Patent ID: 8781928
Filing Date: 2014-07-15
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for execution by an apparatus comprising a memory including computer readable code and a processor configured to execute the computer readable code to perform at least: accessing records of previous usage within a billing period of service units for a plurality of customers, wherein the service units are discrete sizes of services for a plurality of resource types, wherein each usage of an individual one of the service units has a start event and a stop event, and wherein each resource type has a price fixed as of a date of the previous usage; dividing the billing period into a plurality of time periods determined using the start events and the stop events for the usage of all of the service units; using the accessed records and the time periods and based on one or more criteria, assigning resource types to the previous usage in the time periods of the service units by the customers; and determining total charge for a selected customer based on the assignments of the resource types and corresponding prices for the selected customer for all of the time periods; wherein assigning resource types further comprises: using the accessed records and the time periods, formulating a linear programming problem with an objective to be determined subject to a plurality of constraints, wherein the criteria include the objective and the constraints; and solving the linear programming problem to create results, the results comprising the assignments of resource types to the time periods for the previous usage in the time periods of the service units by the customers; wherein the linear programming problem is solved to determine a minimum price for the customers, or wherein the linear programming problem is solved to determine a maximum benefit for a provider of the service units.