Abstract: A method for dynamic test suite creation from event communications from customers includes receiving an event communication from a customer about an adverse event. The customer receives support for computing equipment over a management network from a support provider and the adverse event is regarding the computing equipment. The method includes analyzing the event communication using natural language processing to identify a potential cause of the adverse event and selecting one or more tests from a test library based on the identified potential cause of the adverse event. Each test of the tests is configured to test a portion of the computing equipment to lead to identification of a cause of the adverse event. The method includes automatically initiating the selected one or more tests through the management network and analyzing test results from execution of the selected one or more tests to identify a cause the adverse event.

Abstract: A method for data storage metering and billing includes receiving, at an owner server on a periodic basis, storage utilization data. The storage utilization data includes one or more measurements of data storage usage for data storage at a customer location of a customer where the customer location is remote from the owner server. The method includes calculating, from the storage utilization data, average storage utilization data that includes an average of the storage utilization data from the customer location for a billing period. The method includes calculating billing information for the average storage utilization data for the billing period where the billing information is calculated from the average storage utilization data and a calculated storage billing rate, and providing, to the customer, access to the billing information.

Abstract: A method for dynamic test suite creation from event communications from customers includes receiving an event communication from a customer about an adverse event. The customer receives support for computing equipment over a management network from a support provider and the adverse event is regarding the computing equipment. The method includes analyzing the event communication using natural language processing to identify a potential cause of the adverse event and selecting one or more tests from a test library based on the identified potential cause of the adverse event. Each test of the tests is configured to test a portion of the computing equipment to lead to identification of a cause of the adverse event. The method includes automatically initiating the selected one or more tests through the management network and analyzing test results from execution of the selected one or more tests to identify a cause the adverse event.

Abstract: A method for data storage metering and billing includes receiving, at an owner server on a periodic basis, storage utilization data. The storage utilization data includes one or more measurements of data storage usage for data storage at a customer location of a customer where the customer location is remote from the owner server. The method includes calculating, from the storage utilization data, average storage utilization data that includes an average of the storage utilization data from the customer location for a billing period. The method includes calculating billing information for the average storage utilization data for the billing period where the billing information is calculated from the average storage utilization data and a calculated storage billing rate, and providing, to the customer, access to the billing information.

Abstract: A method for allocation metering for virtual machines and containers includes gathering virtual structure (“VS”) allocation data for one or more virtual structures running on one or more servers at a customer location of a customer. a virtual structure includes a virtual machine (“VM”) or a container. The VS allocation data is for a virtual structure of the one or more virtual structures that include allocation of virtual resources for the virtual structure. The customer leases computing resources from an owner. The method includes periodically transmitting VS allocation data to an owner server of the owner over a management network different than a computer network servicing workloads of the virtual structures. The owner server is located off-premises from the customer location. Billing information is calculated at the owner server from the VS allocation data and includes a cost for virtual resources allocated to the virtual structures for the billing period.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing guidance for image capture includes a recognition module that recognizes data objects in data available to an image capture device. At least a portion of the data includes characters. The apparatus includes a context module that determines a context associated with a first image available from the image capture device. The context includes one or more expected data objects, where the first image includes at least a portion of the recognized data objects. The apparatus includes a data module that compares the expected data objects for the determined context, with the recognized data objects from the first image to identify missing expected data objects not found in the first image. The apparatus includes a guidance module that, in response to identified missing data, provides guidance for capturing a second image expected to include the missing expected data objects.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing guidance for image capture includes a recognition module that recognizes data objects in data available to an image capture device. At least a portion of the data includes characters. The apparatus includes a context module that determines a context associated with a first image available from the image capture device. The context includes one or more expected data objects, where the first image includes at least a portion of the recognized data objects. The apparatus includes a data module that compares the expected data objects for the determined context, with the recognized data objects from the first image to identify missing expected data objects not found in the first image. The apparatus includes a guidance module that, in response to identified missing data, provides guidance for capturing a second image expected to include the missing expected data objects.