JP2004206273A - Computer resource trade system and computer resource trade program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for managing and trading a computer resource, which is needed to enable everybody to use and provide the computer resource. <P>SOLUTION: This system for capitalizing a grid computing comprises a resource-providing computer for providing the computer resource, a resource-using computer for using the computer resource, and a resource mediation computer for mediating the resource-providing computer and the resource-using computer. The resource mediation computer collects the amount according to the quantity used of the computer resource from the resource-using computer, and pays the amount according to the quantity provided of the computer resource to the resource-providing computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer resource trading system and a computer resource trading program for trading computer resources using grid computing technology that makes the computer resources available via the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, a service in which a PC is connected to the Internet is available in many homes due to a reduction in the price of a PC (Personal Computer) and the spread of a constantly connected environment. However, in a normal usage such as writing a text or viewing a Web (World Wide Web) page, the usage rate of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is usually less than 100%, and computer resources are usually left in a state where there is no surplus. It has become. Therefore, in recent years, grid computing that makes effective use of the surplus computer resources has been developed. In well-known grid computing projects such as SETI @ home, computing power is distributed over millions of PCs to obtain computational power exceeding that of supercomputers.
[0003]
However, grid computing via the Internet today is a volunteer-style program that appeals to the human heart and provides computer resources, such as SETI @ home, which helps search for aliens, and Fight AIDS @ home, which searches for AIDS drugs. There are many projects, and they have no reward for providing computer resources. Also, a distributed net (distributed.net) that performs decryption has a prize, but a prize is given when a problem piece calculated by the PC is the correct answer, that is, a monetary expectation of a provider in the form of a lottery ticket. The value is endlessly small.
[0004]
There are the following prior art documents.
[0005]
[Non-patent document 1]
Kenichiro Tanaka, Mitsuharu Takemoto, Kiyoshi Ueda (NTT NS Lab.), "A Method for Realizing Distributed Computing Using P2P Discovery Technology", IEICE General Conference, 2002.
[Non-patent document 2]
Naoki Ito, "P2P Computing-Technical Explanations and Applications-" Published by Soft Research Center, Ltd., November 25, 2001, 104-107
[Non-patent document 1]
Supervised by Masao Kawachi, edited by Keiichi Koyanagi, "The New Century of P2P Internet" Published by The Telecommunications Association, May 1, 2002 84-89
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
At present, grid computing via the Internet is an immature business because the exchange of computer resources does not involve money, and the spread of grid computing requires cashback according to the provided time and provided computing capacity. is there.
[0006]
The “Global Grid Initiative,” which is currently being pursued by the Global Grid Forum and others, aims to create a world where anyone can use computer resources via the Internet, such as electricity and water, as much as they want. The grid computing platform required for that purpose is being studied.
[0007]
If the "Global Grid Initiative" is realized, the provider does not care who provides the computer resources, and on the contrary, the user does not care who uses the computer resources. It is expected that money will be exchanged for the amount of calculation used.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a computer resource trading system and a computer resource management system for managing and selling computer resources necessary for anyone to be able to use and provide computer resources as if they were electricity or water. It aims to provide a resource trading program.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a resource utilizing computer which desires computer resources discovers a resource providing computer which has spare computer resources on the Internet via a resource mediating computer which manages computer resources. A resource updating system for paying money and utilizing idle computer resources, wherein the resource providing computer notifies the resource intermediary computer whether its own computer resources are currently available or not, and a resource intermediary computer. Authentication means for authenticating the resource using computer, query means for inquiring the resource using computer of the resource using computer to the resource mediating computer, and a computer which the resource mediating computer can currently provide for the resource providing computer managed by itself. Search means for searching for resources, address notifying means for notifying the resource using computer of the address of the currently available computer resource found by the resource mediating computer by the searching means, and providing the resource using the resource notified computer A question piece to be processed directly by the computer, a tool to be processed, a question transmission means for transmitting a question ID (identification) which is an identifier of the question piece to be processed, and a resource providing computer to process the transmitted question Processing start confirming means for confirming whether or not to do so; a problem processing means for processing the transmitted problem by the resource providing computer; and an answer transmission for transmitting the processed answer and the problem ID to the resource using computer by the resource providing computer. The means and the resource providing computer include Answer ID notifying means for sending an answer ID to which a resource providing computer ID is added as an identifier to the resource mediating computer, and the status updating means, authentication means, query means, search means, address notifying means, problem sending means, processing The start confirming means, the question processing means, the answer transmitting means, and the answer ID notifying means are repeatedly executed, and at predetermined intervals, the resource mediating computer counts the accumulated answer IDs for each resource using computer and each resource providing computer. And a settlement means for performing charging and cashback according to the amount of calculation.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
First, the minimum requirements for buying and selling computer resources via the Internet are shown, and the conditions are shown to be clearable.
