Cloud Usage Fee Calculation Based on Device Count and API Metrics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cloud service technologies fail to accurately determine operation costs for business operators when multiple operators jointly use a public cloud service, leading to unclear usage fees.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus calculates usage fees for each business operator based on the number of devices managed and usage records, utilizing APIs to register device states and track usage metrics such as frequency, data storage, communication data, and API-specific activities, allowing for weighted allocation of fees.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple business operators jointly use a public cloud service, then resource utilization and system efficiency are improved, but determining the operation cost for each business operator becomes difficult and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidoperation cost determination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cloud service usage costs by identifying and measuring specific usage metrics for each business operator, including API call counts, data transfer volumes, and computational resource consumption. This segmentation enables precise allocation of operation costs to individual operators based on their actual usage patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors and records usage metrics for each business operator, then uses this feedback information to calculate and allocate costs accurately. The system collects usage data, processes it through calculation algorithms, and provides cost feedback to each operator

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If detailed usage records are collected for each business operator, then cost allocation accuracy is improved, but system complexity and data processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost allocation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a universal measurement framework that uses standardized metrics and calculation methods applicable to all business operators. This multi-functional approach allows the same system infrastructure to handle multiple operators' usage data without requiring separate complex systems for each operator

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms complex usage data into simplified cost parameters by defining specific measurable metrics (API call counts, data volumes, computation units). These parameter changes convert diverse usage patterns into standardized units that can be processed and allocated efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12106339B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

To appropriately determine the usage fee for each business operator of a system using a cloud service. An information processing apparatus includes a calculating unit configured to calculate a usage fee relating to a cloud service with respect to each of a plurality of business operators, based on information relating to a number of devices managed by each of the plurality of business operators by using the cloud service, and information relating to a usage record of using the cloud service by each of the plurality of business operators.