Patent ID: 8479146

Claim:
A method for providing computer resources to users, the method comprising: establishing a plurality of co-located computing systems at a first location, wherein the plurality of co-located computing systems comprises a hierarchy of computer resources based on performance, and wherein each of the plurality of co-located computing systems lacks a local human interface system, wherein the performance of the computer resources comprises: software application cost; and software application computational demands; establishing a plurality of remote human interface systems at different respective second locations, wherein the second locations are remote from the first location, and wherein the plurality of remote human interface systems are coupled to the plurality of co-located computing systems over a wide area network (WAN); providing computer resources of two or more of the co-located computing systems respectively to two or more users of the plurality of remote human interface systems on a one-to-one basis over the WAN in accordance with the computer resource performance needs of the users; charging for usage of the computer resources; providing a graphical user interface (GUI) to at least one of the two or more users or their representatives, wherein the GUI presents available computer resources, wherein the GUI comprises a slider control, wherein the slider control allows the at least one of the two or more users or their representatives to increase or decrease resources used; receiving input to the GUI requesting use of one or more of the computer resources; wherein said providing computer resources and said charging for usage are performed in accordance with the requested computer resources; providing auxiliary services to a user of the two or more users, wherein the auxiliary services include debugging services for the user, and one or more of: document proof-reading; editing; or commercial printing; and charging for the auxiliary services.