[0011]
First, if you sell computer resources, if you do not have more cash back than the electricity bill while providing your own PC, you will not provide the PC and turn off the power when you are not using it. I will.
[0012]
Also, when buying computer resources, if the usage fee is higher than the depreciation cost of the PC, that is, the price of buying the PC by yourself, it is not used.
[0013]
As a result, the minimum requirements for buying and selling computer resources are given by:
[0014]
Electricity fee <Offer fee ≤ Usage fee <Depreciation
Whether or not this conditional expression can be cleared is calculated using a standard PC as an example. The following assumptions are made as a calculation model.
[0015]
・ The price of PC is 100,000 yen
・ PC depreciation period is 4 years
・ Power consumption of PC is 85W (excluding monitor)
・ Power consumption of peripheral devices such as broadband routers is always 10W
・ The monthly power consumption of the home is 300 kWh
Based on this assumption, we calculate the electricity bill when providing PC resources via the Internet for the depreciation period of 4 years. First, the power consumption is
(85 + 10) W × 24h × 365 × 4 = 3329kWh
Therefore, apply 20.67 yen per 1 kWh for the electricity bill (at TEPCO, 20.67 yen per kWh when the monthly power consumption is between 120 kWh and 300 kWh)
3329kWh × 20.67 yen / kWh = 68806 yen
It becomes. Therefore, for example, as a provision fee, a provision fee of 10% added to the PC electricity bill (75,000 yen in total for 4 years), and as a use fee, a use fee obtained by subtracting 20% from the depreciation cost of PC (80000 yen in total for 4 years) By setting, there is an advantage for both the provider and the user, so that the buying and selling of computer resources is established as a business.
[0016]
The difference between the usage fee and the provision fee is an operation fee on the computer resource trading system operator side of the present invention.
[0017]
Three supplementary explanations of the above calculation model will be described.
[0018]
First, isn't this calculation model feasible due to the lower price of PCs? I will answer the question. Certainly, it is expected that PCs will become even cheaper in the future, but since the power consumption of PCs is also increasing due to social background, it is expected that the ratio between the cost of electricity and the price of PCs will not change much.
[0019]
Next, may the provider be concerned about the deterioration of the PC caused by free use of the bandwidth that he / she bought on a monthly basis or being used for other calculations? I will answer the question. In this answer, the provider hardly cares. This is because humans care about the charges that are taken on a pay-as-you-go basis, but they do not care about the monthly deductible charges and the depreciation of purchased items. A good example is a young mobile phone. You can buy a mobile phone for tens of thousands of yen and buy it for a new model in about a year.
[0020]
Finally, because users are currently limited to life-related, financial, and scientific research institutions, isn't it likely that computer resources will be oversupplied? I will answer the question. Although the number of users is limited at present, if anyone can use computer resources according to the present invention, it is expected that general mass users will become users. An example of a service in which a general mass user requires a large amount of computer resources is a home video game.
[0021]
From the above, it has been clarified that the business of buying and selling computer resources will be established. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that both the resource providing computer and the resource using computer have a constant connection circulation of the Internet.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer resource trading system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the system includes resource providing computers α to δ, resource using computers A and B, and a resource mediating computer that manages the status of the computer resources of the resource providing computers α to δ. Install multiple units according to the number of units. The resource providing computer has status updating means for performing a status updating procedure, processing start confirming means for performing a processing start confirming procedure, and answer ID notifying means for performing an answer ID notifying procedure, and the resource mediating computer has a registration information DB (database) for registering information. ), An authentication means for performing an authentication procedure, a resource search means for performing a resource search procedure, an address notification means for performing an address notification procedure, an answer ID management DB for managing an answer ID, and a payment means for performing a payment procedure. It has query means for performing a query procedure, question transmitting means for performing a question transmitting procedure, and answer merging means for performing an answer merging procedure. Further, the processing tool transmitted by the resource utilization computer has a problem processing means for performing a problem processing procedure and an answer transmitting means for performing an answer transmission procedure.
[0023]
In this embodiment, computer resources are exchanged between the resource providing computer and the resource using computer by repeating the following ten procedures. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of a process according to the procedure.
[0024]
(1) Status update procedure
The resource providing computer notifies the resource mediating computer whether its own computer resources can be provided or not.
[0025]
(2) Authentication procedure
The resource mediating computer authenticates the resource using computer.
[0026]
(3) Query procedure
The resource utilization computer queries the resource mediation computer for the desired computer resources.
