Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: Measurement data associated with a service element is obtained and analyzed to determine whether one or more aspects of the service element are to be revised. The data collected may be classified as standard, custom, or ad-hoc. Further, the measurement data can be collected for various areas associated with the service element, and may be maintained within a data structure. In one example, collection and analysis of the measurement data are facilitated by a Service Development Tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N?2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A1, A2, . . . , AJ are selected from the N applications such that a remaining N-J applications are unselected (J<N). The coefficients for the N-J unselected applications constitute a subset of the coefficients for the J selected applications. Fj represents the approximate cost of ownership of the application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J. An actual cost of ownership Gj of application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J is provided. The coefficients for the J selected applications are determined so as to minimize a function H=?jWj|Fj?Gj|P (P>0). ?j represents a summation over j from j=1 to j=J. Wj are predetermined weights.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a method for restoring a computer processor to a previous state. Described is a processor/memory architecture that may store successive instructions/data into a pushdown stack. As instructions are loaded and executed, the loading and executing of new instructions may be suspended. The instruction execution and memory stack then may be restored to a previous processor state in terms of instructions, processor memory state, register values, etc.

Abstract: An Information Technology (IT) system display method and computer program product. A description is provided of a configuration of devices, network segments, and vertical connectors relating to an IT structure. The devices are initially distributed to form a distribution of the devices in a matrix representing a display screen. A defined goal value of the configuration is a function of a length and weight of each network segment, a length and weight of each vertical connector, and a penalty for each crossing of a device by a network segment. An overlay pattern of the network segments and the vertical connectors overlayed on the matrix is displayed in accordance with the description and the final distribution of the devices in the matrix. The goal value for the final distribution is lower than for the initial distribution. The final distribution is displayed on the display screen together with the overlay pattern.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N?2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A1, A2, . . . , AJ are selected from the N applications such that a remaining N-J applications are unselected (J<N). The coefficients for the N-J unselected applications constitute a subset of the coefficients for the J selected applications. Fj represents the approximate cost of ownership of the application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J. An actual cost of ownership Gj of application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J is provided. The coefficients for the J selected applications are determined so as to minimize a function H=?jWj|Fj?Gj|P (P>0). ?j represents a summation over j from j=1 to j=J. Wj are predetermined weights.

Abstract: A computer system and computer program product for optimizing an aspect of an Information Technology (IT) structure of an IT system. The aspect of the IT structure is optimized with respect to at least one control parameter. The IT structure includes a plurality of elements. Each element independently is a hardware element, a software element, or a combination of a hardware element and a software element. Each control parameter has a value that is specific to each element of the IT structure.

Abstract: An Information Technology (IT) system display method and computer program product. A description is provided of a configuration of devices, network segments, and vertical connectors relating to an IT structure. The devices are initially distributed to form a distribution of the devices in a matrix representing a display screen. A defined goal value of the configuration is a function of a length and weight of each network segment, a length and weight of each vertical connector, and a penalty for each crossing of a device by a network segment. An overlay pattern of the network segments and the vertical connectors overlayed on the matrix is displayed in accordance with the description and the final distribution of the devices in the matrix. The goal value for the final distribution is lower than for the initial distribution. The final distribution is displayed on the display screen together with the overlay pattern.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: A method for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N?2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A1, A2, . . . , AJ are selected from the N applications such that a remaining N?J applications are unselected (J<N). The coefficients for the N?J unselected applications constitute a subset of the coefficients for the J selected applications. Fj represents the approximate cost of ownership of the application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J. An actual cost of ownership Gj of application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J is provided. The coefficients for the J selected applications are determined so as to minimize a function H=?j Wj|Fj?Gj|P(P>0). ?j represents a summation over j from j=1 to j=J. Wj are predetermined weights.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for optimizing an aspect of an Information Technology (IT) structure of an IT system, the aspect of the IT structure is optimized with respect to at least one control parameter. The IT structure includes a plurality of elements. Each element independently is a hardware element, a software element, or a combination of a hardware element and a software element. Each control parameter has a value that is specific to each element of the IT structure.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.

Abstract: The invention provides a solution for managing a business engagement between a provider and a client. The business engagement relates business value of a client to practices of a provider to determine elements of a value priced contract. The invention obtains prioritized business requirements and maps them to priorities that are used to derive metrics, which can be inputted into a proposed contract. Furthermore, client empirical data and/or provider empirical data can be used during contract generation. The invention may further perform the aforementioned mapping by examining efficiency, effectiveness, alignment, and/or transformation metrics of the provider and/or the client. The invention may further determine apportionment of value and risk between the client and the provider for each resulting element determined. In this manner, the invention provides an improved solution for managing a business engagement by comparing client/provider capabilities and selecting elements to include in the contract.

Abstract: A service element is defined and represented by a data structure. It includes one or more components and/or one or more other service elements. A service element providing a complete function is a service offering. Management of service elements and/or service offerings is facilitated by a Service Development Tool. In different aspects, the management includes various tasks associated with creating, modifying and deleting service elements, establishing relationships, error checking and optimization. In a further aspect, service elements are packaged and distributed to enable customers to deliver the service elements. Additionally, the hosting of software packages is facilitated.