation by a selected logical partition; 
 determining whether the enabled resource is shared, and if so, the capacity manager metering actual use of the at least one resource by each logical partition above a predetermined non-zero threshold corresponding to each logical partition that specifies allowable usage of the at least one resource by the corresponding logical partition, and billing for the actual use by each logical partition above the corresponding predetermined non-zero threshold. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the capacity manager bills for the actual use by each logical partition by generating a bill for metered resource-time for each logical partition that represents actual use of the at least one resource by the logical partition. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the capacity manager bills for the actual use by each logical partition by deducting metered resource-time for each logical partition from a prepaid resource-time for each logical partition. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a resource allocator that enables the at least one resource before the capacity manager meters the actual use of the at least one resource. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the resource allocator disables the at least one resource when the capacity manager metered actual use of the at least one resource exceeds a specified resource-time. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A computer-readable program product comprising:
 (A) a capacity manager that manages access to at least one resource by a plurality of logical partitions in a computer system, the capacity manager receiving an enablement code from a user of the computer system, wherein the enablement code includes a specified resource-time, the capacity manager determining whether the enablement code is valid, and if the enablement code is valid, performing the steps of:
 enabling the at least one resource for metered operation by a selected logical partition; 
 determining whether the enabled resource is shared, and if so, the capacity manager metering actual use of the at least one resource by each logical partition above a predetermined non-zero threshold corresponding to each logical partition that specifies allowable usage of the at least one resource by the corresponding logical partition, and billing for the actual use by each logical partition above the corresponding predetermined non-zero threshold; and 
   (B) recordable media bearing the capacity manager.   
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The program product of  claim 8  wherein the capacity manager bills for the actual use by each logical partition by generating a bill for metered resource-time for each logical partition that represents actual use of the at least one resource by the logical partition. 
     
     
         12 . The program product of  claim 8  wherein the capacity manager bills for the actual use by each logical partition by deducting metered resource-time for each logical partition from a prepaid resource-time for each logical partition. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The program product of  claim 8  further comprising a resource allocator that enables the at least one resource before the capacity manager meters the actual use of the at least one resource. 
     
     
         15 . The program product of  claim 14  wherein the resource allocator disables the at least one resource when the capacity manager metered actual use of the at least one resource exceeds a specified resource-time. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor;   a memory coupled to the at least one processor;   a plurality of logical partitions defined on the apparatus;   at least one resource that provides temporary capacity when requested by a user of the apparatus; and   a capacity manager residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the capacity manager managing access to the at least one resource by the plurality of logical partitions, the capacity manager performing the steps of:
 requesting an enablement code from a resource provider for the computer system; 
 receiving the enablement code from the resource provider, wherein the enablement code includes a specified resource-time for a selected resource; 
 enabling the selected resource for use; 
 if the selected resource is dedicated to one of the plurality of logical partitions, performing the steps of:
 starting a meter timer; 
 using the selected resource until a time to bill occurs; 
 sending a record of metered usage to the resource provider based on value of the meter timer; 
 
 if the selected resource is not dedicated to one of the plurality of logical partitions and is shared between first and second logical partitions, performing the steps of:
 the first logical partition using the selected resource without charge until the metered use of the selected resource by the first logical partition exceeds a first predetermined non-zero threshold that specifies allowable usage of the selected resource by the first logical partition; 
 metering use of the selected resource by the first logical partition that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold until a time to bill occurs; 
 sending a record of metered usage of the selected resource that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold to the resource provider; 
 the second logical partition using the selected resource without charge until the metered use of the selected resource by the second logical partition exceeds a second predetermined non-zero threshold that specifies allowable usage of the selected resource by the second logical partition; 
 metering use of the selected resource by the second logical partition that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold until a time to bill occurs; and 
 sending a record of metered usage of the selected resource that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold to the resource provider.