[0027]
(4) Search procedure
The resource mediating computer searches for computer resources that can be provided by the resource providing computer managed by itself.
[0028]
(5) Address notification procedure
The resource mediating computer notifies the resource using computer of the address of the currently available computer resource found by the search procedure.
[0029]
(6) Problem sending procedure
The resource using computer directly sends the question piece to be processed, the tool to be processed, and the question ID which is the identifier of the question piece to be processed to the resource providing computer to which the address has been notified.
[0030]
(7) Processing start confirmation procedure
Check whether the resource provider computer handles the submitted problem.
[0031]
(8) Problem handling procedure
A resource providing computer handles the transmitted problem.
[0032]
(9) Answer transmission procedure
The resource providing computer transmits the processed answer and the question ID to the resource using computer.
[0033]
(10) Answer ID notification procedure
The resource providing computer transmits the answer ID in which the resource providing computer ID which is its own identifier is added to the question ID to the resource mediating computer.
[0034]
In addition to this routine, both the resource providing computer and the resource using computer need to be registered in the resource mediating computer for the first time. Further, at regular intervals, the resource mediating computer performs accounting and cashback on the resource using computer and the resource providing computer according to the calculation amount by totalizing the accumulated answer IDs.
[0035]
Hereinafter, details of the initial registration, the ten procedures, and the settlement will be described.
[0036]
A resource providing computer that wants to provide computer resources must first register with the resource mediating computer first. At the time of the initial registration, the CPU of the computer, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HD (Hard Disk), a communication environment, an IP (Internet Protocol) address, and the like are registered. When a registration application is made, a resource providing computer ID unique to the resource providing computer is determined, registration information is recorded in the registration information DB of the resource mediating computer using the resource providing computer ID as a key, and computer resources are currently provided to the resource providing computer. Resident agent software that monitors the availability is installed. FIG. 3A shows an example of the registration information of the resource providing computer. The resource providing computer ID and the specification information are fixed, and only the status information is updated according to the operating state of the computer.
[0037]
A resource-using computer that wants to use computer resources also needs to be registered for the first time, like a resource-providing computer. At the time of the first registration, there is a screening on the side of the resource mediation computer, and a resident card code or identification card of the Basic Resident Register network system is required. This is to eliminate uses that are not compatible with public welfare (for example, molecular calculation of poison gas used for terrorism). When the registration is completed, the resource use computer ID is uniquely determined.
[0038]
The number of resources managed by each resource mediating computer is kept within a certain range, and when the number of resource providing computers increases, a new resource mediating computer can be newly installed to reduce the load on the resource mediating computer ( (See multiple resource mediation computers depicted in FIG. 1). The resource mediating computers do not normally communicate with each other, but the resource using computer ID and the resource providing computer ID assigned by each resource mediating computer are managed so that the IDs are unique. In terms of the meaning of installing a plurality of resource intermediary computers, it is most important to reduce the load caused by concentration of queries and status updates on one resource intermediary computer. When accessing, there is a meaning of optimizing an access destination according to a band, and a meaning of avoiding a risk of suppressing investment when starting up the present system for the first time.
[0039]
First, (1) the status update procedure will be described.
[0040]
The registration information of the resource providing computer is updated only with the status information indicating whether the computer resource can be currently provided (status = idle) or cannot be provided (status = busy). Update of the status will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the CPU utilization of the PC on the vertical axis and the time on the horizontal axis, and the resident agent software monitors this CPU utilization. When the CPU usage rate does not exceed a certain threshold value T_L and does not exceed for a certain time Δt, the resident agent software updates the status information of the resource mediating computer so that it can be provided at present (the timing of the upward arrow on the left in FIG. 4). Conversely, when the CPU usage rate does not fall below the threshold value T_H and does not fall for a certain time Δt, the status information of the resource mediating computer is updated to be unavailable (the timing of the upward arrow on the right in FIG. 4). This threshold value is 0% <T_L <T_H <100%. By providing different threshold values when the CPU usage rate increases and decreases, frequent status information updates can be prevented. For example, the CPU usage rate rises at the moment of receiving a mail, but returns to the original state after a few seconds, so it is meaningless to update the status information every time. When the power of the PC is turned off, the resident agent software updates the status information of the resource mediating computer so that it cannot be provided.
[0041]
For specific description, a description will be given using the example of FIG. In this example, since the resource providing computers α, β, γ, and δ have a low CPU usage rate, the resource mediating computers have a status of Pentium III 1 GHz of the resource providing computer α, Pentium IV 2 GHz of β, Cerlon 1.2 GHz of γ, and Athron 1 GHz of δ. It is assumed that it is registered as idle.
