Maintenance-Cost-Aware Cloud Billing Model
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud computing environments face challenges in updating software-as-a-service (SaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) environments, leading to disruptive and costly migrations, as well as unfair distribution of maintenance costs among users with different software version preferences.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a maintenance-cost-aware billing model that calculates usage charges based on the age of virtual machine images, where older versions incur higher charges to offset maintenance costs and incentivize users to migrate to newer versions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cloud computing environment is updated to a new version, then the software security and stability are improved, but user migration becomes disruptive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts billing rates based on the age of virtual machine images, creating a time-varying pricing structure that incentivizes migration while maintaining operational continuity. The billing rate transitions from lower rates for newer versions to higher rates for older versions as they age, making the update process economically driven rather than disruptive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the billing parameter from a static model to a dynamic model that incorporates the age of the virtual machine image. This parameter change creates an economic incentive structure where users naturally migrate to newer versions to avoid increasing billing costs, resolving the migration disruption problem without requiring forced updates.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If multiple versions of SaaS/PaaS environments coexist to allow gradual updates, then user continuity is maintained, but maintenance costs increase with the age of older versions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where billing rates are adjusted based on the age of each virtual machine image version. As older versions accumulate age, their billing rates increase, providing continuous feedback to users to migrate to newer versions. This feedback loop naturally limits the duration that older versions remain in production, reducing cumulative maintenance costs while maintaining version continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The billing system dynamically adapts pricing based on the lifecycle stage of each software version. Newer versions receive lower billing rates to encourage adoption, while older versions progressively increase in rate to discourage continued use. This dynamic pricing strategy balances version continuity needs with maintenance cost management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If older versions of virtual machine images are maintained for user compatibility, then user service continuity is preserved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses parameter changes in billing rates as a control mechanism to manage version diversity. By adjusting the age-based billing parameter, the system naturally steers users toward fewer, newer versions without requiring complex active management of version support policies. This reduces system complexity while maintaining necessary adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a method for performing maintenance-cost-aware billing is described. The method may include generating a version of a virtual machine image. The method may also include calculating a usage charge for usage of an instantiated virtual machine corresponding to the version of the virtual machine image. The calculation of the usage charge may be based on an age of the version of the virtual machine image.