Role-Based Cost Attribution in Configuration Management Database
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex organizations face difficulties in accurately tracking and attributing costs of virtual server usage across different operations, as virtual server providers typically report aggregated costs, making it challenging to allocate resources effectively among various departments or services.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system that receives requests to assign roles to virtual servers, configures them to associate specific resources, calculates resource costs, and maps these costs to the respective roles, presenting them on a web page for clear attribution and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual server providers report aggregated costs for each resource, then cost reporting is simplified and efficient, but organizations cannot accurately attribute costs to specific operations or departments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aggregated cost data by creating role-based cost allocations. It divides the total virtual server costs into discrete portions attributable to specific roles (e.g., web hosting, email, database) using a configuration management database that maps costs to individual roles rather than reporting only aggregated totals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a configuration management database as an intermediary layer between the virtual server provider's aggregated cost reporting and the organization's operational cost tracking needs. This intermediary system translates aggregated costs into role-specific allocations, enabling both efficient reporting and accurate attribution.
2Measurement precision
If organizations track costs for each operation separately, then cost attribution accuracy improves, but the complexity of tracking and managing costs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration management database that serves multiple functions: it tracks resource usage, allocates costs to roles, and provides reporting capabilities. This single multi-functional system replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate tracking mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining accurate cost attribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary cost allocation by pre-configuring role-based cost mappings in the configuration management database before costs are incurred. This preliminary setup enables automatic cost attribution without requiring complex real-time tracking calculations, simplifying the ongoing cost management process.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for resource usage tracking are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exemplary method comprises receiving a request to assign a first role to at least one virtual server; configuring the virtual server to associate the first role with a first resource of the virtual server; modifying a database to include an identifier associated with the virtual server and an identifier of the first role assigned to the virtual server; receiving, from the virtual server, indications of first resource usage; calculating a first resource cost as a combination of costs associated with each of the received indications; mapping the first resource cost to the first role; and modifying a user interface element for presentation on a web page to include the cost mapped to the first role.