Methods for resource allocation and utilization based on forward market price forecast

Abstract

Methods for utilizing forward market pricing to facilitate operational decisions are disclosed. An example method may include interpreting a resource utilization requirement for a task system having at least one of a compute task, a network task, or a core task, and accessing an external provider to provide at least a portion of the compute task, the network task, or the core task. The method may also include interpreting a behavioral data source and operating a machine to forecast a forward market value for a resource in response to a remaining resource utilization requirement and the behavioral data source. The method may then include, in response to the forecast of the forward market value for the resource, adjusting an operation of the task system or executing a transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 interpreting a resource utilization requirement for a task system having at least one of a compute task, a network task, or a core task;   accessing an external provider to provide at least a portion of the compute task, the network task, or the core task;   interpreting a behavioral data source;   operating a machine to forecast a forward market value for a resource in response to a remaining 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 value for the resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forward market value for the resource comprises a forward market for energy prices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the behavioral data source comprises at least one of an automated agent behavioral data source, a human behavioral data source, and a business entity behavioral data source. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forward market value for the resource comprises a forward market for a spectrum resource. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the behavioral data source comprises at least one of an automated agent behavioral data source, a human behavioral data source, and a business entity behavioral data source. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forward market value for the resource comprises a forward market for a compute resource. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the behavioral data source comprises at least one of an automated agent behavioral data source, a human behavioral data source, and a business entity behavioral data source. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forward market value for the resource comprises a forward market for an energy credit resource. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the behavioral data source comprises an automated agent behavioral data source, a human behavioral data source, or a business entity behavioral data source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource utilization requirement comprises a first resource, and wherein the resource of the forward market value comprises the first resource, or a second resource that can be substituted for the first resource. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising operating the machine to determine a substitution cost of the second 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. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining at least a portion of the substitution cost of the second resource as an operational change cost for the task system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resource utilization requirement comprises at least one resource selected from the resources consisting of: a compute resource, a network bandwidth resource, a spectrum resource, a data storage resource, an energy resource, and an energy credit resource. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the performing comprises further adjusting the operation of the task system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting operations of the task system to reduce the resource utilization requirement. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting operations of the task system to increase the resource utilization requirement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adjusting comprises adjusting operations of the task system to time shift at least a portion of the resource utilization requirement. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adjusting further comprises adjusting operations of the task system to substitute utilization of a first resource for utilization of a second resource. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adjusting further comprises accessing an external provider to provide at least a portion of at least one of the compute task, the network task, or the core task. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing the transaction, comprises one of purchasing or selling the resource on a market for the resource.