[0042]
(2) The authentication procedure will be described.
[0043]
Before receiving a query from the resource using computer, the resource mediating computer authenticates the resource using computer by means such as a password. As a result, an unauthorized computer using the resource can be eliminated.
[0044]
In this example, since the resource using computer A needs the computing ability, first, authentication is performed with the resource mediating computer.
[0045]
(3) The query procedure will be described.
[0046]
The resource using computer transmits a query describing the resource using computer ID and the necessary computing power to the resource mediating computer. The required computing power is described in Flops (Floating point number Operations Per Second).
[0047]
In addition, the query can also describe, in addition to the required computational power, the minimum requirements of a peer, such as a CPU, a RAM, and an HD, required for a single PC that performs problem processing. FIG. 3B is an example of the query information.
[0048]
In this example, it is assumed that the resource use computer A wants to process a certain problem Q in one hour, and that the required computing power is 6 GFlops. At this time, the resource using computer A sends a query describing the required computing capacity as 5 GFlops to the resource mediating computer.
[0049]
If the problem is not a uniform process, it is possible to change the requirements for the resource providing computer. For example, in the case of a resource utilization computer that wants to draw a fractal by numerical calculation, a task of calculating a fractal figure and a task of rendering and displaying the calculated result are required. In such a case, it is possible to enter a plurality of requirements described in a query such that one machine of Pentium III 1 GHz or more is required for rendering, and a total of 1 TFlops is required for calculation of machines of Pentium II or more.
[0050]
(4) The search procedure will be described.
[0051]
When a query is received from the resource using computer, the resource mediating computer searches the registration information DB for available computer resources. The search is performed by matching the specifications of the computer resources that can provide the status information with the minimum required specifications of the query information. The search is performed until the required computational power described in the query is reached.
[0052]
In this example, Pentium III 1 GHz of the resource providing computer α, Pentium IV 2 GHz of β, Cerlon 1.2 GHz of γ, and Athron 1 GHz of δ are registered as idle computing resources in the resource mediating computer, so that the total computing capacity exceeds 5 GFlops. (Processors such as Pentium, Athron, and Cerlon can generally perform one floating-point operation per clock), and discover resources providing computers α, β, γ, and δ.
[0053]
Similarly, when there are a plurality of requirements described in the query, for example, when a total of 1 TFlop is required for one machine of Pentium III 1 GHz or more and a machine of Pentium II or more, the search is performed until the described query is satisfied.
[0054]
The resource intermediary computer only needs to match metadata such as registration information and query information, and the number of persons to be distributed and managed is kept within a certain range. Therefore, the resource intermediary computer does not need to be a very high-spec machine. This is similar to the case of Napster which handles metadata of music files in the P2P music file exchange service.
[0055]
Means for implementing these searches include, for example, a semantic information switch of a semantic information network disclosed in JP-A-2002-94561. The semantic information network is a P2P discovery platform that finds peers that match the semantic information (such as required RAM and CPU) described in the query, and enables flexible search.
[0056]
As a result of the search, if the computer resources managed by the own resource intermediary computer alone do not satisfy the required computational power described in the query, the query is transferred to the next resource intermediary computer and further to the next resource intermediary computer. Go through and find the necessary computer resources. However, since it is impossible to transfer a query indefinitely, the maximum value of the number of resource mediating computers to be transferred is determined by a TTL (Time To Live) value, and transfer exceeding the TTL value is not performed. .
[0057]
(5) Describe the address notification procedure.
[0058]
The resource mediating computer notifies the resource using computer of the IP address of the currently available computer resource found in the search procedure and the specification of the computer resource. As a matter of course, the number of the resource providing computers is plural, and the addresses of the PCs corresponding to the required computing power are notified.
[0059]
In this example, since the resource using computer A needs a computing capacity of 5 GFlops, the addresses of the PCs of the found resource providing computers α, β, γ, and δ are notified.
[0060]
(6) Explain the problem transmission procedure.
[0061]
Next, the resource-using computer that has learned the address of the idle computer resource sends the question piece to be processed, the tool to be processed, and the question ID, which is the identifier of the question piece to be processed, directly to the resource providing computer. If the resource providing computer does not open a port required for receiving a problem by setting FW (Fire Wall), the resource using computer cannot directly transmit the problem. In this case, the problem transmission is performed via a node (rendezvous point) installed at a position transparent from both sides to exceed the FW. The resource-using computer temporarily places the problem at the rendezvous point, and the resource-providing computer looks in the rendezvous point at regular intervals and returns if there is a problem addressed to itself. Exceeding the FW via the rendezvous point is a very general method, and is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-94561 and the Jxta. This method is also used in P2P platform JXTA promoted by org. Alternatively, a method such as http tunneling may be used.
