Patent ID: 7739155
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for automatically controlling selection of a grid provider for a grid job, comprising: responsive to a user at a grid client system entering at least one criteria for a particular grid job intended for submission to a grid environment, selecting a plurality of grid providers of said external grid environment to query for availability to process said particular grid job to meet said at least one criteria; creating a sample microcosm of said particular grid job, wherein said sample microcosm represents a particular percentage of said particular grid job; automatically distributing said at least one criteria in a bid request with said sample microcosm for said particular grid job to said plurality of grid providers, wherein said bid request indicates said particular percentage of said particular grid job represented by said sample microcosm, wherein a grid provider receiving said sample microcosm is enabled to process said sample microcosm to meter an actual performance and actual cost of processing said sample microcosm to calculate an estimated performance and cost of processing said particular grid job for said at least one bid response; storing a plurality of bid responses received from said plurality of grid providers; responsive to reaching a deadline for return of responses for said bid request, processing, at said grid client system, said plurality of bid responses to select a winning bid response for said particular grid job; and automatically distributing said particular grid job from said grid client system to a particular grid provider submitting said winning bid response.