SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON AN AS-USED BASIS

摘要

Systems and methods for providing use of information technology in exchange for a fee based more precisely on actual or near actual use. Information technology may include software and/or hardware, which may be grouped into a convergent infrastructure or convergent architecture. Use of the hardware and/or software may be monitored, such as with metering software, by measuring usage metrics to determine resource usage. The raw metrics data may be converted into at least one common unit of measure. The raw or converted metrics may be used to determine a fee based on resource usage. The fee may be based on a fee rate, determined or calculated with reference to various information such as the type of information technology being used. The user may be charged the fee based on actual past usage, an approximation of past usage, an estimation of future usage, or a different usage basis.

主权项

1. A method for providing use of information technology to a user in exchange for a fee, the method comprising:
providing information technology comprising at least one computer or network hardware component to the user; monitoring the user's actual usage of the information technology; determining a fee rate for the information technology; and charging a fee to the user, the fee based on a combination of the monitored usage and the fee rate.