[0062]
A problem piece is obtained by dividing a large problem to be processed into smaller pieces so that one PC can process it. The optimum problem size differs depending on the content to be processed. The problem size may be changed according to the specifications of the PC to be processed.
[0063]
The method of dividing the problem differs depending on the calculation method of the problem to be processed and the calculation deadline for when it is desired to process the problem. For example, if only the time-varying data of the electromagnetic wave intensity observed by a giant telescope, such as SETI @ home, is subjected to Fourier transform for each specific spatial range, the problem can be divided into a small size as much as possible (divided into narrow spaces). Fourier transform of the data in the range). That is, for example, if it is desired that all the calculation results be completed in one hour, the Pentium III 1 GHz PC is divided into problem sizes that require one hour for processing at 1 GFlops (so that the calculation of the spatial range to be processed is completed in one hour). It is sufficient to transmit a problem of twice the size to a Pentium IV 2 GHz PC. On the other hand, if the calculation deadline is not so severe as long as the results are gathered, it is easy to send all the questions with the same question size because the question size can be arbitrary. In fact, almost all grid projects via the Internet, such as SETI @ home, all send at the same problem size.
[0064]
In this example, the resource using computer A divides the problem Q into the resource providing computers α, β, γ, and δ to process the question Q and wants to return the calculation result in one hour. 6 × 10 ¹² The problem is divided into problem pieces a (1 GFlops × 3600 s) that require floating point operations twice, and the problems are transmitted. Similarly, β is 7.2 × 10 ¹² The problem piece b, which requires two floating-point operations, is 4.3 × 10 for γ. ¹² The problem piece c, which requires two floating-point operations, is 3.6 × 10 ¹² The problem piece d requiring two floating-point operations is transmitted.
[0065]
The tool to be processed is automatically installed on the resource-providing computer PC if the permission of the resource-providing computer is obtained in the following (7) processing start confirmation procedure, and performs problem solving. The processing tool calculates using idle computer resources, but has the lowest priority. If the resource providing computer uses computer resources by using another application, the processing speed of the processing tool is reduced accordingly. The processing tool does not use a screen saver method such as SETI @ home, but uses a distributed. It is grid computing peer software of a system that performs resident processing in the background such as net, and may be made using a grid application development kit provided by Mitral or a grid application development kit such as Condor or Globus. Further, the processing tool automatically executes a procedure of transmitting the answer piece to the resource using computer when the processing is completed.
[0066]
The question ID is a unique identifier of the question piece in which the resource use computer ID, the question piece number, and the amount of calculation are described. The resource use computer ID describes the one determined by the resource mediation computer. The question piece number is an identifier necessary for merging the answer when the answer is returned later, and may be determined on the resource using computer side, but must not be the same number. The calculation amount is a calculation amount required to process the problem piece and is described in units of the number of floating-point operations (Flops × processing time). FIG. 5A shows a configuration of the question ID and a description example of the question ID.
[0067]
In this example, the resource providing computer β assigns the questionnaire b having the questionnaire number 2 to 7.2 × 10 ¹² Since the floating point calculation is performed twice, the resource ID is A, the problem piece number is 2, and the calculation amount is 7.2T [Flops × s].
[0068]
(7) The process start confirmation procedure will be described.
[0069]
When the problem is transmitted, the resource providing computer confirms whether to start the process. The processing start confirmation is presented only to the resource using computer, and can be rejected when the resource using computer does not want to use the resource using computer. When the resource providing computer acknowledges the start of processing, the processing tool is automatically installed on the resource providing computer and starts processing. At this time, the status information of the computer resource is updated to be unavailable. Further, the resource providing computer has a means for checking whether a problem is accompanied by a virus or the like in order to prevent an attack from a malicious resource using computer.
[0070]
In this example, the resource providing computers α, β, δ, and γ look at the name of the resource using computer A and approve the start of the process if there is no problem.
[0071]
(8) Describe the problem handling procedure.
[0072]
In the problem processing procedure, a processing tool installed in the resource providing computer performs problem processing using the computer resources of the resource providing computer.
[0073]
In this example, the resource providing computer α processes the question piece a, β processes b, γ processes c, and δ processes d.
[0074]
(9) Describe the answer transmission procedure.
[0075]
When the question processing is completed, the resource providing computer transmits the answer piece and the question ID to the resource using computer. The resource using computer obtains a desired calculation result by merging the returned answers based on the questionnaire number described in the question ID. Further, the resource using computer has a means for checking whether the answer comes with a virus or the like in order to prevent an attack from a malicious resource providing computer.
