On-demand utility services utilizing yield management

Abstract

Techniques for provision of on-demand utility services utilizing a yield management framework are disclosed. For example, in one illustrative aspect of the invention, a system for managing one or more computing resources associated with a computing center comprises: (i) a resource management subsystem for managing the one or more computing resources associated with the computing center, wherein the computing center is able to provide one or more computing services in response to one or more customer demands; and (ii) a yield management subsystem coupled to the resource management subsystem, wherein the yield management subsystem optimizes provision of the one or more computing services in accordance with the resource management subsystem and the one or more computing resources.

1 . A system for managing one or more computing resources associated with a computing center, comprising: 
 a resource management subsystem for managing the one or more computing resources associated with the computing center, wherein the computing center is able to provide one or more computing services in response to one or more customer demands; and    a yield management subsystem coupled to the resource management subsystem, wherein the yield management subsystem optimizes provision of the one or more computing services in accordance with the resource management subsystem and the one or more computing resources, the yield management subsystem comprising:    a yield management reservation subsystem which determines one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with provision of the one or more computing services;    a yield management scheduler which determines one or more schedules for providing the one or more computing services in accordance with the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations;    a yield management monitor which tracks one or more service level agreements and a degree of satisfaction thereof, and which compiles aggregate statistics for use by the a yield management reservation subsystem; and    one or more yield management marketing strategy templates which provide one or more yield management-based marketing strategies for use by the a yield management reservation subsystem.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the yield management subsystem further comprises a service level agreement advisor which adds one or more customer-specific service requirements to the scheduling of a workload of a customer on a virtual cluster allocated to that customer.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing services comprise one or more on-demand utility services.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the yield management reservation subsystem is further operative to offer more than one price for the same service level, where prices are offered in limited quantities, and the quantities are optimized depending on resource levels and demand models.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the yield management reservation subsystem is further operative to suggest varying the quantities to be made available at each price and service level over a given period of time so as to effect usage patterns.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the resource management system comprises one or more of a subscription module, a billing module, a service level agreement definition module, and a provisioning module.  
   
   
       7 . A method of managing one or more computing resources associated with a computing center, the computing center including a resource management subsystem for use in managing the one or more computing resources associated with the computing center, wherein the computing center is able to provide one or more computing services in response to one or more customer demands, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with one or more computing services provided in accordance with the resource management subsystem and the one or more computing resources;    determining one or more schedules for providing the one or more computing services in accordance with the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations;    tracking one or more service level agreements and a degree of satisfaction thereof while compiling aggregate statistics for use in determining the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations; and    providing one or more yield management-based marketing strategies for use in determining the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of adding one or more customer-specific service requirements to the scheduling of a workload of a customer on a virtual cluster allocated to that customer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of determining one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with one or more computing services further comprises the one or more computing services being one or more on-demand utility services.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of determining one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with one or more computing services further comprises offering more than one price for the same service level, wherein prices are offered in limited quantities, and the quantities are optimized depending on one or more resource levels and one or more demand models.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of determining one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with one or more computing services further comprises suggesting varying the quantities to be made available at each price and service level over a given period of time so as to effect one or more usage patterns.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus for managing one or more computing resources associated with a computing center, the computing center including a resource management subsystem for use in managing the one or more computing resources associated with the computing center, wherein the computing center is able to provide one or more computing services in response to one or more customer demands, the apparatus comprising: 
 a memory; and    at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative to: (i) determine one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with one or more computing services provided in accordance with the resource management subsystem and the one or more computing resources; (ii) determine one or more schedules for providing the one or more computing services in accordance with the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations; (iii) track one or more service level agreements and a degree of satisfaction thereof while compiling aggregate statistics for use in determining the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations; and (iv) provide one or more yield management-based marketing strategies for use in determining the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to add one or more customer-specific service requirements to the scheduling of a workload of a customer on a virtual cluster allocated to that customer.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more computing services comprise one or more on-demand utility services.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to offer more than one price for the same service level, wherein prices are offered in limited quantities, and the quantities are optimized depending on one or more resource levels and one or more demand models.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to suggest varying the quantities to be made available at each price and service level over a given period of time so as to effect one or more usage patterns.  
   
   
       17 . A computing center, comprising: 
 a resource management subsystem for use in managing one or more computing resources associated with the computing center, wherein the computing center is able to provide one or more computing services in response to one or more customer demands; and    a yield management subsystem coupled to the resource management subsystem, wherein the yield management subsystem optimizes provision of the one or more computing services in accordance with the resource management subsystem and the one or more computing resources, the yield management subsystem comprising:    a yield management reservation subsystem which determines one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with provision of the one or more computing services;    a yield management scheduler which determines one or more schedules for providing the one or more computing services in accordance with the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations;    a yield management monitor which tracks one or more service level agreements and a degree of satisfaction thereof, and which compiles aggregate statistics for use by the a yield management reservation subsystem; and    one or more yield management marketing strategy templates which provide one or more yield management-based marketing strategies for use by the a yield management reservation subsystem.    
   
   
       18 . An article of manufacture for managing one or more computing resources associated with a computing center, the computing center including a resource management subsystem for use in managing the one or more computing resources associated with the computing center, wherein the computing center is able to provide one or more computing services in response to one or more customer demands, the article of manufacture comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of: 
 determining one or more optimized price/service-level combinations associated with one or more computing services provided in accordance with the resource management subsystem and the one or more computing resources;    determining one or more schedules for providing the one or more computing services in accordance with the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations;    tracking one or more service level agreements and a degree of satisfaction thereof while compiling aggregate statistics for use in determining the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations; and    providing one or more yield management-based marketing strategies for use in determining the one or more optimized price/service-level combinations.