Patent ID: 7953729
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for use in a computing utility, comprising: a memory; and one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to comprise a plurality of application service provider systems and a utility controller, wherein an application service provider system comprises an application controller, the one or more processors being operative to: (i) obtain a request of an application to one of the plurality of application service provider systems; and (ii) in response to the application request, cause: (i) the application controller of the application service provider system to which the application request is directed to compute a value of a first metric associated with a resource action, wherein the application controller comprises an application controller metric function and application controller logic, wherein the application controller metric function computes the value of the first metric and the application controller logic searches a set of possible resource actions to determine an optimal resource action based on the first metric value computed by the application controller metric function; and (ii) the utility controller to compute a value of a second metric associated with a resource action, wherein the utility controller comprises a utility controller metric function and a utility controller logic, wherein the utility controller metric function computes the value of the second metric and the utility controller logic searches a set of possible resource actions to determine an optimal resource action based on the second metric value computed by the utility controller metric function; wherein the resource action is at least one of a request, a release, an allocation, and a reclaiming of computing services; the application controller computing a value of a first metric that comprises computing a total cost from an aggregate service level agreement cost and an aggregate resource cost; the utility controller computing a value of a second metric that comprises computing an aggregated resource cost from different resources; the utility controller notifying the application controller that previously allocated resources must be returned; and the application controller notifying the utility controller that resources are returned.