Patent ID: 7493401
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: G06Q,H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a cost for using a standby resource in a computer system, wherein the standby resource is activated in response to a resource requirement, the method comprising: automatically determining a cause of the resource requirement, wherein determining the cause of the resource requirement further includes detecting an occurrence of a failure; retrieving a code associated with the determined cause from an electronic log; in response to retrieving the code, correlating the code to a charge indicator, wherein the charge indicator pertains at least in part to the determined cause, and wherein the charge indicator includes a reduced rate relative to another charge indicator that is correlated to another code that is associated with a cause other than a cause associated with an occurrence of a failure; in response to automatically determining the cause of the resource requirement, determining a duration of standby resource activation; and determining the cost for using the standby resource according to the charge indicator and the duration of standby resource activation such that the cost for using the standby resource is reduced relative to if the cause of the resource requirement was for other than an occurrence of a failure.