Abstract: Deterioration of service quality due to shortage of resources and/or increased cost of support due to excessive resources is minimized in the case where the amount of requested services may change in cloud computing. Provided are mechanisms for executing a process specified by a user in a cloud computing environment and charging the user for the process. The mechanisms include a receiving part for receiving an instruction to execute the specified process and a determining part for determining an external resource to provision from a first other computer system for a charge. The mechanisms further comprise an external resource securing part for securing the external resource on the first other computer system and an executing part for causing the external resource to execute at least a part of the specified process.

Abstract: A method for dynamically updating a service level agreement, performed by a cloud computing server, includes storing a preference for service selection, acquiring an actual usage level of a first service provided to a user during a predetermined time period in accordance with a first service level agreement, determining a second service level agreement different from the first service level agreement based on the actual usage level acquired during the predetermined time period, and selecting a second service that satisfies the second service level agreement.

Abstract: A device, computer program product, and method for managing resources for performing operations in a computer system are presented. The device may include a resource reservation unit to reserve resources for performing an operation specified by a user. A query unit may query the user whether to reserve additional resources in the event the operation cannot be completed within a reserved time in the reserved resources. A resumption instruction unit may cause the resource reservation unit to reserve the additional resources and cause a continuation of the operation in the additional resources upon receiving a resumption instruction in response to the query.

Abstract: A computer network connects to a first computer, a second computer, other multiple computers, and a job category database A service to be executed by any of the other multiple computers is divided into multiple jobs; the job category is associated with each of the divided jobs; a region code and an instruction to execute the service are received from the first computer; and for each of the multiple jobs, the job category database is searched with the received region code and the associated job category as keys to acquire the operation identifier list corresponding to the job; the operation identifier list is transmitted to at least one of the other multiple computers; and a combination of the job, the identifier of that other computer and the identifier list are transmitted to the first computer.

Abstract: A grid computing system having a plurality of information processing apparatuses, each of which comprises an index value storing part for storing an index value indicative of the throughput of the information processing apparatus itself; a request acquiring part for acquiring a job execution request that requests an execution of a job; a job executing part for executing the job, based on the index value stored in the index value storing part and also based on the process contents of the job, if determining that the job is to be executed in the foregoing information processing apparatus; and a request transmitting part for forwarding the job execution request to another information processing apparatus connected to the foregoing information processing apparatus if determining that the job is not to be executed in the foregoing information processing apparatus.

Abstract: Deterioration of service quality due to shortage of resources and/or increased cost of support due to excessive resources is minimized in the case where the amount of requested services may change in cloud computing. Provided are mechanisms for executing a process specified by a user in a cloud computing environment and charging the user for the process. The mechanisms include a receiving part for receiving an instruction to execute the specified process and a determining part for determining an external resource to provision from a first other computer system for a charge. The mechanisms further comprise an external resource securing part for securing the external resource on the first other computer system and an executing part for causing the external resource to execute at least a part of the specified process.

Abstract: A method for dynamically updating a service level agreement, performed by a cloud computing server, includes storing a preference for service selection, acquiring an actual usage level of a first service provided to a user during a predetermined time period in accordance with a first service level agreement, determining a second service level agreement different from the first service level agreement based on the actual usage level acquired during the predetermined time period, and selecting a second service that satisfies the second service level agreement.

Abstract: A computer network connects to a first computer, a second computer, other multiple computers, and a job category database A service to be executed by any of the other multiple computers is divided into multiple jobs; the job category is associated with each of the divided jobs; a region code and an instruction to execute the service are received from the first computer; and for each of the multiple jobs, the job category database is searched with the received region code and the associated job category as keys to acquire the operation identifier list corresponding to the job; the operation identifier list is transmitted to at least one of the other multiple computers; and a combination of the job, the identifier of that other computer and the identifier list are transmitted to the first computer.

Abstract: A method and system for indemnifying an insurance purchaser by an insurance provider against losses resulting from specified events. In one embodiment, the specified events include quality of service penalties of a service level agreement between a service provider and service purchaser. The invention may include at least one risk metric monitored via a communication network, such that a premium payable to the insurer by the insurance purchaser is dependent on the risk metric. In a particular configuration of the invention, the risk metric is monitored in real-time or near real-time.

Abstract: A device, computer program product, and method for managing resources for performing operations in a computer system are presented. The device may include a resource reservation unit to reserve resources for performing an operation specified by a user. A query unit may query the user whether to reserve additional resources in the event the operation cannot be completed within a reserved time in the reserved resources. A resumption instruction unit may cause the resource reservation unit to reserve the additional resources and cause a continuation of the operation in the additional resources upon receiving a resumption instruction in response to the query.

Abstract: MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS A grid computing system having a plurality of information processing apparatuses, each of which comprises an index value storing part for storing an index value indicative of the throughput of the information processing apparatus itself; a request acquiring part for acquiring a job execution request that requests an execution of a job; a job executing part for executing the job, based on the index value stored in the index value storing part and also based on the process contents of the job, if determining that the job is to be executed in the foregoing information processing apparatus; and a request transmitting part for forwarding the job execution request to another information processing apparatus connected to the foregoing information processing apparatus if determining that the job is not to be executed in the foregoing information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for indemnifying an insurance purchaser by an insurance provider against losses resulting from specified events. In one embodiment, the specified events include quality of service penalties of a service level agreement between a service provider and service purchaser. The invention may include at least one risk metric monitored via a communication network, such that a premium payable to the insurer by the insurance purchaser is dependent on the risk metric. In a particular configuration of the invention, the risk metric is monitored in real-time or near real-time.

Abstract: An edit object is selected by displaying a plurality of edit objects such as figures or characters closely arranged or overlapped on a display screen. A pointer is used to specify a desired position on the main screen, and determine with a candidate selecting device whether or not a plurality of edit objects exists at a specified pointer position or in a predetermined region based on the specified position. If a plurality of edit objects exists, the edit objects existing at the position or in the predetermined region are selected as selective candidates. A subscreen is displayed on the display screen by a subscreen display device. The subscreen has a plurality of information regions which correspond to respective selective candidates. The pointer is moved on the subscreen, thus changing the display of the edit object on the main screen which corresponds to the information region indicated at the pointer position on the subscreen by highlighting or changing to a specific color.

Abstract: A storage stores n-dimensional information, n being an integer greater than or equal to three. A display displays an icon which is provided with a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, and displays information, among the n-dimensional information stored in the storage, corresponding to a given displayed region within a two-dimensional cross-section formed in two predetermined dimensions, and displays a cursor. A selector positions the cursor at a desired area of the icon and selects the desired area.

Abstract: The invention relates to searching for a desired data item within a group of data. Representative samples among a group of data to be searched are displayed, and two representative samples in display are selected to specify a new area of data to be searched. Thus, the portion of the data is bracketed and narrowed down, and the desired data item is found quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: To allow automatic determination of the order of drilling in slot drilling.The positions of holes located along a line are described via a binary vector. The order of drilling is also described via a binary vector. The former binary vector is made to correspond to the latter binary vector through a conversion matrix, where every corresponding partial matrix is regular. The positions of the holes are determined from the drilling order, or the drilling order is determined from the positions of the holes by their correspondence.