Abstract: A hardware based utilization metering device, and a corresponding method are used in a computer system having one or more central processor units (CPUs) to provide a measure of CPU utilization. The device includes a state indicator coupled to a CPU. The state indicator receives an indication when the CPU is in a first state, which may be a busy state. A counter coupled to the state indicator and coupled to a system clock, receives a measure of system time from the system clock and receives data related to the indication when the CPU is in the first state, and generates a counter value indicative of time the CPU is in the first state. A data usage provider coupled to the counter maintains a non-volatile value of the counter value.

Abstract: A tamper-evident data management system uses public-private digital signature keys to control use of data and to ensure the fidelity of data that is stored on a customer's system for later collection by a computer vendor or that is sent to the vendor over a network. A computer system includes an application for collecting usage or metrics data from the computer system, for example. The metering application uses an application private key to digitally sign all metrics data prior to optionally storing the data in a data log file. The vendor can then use an application public key to validate the digitally signed entries. The digitally signed data entries may also be encrypted using a vendor public key prior to storage in the data log and may be decrypted using a vendor private key prior to validating the digitally signed data. The application and application private key may be stored on a smart card to discourage and detect tampering or may be stored on the computer system itself.

Abstract: A hardware based utilization metering device, and a corresponding method are used in a computer system having one or more central processor units (CPUs) to provide a measure of CPU utilization. The device includes a state indicator coupled to a CPU. The state indicator receives an indication when the CPU is in a first state, which may be a busy state. A counter coupled to the state indicator and coupled to a system clock, receives a measure of system time from the system clock and receives data related to the indication when the CPU is in the first state, and generates a counter value indicative of time the CPU is in the first state. A data usage provider coupled to the counter maintains a non-volatile value of the counter value.

Abstract: A method for electronic tracking of an electronic device. Identifying information is received about the electronic device, wherein the identifying information uniquely identifies the electronic device. An electronic transmission is received from the electronic device. Provided the electronic transmission is a request to access a component of the electronic device, an access key is transmitted to a system contact, wherein the access key is for providing access to the component.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method allow for capping processor utilization in a computer system. The processors are typically central processing units (CPUs) under control of a system scheduler. The system scheduler controls which of the CPUs will run specific processes. The processes may run according to a predefined priority assigned to each of the processors. A processor bandwidth waster includes a software routine that operates as an infinite loop in one or more of the CPUs. The bandwidth waster may have the highest priority of any process in the computer system such that the bandwidth waster always runs on the CPUs unless a specific action is taken to turn off, or stop, the bandwidth waster. Data are gathered from the CPUs, including time of operation of any bandwidth waster, and the gathered data are used to compute a bill for operation of the computer system.

Abstract: Computer operations whose execution would increase usage costs may require use of authorization and notification plug-ins to prevent unauthorized execution. The command may be designed to only execute properly if the authorization and notification plug-ins are properly registered. The computer system customer designs the authorization and notification plug-ins based on standard application programming interfaces to suit the customer's business practices and links them to the computer operation. The computer operation executes the authorization plug-in to determine if the proper authorization plug-in parameters have been specified and verify that the command is authorized. If authorization is granted, the computer operation checks to see that the notification plug-in is given the correct parameters, executes the computer operation, and then executes the notification module to notify the necessary personnel.

Abstract: A pay-per-use (PPU) software system uses reads metrics data from one or more PPU products and transmits the metrics data to a remote location for processing. The PPU system uses a utility metering appliance that monitors PPU software products on a given internal network through the use of software metering agents that reside on different computers. Metric gathering tools are supplied with the PPU software products and are registered with an agent. The utility metering appliance polls all of the software metering agents, which collect software metrics data from the registered tools. Each agent transmits the data back to the utility metering appliance, where it is stored for periodic transmission to a usage collection and billing system. The usage collection and billing system then forwards the metrics data to a billing computer so that a bill can be issued to the software product user. The software metrics data may also be forwarded to a portal for customer tracking of PPU product usage.

Abstract: A multi-computer instant capacity on demand (iCOD) system enables a customer to purchase computers with some assets inactive at a reduced price and to pool the total assets across all of the computers on the customers computer network. Each computer in the network transmits usage reports to a vendor database where the total number of inactive assets are added up by class of assets to determine if the customer has paid for all activated assets for all the computers on the network, rather than by individual computer. The customers may further organize computers into clusters, where the assets are audited by cluster rather than by individual computer or by the entire network. The network can have more than one cluster.

Abstract: A problem detection system detects problems related with operation of a computer system, its hardware components, application programs, and databases. The problem detection system begins by gathering or discovering initial data from one or more of the hardware components, application programs, and databases. The problem detection system may then update this data over time. The problem detection system includes mechanism for discovering problems in the computer system. The problem detection system also includes mechanisms for reporting problems to a user of the computer system or to a system administrator.

Abstract: A generic wait utility apparatus, and corresponding method, may be used with one or more application programs to provide flexible waiting functions. Because the wait utility is generic, the wait utility may be used with different application programs, and need not be custom designed for a specific application program or operation of a particular application program. The wait utility may be used with an application program to provide improved processing status information displays and options related to the processing. The wait utility integrates previous wait utility solutions into one generic, multi-purpose wait utility program that is capable of providing a general purposes refreshable status display.

Abstract: A client process in a computer system opens a communication channel to a server process in the computer system and instructs the server process to execute a task. The server process starts a timer when it begins execution of the task, to determine whether the task is of short or long duration. If the task completes before the timer reaches a predetermined value, the server process reports task completion to the client process on the open communication channel. If the task does not complete before the timer reaches the predetermined value, the server process closes the communication channel to preserve system resources and continues executing the task asynchronously. When the task is complete, the server process reopens a communication channel and reports task completion to the client process. Results are transmitted directly to the client process only if they are smaller than a predetermined size, otherwise, they are stored in a cache to preserve system resources.

Abstract: A system for initially loading an operating system into a computer. The system provides a startup sequencer with a user interface that queries each startup script to obtain a description of what function the script will perform when it is executed. The user interface then presents a list of the descriptions on the screen. As each script is executed, the return status is placed on the screen alongside the description. The system presents a shutdown list and status when the operating system is being shut down. Each script supplies a description when it is executed with a parameter requesting the description, thus providing flexibility in the information displayed. For operating systems that have multiple run levels, a separate file directory of scripts to be run for each run level is provided, wherein the directory contains the scripts to be executed in taking the operating system to the new level.