Patent ID: 8041599
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for selecting a brokering method for obtaining desired service level characteristics, comprising: using at least one computing device for: receiving a set of requests from at least one bidder for an elemental bidding resource (EBR), the elemental bidding resource including a computational resource sought by the at least one bidder; evaluating market conditions for the EBR from historical data; determining whether a demand from the at least one bidder for the EBR exceeds a supply of the EBR; selecting a brokering strategy to allocate a portion of the EBR to the at least one bidder based on the market conditions, the supply, and the demand, wherein the brokering strategy includes an auction-only technique in the case that the demand exceeds the supply, the auction-only technique including a brokering method selected from a group consisting of: cooperative negotiations between multiple bidders, wherein each of the multiple bidders is notified about each of other multiple bidders; and a down-shifting of bids for the multiple bidders, wherein the down-shifting is performed after completion of a bid cycle, and wherein the brokering strategy includes a non-auction technique in the case that the supply exceeds the demand; and selecting a brokering method associated with the brokering strategy.