Systems, methods, and apparatus for utilizing forward market pricing to facilitate operational decisions

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for utilizing forward market pricing to facilitate operational decisions are disclosed. An example method may include interpreting a compute resource utilization requirement for a task system, and interpreting a behavioral data source, comprising entity behavioral data for an entity associated with the task system. The method may also include forecasting a forward market price for a compute resource in response to the compute resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data source, and, in response to the forward market price, adjusting an operation of the task system or executing a transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 interpreting a compute resource utilization requirement for a task system;   interpreting a behavioral data source, wherein the behavioral data source comprises entity behavioral data for an entity associated with the task system;   forecasting a forward market price for a compute resource in response to the compute resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data source; and   performing one of adjusting an operation of the task system or executing a transaction, in response to the forecast of the forward market price for the compute resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the behavioral data source comprises an automated agent behavioral data source, a human behavioral data source, or a business entity behavioral data source. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compute resource utilization requirement comprises a first compute resource, and wherein the compute resource of the forward market price comprises the first compute resource; or a second compute resource that can be substituted for the first resource. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining a substitution cost of the second compute resource, and performing the one of adjusting the operation of the task system or executing the transaction further in response to the substitution cost of the second resource. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining at least a portion of the substitution cost of the second compute resource as an operational change cost for the task system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the performing comprises executing the transaction, wherein the transaction comprises one of purchasing or selling one of the first compute resource or the second compute resource on a market for at least one of the first compute resource or the second compute resource. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing comprises adjusting the operation of the task system, and wherein the adjusting further comprises at least one operation selected from the operations consisting of: adjusting operations of the task system to increase or reduce the compute resource utilization requirement; adjusting operations of the task system to time shift at least a portion of the compute resource utilization requirement; adjusting operations of the task system to substitute utilization of a first compute resource for utilization of a second compute resource; and accessing an external provider to provide at least a portion of the compute task. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing comprises executing the transaction, wherein the transaction comprises one of purchasing or selling the compute resource on a market for the compute resource. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the market for the compute resource comprises a forward market for the compute resource. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the market for the compute resource comprises a spot market for the compute resource. 
     
     
         11 . A transaction-enabling apparatus comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to:
 interpret a compute resource utilization requirement for a task system;   interpret a behavioral data source, wherein the behavioral data source comprises entity behavioral data for an entity associated with the task system;   operate a machine to forecast a forward market value for a compute resource in response to the compute resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data source; and   perform one of adjusting an operation of the task system or executing a transaction in response to the forecast of the forward market value for the compute resource.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the compute resource utilization requirement comprises a first compute resource, and wherein the compute resource of the forward market value comprises a first compute resource, or a second compute resource that can be substituted for the first compute resource. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to operate the machine to determine a substitution cost of the second compute resource, and to perform the one of adjusting the operation of the task system or executing the transaction further in response to the substitution cost of the second compute resource. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the machine is further configured to determine at least a portion of the substitution cost of the second resource as an operational change cost for the task system. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the entity behavioral data comprises production data for the task system. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the entity behavioral data comprises market activity for a supplier of the first resource, or a supplier of the second resource. 
     
     
         17 . A transaction-enabling system, comprising:
 a machine having a compute task requirement; and   a controller, comprising:   a compute resource requirement circuit structured to determine a compute resource utilization requirement for the machine to service the compute task requirement;   an external data acquisition circuit structured to acquire behavioral data from a behavioral data source, wherein the behavioral data comprises behavioral data for an entity associated with the machine;   a forward market forecast circuit structured to forecast a forward market value for a compute resource in response to the compute resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data; and   a response circuit structured to adjust an operation of the machine or executing a transaction in response to the forecast of the forward market value for the compute resource.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the compute resource utilization requirement comprises a first compute resource, and wherein the compute resource of the forward market value comprises
 a first compute resource; or   a second compute resource that can be substituted for the first resource.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the behavioral data comprises compute resource production behavior for the first compute resource or second compute resource. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the behavioral data comprises transaction behavior associated with the first compute resource or the second compute resource.