Patent ID: 9619827
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06Q

Claim:
1. A method performed by data processing apparatus, the method comprising: receiving, by the data processing apparatus and from a resource user, request data that specifies: determining, by the data processing apparatus, the discounted rate for using the additional units based on the first number of units and the additional number of units; providing, to the resource user and during the particular time period, access to use of a requested number of units of the particular computing resource over a cloud computing network, the requested number of units varying over time and exceeding the first number of units at least once during the particular time period; and determining, by the data processing apparatus and based on actual usage data received by the data processing apparatus from a usage monitor that monitors actual usage of computing resources, a cost for using the requested number of units of the particular computing resource based on the discounted rate and a lease rate for leasing the first number of units.