[0076]
In this example, the answer piece a 'of the question piece a processed by the resource providing computer α, the answer piece b' of b processed by β, the answer piece c 'of c processed by γ, and the answer piece d processed by δ Each piece d 'is returned to the resource-using computer, but the four answer pieces are assigned question-piece numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. A can get the answer he actually wanted.
[0077]
Finally, (10) Answer ID notification procedure will be described.
[0078]
The resource providing computer that has transmitted the answer piece to the resource using computer updates the status information of the resource mediating computer so as to be able to provide the resource mediating computer, and transmits the answer ID in which the resource providing computer ID is added to the question ID to the resource mediating computer. FIG. 5B shows the structure of the answer ID and a description example of the answer ID. Since the answer ID corresponds to a bill indicating how much the resource providing computer has calculated, the answer ID is transmitted not from the resource using computer but from the resource providing computer to the resource mediating computer.
[0079]
In this example, the resource providing computer β assigns the questionnaire b having the questionnaire number 2 to 7.2 × 10 ¹² Since the floating point operation is performed twice and processed, β of the resource providing computer ID is added to the question ID of FIG. 5A, and the result is transmitted to the resource mediating computer.
[0080]
By repeating these procedures, the resource providing computer and the resource using computer can exchange computer resources with each other.
[0081]
The resource intermediary computer performs settlement by collecting the answer IDs collected by the transmission of the resource providing computer at regular intervals. This can be done every month when the electricity bill is charged. Since the resource providing computer ID and the resource using computer ID are uniquely determined, the answer calculation ID is extracted by using the resource using computer ID as a key, and the total amount of calculation is calculated, whereby the usage calculating amount of the resource using computer can be determined. By extracting the answer ID using the key as a key and calculating the total amount of calculation, the amount of calculation provided by the resource providing computer can be determined. These operations can be easily performed using a database in the market. If the usage calculation amount and the provision calculation amount are known, the computer resource is bought and sold by charging the usage fee and cashing out the provision fee according to each.
[0082]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a procedure in which the answer IDs collected in the resource mediation computer are totaled to calculate the usage calculation amount and the provision calculation amount. FIG. 6A shows the answer IDs transmitted by the resource providing computer arranged in the order in which they were transmitted. In this state, the amount of use calculation and the amount of supply calculation cannot be obtained. Since the resource providing computer ID is described, the answer IDs are sorted by using the resource using computer ID as a key, so that they are arranged for each resource using computer as shown in FIGS. The usage calculation amount can be obtained from the total. The resource intermediary computer deducts the usage fee corresponding to the usage calculation amount from the online account or the electronic money of the resource usage computer. Similarly, by sorting the answer IDs using the resource providing computer ID as a key, as shown in FIGS. 6 (d) and (e), the answering IDs are arranged for each resource providing computer, and the provided calculation amount is obtained from the total calculation amount. Can be. The resource intermediation computer puts a provision fee corresponding to the provision calculation amount into an online account or electronic money of the resource provision computer.
[0083]
The settlement means uses an online account or electronic money. Because the factors that determine the amount of buying and selling computer resources are the electricity cost of PC and depreciation cost, there is only about 1000 yen exchange per person per month, so if you use bank transfer, the fee will be large. It is. The online account may use a market service such as PayPal.
[0084]
Three main points of the present embodiment, that is, the merit of exchanging computer resources via the resource mediating computer, will be described.
[0085]
a) Discovery of the resource providing computer of the resource using computer, and simplification of finding the resource using computer of the resource providing computer.
[0086]
If the resource using computer accesses the resource intermediary computer, it can discover as many resource providing computers as it wants. If the resource providing computer is registered in the resource intermediary computer, the resource using computer will appear. It acts as a portal to find out who to interact with. This avoids the situation where Ping and Pong fly over the Internet like Gnutella.
[0087]
b) Simplification and reliability of settlement by batch processing of the resource mediation computer.
[0088]
The settlement is not a direct exchange between the resource using computer and the resource providing computer, but the intermediary of the resource intermediary computer allows batch processing of the settlement. Considering the case where there is no resource intermediary computer, for example, when the resource providing computer α provides computer resources to 100 of the resource using computers A, B,... It is very troublesome to charge money for a table. Similarly, in the case where the resource using computer A uses 100,000 computer resources of the resource providing computers α, β,... Γ, it is troublesome to settle each one at 10 yen for α and 50 yen for β. It is. Since the resource mediating computer collectively performs billing and cashback for each resource using computer and each resource providing computer, the number of payments is greatly reduced even if the payment amount does not change. In addition, since a third party, which is a resource intermediary computer, performs payment on behalf of the third party, reliable payment can be performed and trouble during payment can be avoided.
