Managing service demand load relative to infrastructure capacity in a networked computing environment

US9256900B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Gene L. Brown · Durham, US
• Michael D. Brookbanks · Crediton, GB
• Brendan F. Coffey · Rhinebeck, US
• Christopher J. Dawson · Arlington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 15, 2010
• Grant date: Feb 9, 2016
• Expiry date: Mar 24, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/01
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for implementing service level agreements (SLAs) having variable service delivery requirements and pricing in a networked (e.g. cloud) computing environment. Under embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of SLAs, each having a different price level, is made available to a consumer. The consumer may select one or more of the plurality of SLAs that reflects the consumer's service delivery requirements in a cloud computing environment. A consumer having relatively inflexible service delivery requirements may select one of the SLAs having a relatively higher price, whereas a consumer having relatively flexible service delivery requirements may select one of the SLAs having a relatively lower price. In one embodiment, the SLAs may dynamically provide for relatively lower variable pricing in response to the consumer receiving deferred or a relatively lower level of service during a peak service demand load. In another embodiment, the SLAs may dynamically provide for relatively higher variable pricing in response to consumer service requests that are fulfilled during a relatively higher overall service demand load. In yet …