Physical Resource Metering for Virtualization Cost Normalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cloud computing users face inaccuracies in resource usage measurement due to virtualization, leading to overestimation of physical resource consumption and inefficient cost comparison between virtual and physical server configurations.

Innovation Solution

A method to measure and normalize physical computing resources as a single unit of measure, using a meter to quantify actual usage, optimize resource allocation, and enable real-time monitoring and billing based on accurate physical resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If virtualization is used to share computing resources across multiple workloads and customers, then resource utilization and financial yield are improved, but measurement precision of physical resource consumption deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidphysical resource consumption measurement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a meter as an intermediary device that sits between the virtualization layer and physical resources. This meter directly measures physical resource consumption (CPU cycles, memory access, storage I/O, network bandwidth) without being affected by virtualization abstractions, thereby providing precise measurement of actual physical resource usage while allowing virtualization to continue enabling high resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If virtual server configuration is selected over physical server, then cost per unit time is reduced, but performance and work output deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost per unit timeVSAvoidwork output

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the meter provides accurate real-time data on actual physical resource consumption. This feedback enables dynamic resource allocation and pricing adjustments, allowing cloud providers to optimize the balance between virtual and physical server configurations. By knowing exact consumption patterns, providers can adjust virtualization density to maintain performance while controlling costs, or inform customers of actual resource usage to make informed decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If virtualization enables sharing of computing resources, then resource efficiency is improved, but loss of information about actual physical consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidactual physical consumption data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The meter acts as an intermediary measurement device that operates at the physical resource level, bypassing virtualization abstractions. It directly instruments physical resources to capture actual consumption data (CPU cycles executed, memory bytes accessed, storage I/O operations, network packets transmitted), preserving accurate information about physical resource usage despite the presence of multiple virtualization layers above it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250371465A1Quantifying usage of disparate computing resources as a single unit of measure

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 INFRASIGHT SOFTWARE CORP

AI summary

A method including: receiving a single usage value for a plurality of physical computing resources over a period of time; receiving a cost for the plurality of physical computing resources; and determining, using one or more processors, a normalized usage rate cost of the plurality of physical computing resources over the period of time by normalizing the cost for the plurality of physical computing resources for a unit of the single usage value