Patent ID: 7627506

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for providing metered capacity of at least one temporary resource on demand in a computer system that includes a plurality of logical partitions, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one processor in the computer system; providing a network interface coupled to the at least one processor that allows the computer system to communicate with other computer systems; requesting an enablement code from a resource provider for the computer system; receiving the enablement code from the resource provider, wherein the enablement code includes a specified resource-time for a selected resource; enabling the selected resource for use; when the selected resource is dedicated to one of the plurality of logical partitions, performing the steps of: starting a meter timer; using the selected resource until a time to bill occurs; sending a record of metered usage to the resource provider based on value of the meter timer; and the resource provider sending a bill for the metered usage of the selected resource to a customer; when the selected resource is not dedicated to one of the plurality of logical partitions and is shared between first and second logical partitions, performing the steps of: the first logical partition using the selected resource without charge until the metered use of the selected resource by the first logical partition exceeds a first predetermined non-zero threshold that specifies allowable usage of the selected resource by the first logical partition; metering use of the selected resource by the first logical partition that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold until a time to bill occurs; sending a record of metered usage of the selected resource by the first logical partition that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold to the resource provider; the resource provider sending a bill for the metered usage of the selected resource that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold to the customer; the second logical partition using the selected resource without charge until the metered use of the selected resource by the second logical partition exceeds a second predetermined non-zero threshold that specifies allowable usage of the selected resource by the second logical partition; metering use of the selected resource by the second logical partition that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold until a time to bill occurs; sending a record of metered usage of the selected resource by the second logical partition that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold to the resource provider; and the resource provider sending a bill for the metered usage of the selected resource that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold to the customer.