Patent ID: 7379884
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of providing fee-based access to grid computing resources available to a plurality of users, comprising: receiving a request from a requesting entity; determining a completion time criterion specified for the request, wherein the completion time criterion defines at least a maximum acceptable time to complete the request; performing the request using the grid computing resources; wherein performing the request comprises producing results responsive to the request; in response to completing the request in less than the maximum acceptable time to complete the request defined by the completion time criterion, delaying returning the results to the requesting entity for a period of time; after a lapse of the period of time, returning the results to the requesting entity; and determining a time-based price to be charged for performing the request; wherein determining the time-based price to be charged comprises accessing a tiered pricing schedule from which the price is determined based on response time, wherein the tiered pricing schedule specifies a decreasing price to be charged for the request with at least one of: (i) an increasing response time, and (ii) increasing request processing time; wherein the tiered pricing schedule is an element of a customer service contract.