[0089]
c) Prevent the use of malicious resource use computers by resource use computer authentication.
[0090]
Since the resource use computer registration is thoroughly examined and authentication is performed when the resource use computer is used, malicious use of the resource use computer can be prevented (for example, calculation of a terrorist organization). Similarly, the identity can be confirmed even when the processing tool from the resource using computer or the answer piece from the resource providing computer contains a computer virus and causes damage.
[0091]
Note that the computer resource trading method in the above-described embodiment is specifically executed by a computer such as a PC based on a predetermined computer resource trading program in advance. The computer resource trading program can be recorded on a predetermined computer-readable recording medium such as a CD.
[0092]
That is, the computer resource buying and selling program of the present invention is such that a resource mediating computer that manages computer resources mediates, on the Internet, a resource using computer that wants computer resources and a resource providing computer that has spare computer resources, A computer resource buying and selling program for causing a resource using computer to pay money to use an idle computer resource of a resource providing computer, wherein the resource mediating computer receives a notification from the resource providing computer whether the computer resource is currently available or not. Update procedure, an authentication procedure in which the resource mediating computer authenticates the resource using computer, a query procedure in which the resource mediating computer receives an inquiry about a desired computer resource from the resource using computer, a resource mediating computer The resource mediating computer notifies the resource using computer of the address of the currently available computer resource found by the search procedure. The address notification procedure, the resource mediating computer, receives the answer ID in which the resource providing computer ID is added to the question ID from the resource providing computer, the answer ID receiving procedure, and the resource mediating computer obtains the answer ID for each resource using computer. This is for causing the resource intermediary computer to execute a settlement procedure for performing accounting and cashback according to the amount of calculation by totalizing for each providing computer.
[0093]
In addition, the computer resource buying and selling program of the present invention is provided such that a resource using computer that wants computer resources finds a resource providing computer that has spare computer resources on the Internet via a resource mediating computer that manages computer resources. A computer resource buying and selling program for paying money and using idle computer resources, wherein the resource using computer receives authentication from the resource mediating computer, and the resource using computer queries the resource mediating computer for the desired computer resources. An address notification procedure in which the resource using computer receives a notification of the address of the computer resource currently available from the resource mediating computer, and the resource using computer is directly connected to the resource providing computer notified of the address. A question piece to be processed, a tool to be processed, a question sending procedure for sending a question ID which is an identifier of the question piece to be processed, an answer processed by the resource using computer from the resource providing computer and an answer for receiving the question ID This is for causing the resource using computer to execute the receiving procedure.
[0094]
In addition, the computer resource buying and selling program of the present invention is such that a resource providing computer that has spare computer resources is found on the Internet from a resource using computer that wants computer resources via a resource mediating computer that manages computer resources. A computer resource trading program for paying money to use idle computer resources, wherein the resource providing computer notifies the resource intermediary computer whether its own computer resources are currently available or not. The computer directly receives the problem piece to be processed, the tool to be processed, the problem receiving procedure for receiving the problem ID which is the identifier of the problem piece to be processed, and the Whether to process Check procedure, a resource providing computer processes the transmitted problem, a problem processing procedure, the resource providing computer transmits the processed answer and the problem ID to the resource using computer, a resource providing computer, This is for causing the resource providing computer to execute an answer ID notifying procedure of transmitting the answer ID in which the resource providing computer ID which is its own identifier is added to the question ID to the resource mediating computer.
[0095]
Also, in the present invention, in the status updating procedure of the computer resource trading program, the resource providing computer notifies the resource mediating computer that it can be provided when the CPU usage rate of the computer does not exceed the threshold value T_L and does not exceed the predetermined time. Conversely, when the CPU usage exceeds the threshold T_H and does not fall below a certain time, the resource mediating computer is notified that it cannot be provided, and the threshold is 0% <T_L <T_H <100%. is there.
