Storage Billing Automation via Usage Averaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage billing methods are based on capacity leasing, which does not accurately reflect actual usage, leading to inefficiencies and potential overcharging for customers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for data storage metering and billing that calculates average storage utilization data from periodic measurements, using a calculated storage billing rate that considers class rates, consumption levels, and customer discounts, and provides billing information to customers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If billing is based on capacity leasing, then billing simplicity is maintained, but billing accuracy does not reflect actual usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual capacity-based billing system with an automated metering system that uses software agents to collect storage utilization data, calculate average usage, and generate billing information automatically. This substitution of automated digital measurement and calculation systems resolves the contradiction by providing precise usage-based billing while minimizing operational complexity through automation.
2Measurement precision
If storage utilization data is collected periodically, then actual usage measurement is achieved, but data processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having storage metering agents continuously collect and cache storage utilization data locally at customer locations before billing cycles begin. This pre-collection and local caching of measurement data reduces the time required during billing periods, as the data is already prepared and available for immediate processing when needed.
3Reliability
If average storage utilization is calculated from multiple measurements, then billing fairness is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the storage metering agent at the customer location to automatically perform data collection, averaging calculations, and billing information generation without requiring complex centralized processing. The system serves itself by locally computing average storage utilization from multiple measurements and preparing billing data, thereby achieving billing fairness through automated local intelligence rather than complex centralized computation.
Data Source
AI summary
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.