[0096]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, anyone can buy and sell computer resources.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing a computer resource trading method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of a computer resource trading method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of registration information and query information according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing status update based on monitoring of a CPU usage rate according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a question ID, a description example of a question ID, a configuration of an answer ID, and a description example of an answer ID according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing totalization of the usage calculation amount and the provided calculation amount using the collected answer IDs according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
A, B Resource utilization computer
α, ~, δ Resource providing computer

Claims (5)

A resource-using computer that wants computer resources finds a resource-providing computer that has spare computer resources on the Internet via a resource mediating computer that manages computer resources, and pays for the idle computer resources. A computer resource trading system,
Status update means for the resource providing computer notifying the resource intermediary computer of whether its computer resource is currently available or not;
An authentication means for authenticating the resource using computer, wherein the resource mediating computer
Query means for the resource using computer to query the resource mediating computer for the desired computer resources,
A resource mediating computer, a search unit for searching for a computer resource that can be provided by a resource providing computer managed by itself,
An address notifying unit that notifies the resource using computer of the address of the currently available computer resource found by the resource mediating computer by the searching unit, and the resource using computer wants the resource providing computer to be directly processed by the resource providing computer notified of the address. A question piece, a tool to be processed, and a question sending unit that sends a question ID that is an identifier of the question piece to be processed;
Processing start confirmation means for confirming whether or not the resource providing computer will process the transmitted problem;
A resource processing computer for processing the transmitted problem;
An answer transmitting means for transmitting, by the resource providing computer, the processed answer and the question ID to the resource using computer;
An answer ID notifying unit for transmitting, to the resource mediating computer, an answer ID in which the resource providing computer adds the resource providing computer ID that is its own identifier to the question ID;
The status updating means, the authentication means, the query means, the search means, the address notifying means, the question transmitting means, the processing start confirming means, the question processing means, the answer transmitting means, and the answer ID notifying means are repeatedly executed. A computer resource transaction system comprising: a resource mediating computer, which has a settlement means for summing up the accumulated answer IDs for each resource using computer and each resource providing computer, and performing charging and cashback according to the amount of calculation. method. A resource mediating computer that manages computer resources mediates, on the Internet, a resource-using computer that wants computer resources and a resource-providing computer that has spare computer resources on the Internet, and provides the resources-using computer with payment. A computer resource trading program that utilizes idle computer resources of a computer,
A status update procedure in which the resource intermediary computer receives a notification from the resource providing computer whether the computer resource is currently available or not,
An authentication procedure in which the resource mediating computer authenticates the resource using computer,
A query procedure in which the resource mediating computer receives an inquiry about a computer resource desired by the resource using computer,
A search procedure in which the resource intermediary computer searches for the currently available computer resources of the resource providing computer managed by itself.
A resource mediating computer, an address notification procedure for notifying the resource utilization computer of the address of the currently available computer resource found by the search procedure,
An answer ID receiving procedure in which the resource mediating computer receives an answer ID in which the resource providing computer ID is added to the question ID from the resource providing computer;
A computer resource buying and selling program for causing a resource mediating computer to aggregate answer IDs for each resource using computer and each resource providing computer, and to cause the resource mediating computer to execute a settlement procedure for charging and cashing back according to the amount of calculation. A resource-using computer that wants computer resources finds a resource-providing computer that has spare computer resources on the Internet via a resource mediating computer that manages computer resources, and pays for the idle computer resources. A computer resource trading program,
An authentication procedure in which the resource using computer receives authentication from the resource intermediary computer, a query procedure in which the resource using computer inquires the resource intermediary computer for the desired computer resources,
An address notification procedure in which the resource using computer receives a notification of the address of the currently available computer resource from the resource mediating computer,
A problem transmitting procedure in which the resource using computer transmits a problem piece to be processed, a processing tool, and a problem ID which is an identifier of the problem piece to be processed, directly to the resource providing computer notified of the address;
A computer resource trading program for causing a resource using computer to execute an answer receiving procedure for receiving an answer and a question ID processed from the resource providing computer. If a resource-providing computer that has spare computer resources is found on the Internet from a resource-using computer that wants computer resources via a resource mediating computer that manages computer resources, the computer is allowed to pay for idle computer resources. A computer resource trading program to be used,
A status update procedure in which the resource providing computer notifies the resource intermediary computer whether its computer resources are currently available or unavailable,
A resource receiving computer for directly receiving, from the resource using computer, a question piece to be processed, a tool to be processed, and a question ID which is an identifier of the question piece to be processed;
A process start confirmation procedure for confirming whether or not the resource providing computer will process the transmitted problem;
A problem processing procedure in which the resource providing computer processes the transmitted problem;
An answer transmission procedure in which the resource providing computer sends the processed answer and the question ID to the resource using computer;
A computer resource buying and selling program for causing a resource providing computer to execute an answer ID notifying procedure of transmitting an answer ID in which a resource ID of the resource providing computer ID is added to the question ID to the resource mediating computer. In the status update procedure, the resource providing computer notifies the resource mediation computer that the computer can be provided when the CPU usage of the computer falls below the threshold T_L and does not exceed a certain time, and conversely, the CPU usage exceeds the threshold T_H. 5. The computer resource trading program according to claim 4, wherein when the value does not fall below a predetermined time, the resource mediation computer is notified that it cannot be provided, and the threshold value is 0% <T_L <T_H <100%.

Images