JP2007066222A - Grid computing system, isp server, charging method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce cost required for payment and charge of a price generated in accordance with provision and use of resources in a grid computing system. <P>SOLUTION: ISP use fees are registered in a charge DB 222 in accordance with a member ID of a member of an ISP. An offset part 282 calculates a charge amount after offset by subtracting the price suitable for the resources provided by a resource provision terminal 130 from ISP use fees registered in accordance with a member ID of a user of the resource provision terminal 130 among the ISP use fees stored in the charge DB 222. The offset part 282 further calculates the charged amount after offset by adding a price suitable for resources used by a resource use terminal 120 to the ISP use fees registered by being associated with a member ID of a user of the resource use terminal among ISP use fees stored in the charge DB 222. A settlement part 283 performs settlement processing based on the charge amount after offset calculated by the offset part 282. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to grid computing technology for performing various processes using surplus resources of a plurality of computers existing on a network, and in particular, an ISP (Internet Service Provider) mediates between a resource user and a resource provider. In addition, the present invention relates to a grid computing technology for paying and billing a price generated in association with provision and use of resources.

  In recent years, the performance of PCs (Personal Computers) has improved dramatically, and the price has been reduced, so each home or office owns one and connects to the Internet to browse various websites. And are frequently used for various processes such as sending and receiving e-mails. However, only about a few percent of the PC resources (CPU, memory, DISK capacity, etc.) that have become sophisticated enough to browse various websites and send and receive e-mails, the remaining resource power is Often unused.

  In addition, the spread of high-speed communication lines has led to the rapid spread of broadband, where large volumes of data are exchanged. In addition to offices and homes, each terminal can be connected to the Internet at a fixed rate (Internet-based). There is an increasing number of users who use a fixed system (a fee system that does not depend on the Internet connection time, etc., a fixed monthly fee, so-called unlimited fee setting). .

  With the improvement of PC performance and broadbandization, the concept of grid computing has spread to users in general households, and projects such as SETI @ home and Fight AIDS @ home use resources of general household PCs. It is getting done. SETI @ home tickles the intellectual curiosity of searching for extraterrestrial life, and Fight AIDS @ home has the meaning of social contribution to search for AIDS drugs, both of which are volunteer spirit in a broad sense It stands on top of.

  By the way, for those who have a need to use computer resources in grid computing, such projects as FIG. AIDS @ home, SETI @ home, etc. In addition to the researchers involved, there may be companies that require large amounts of data processing. Various processes can be considered as a process performed by a company using grid computing. For example, a process for creating a large amount of invoice image data is conceivable.

  For projects that contribute socially or tick intellectual curiosity such as Fight AIDS @ home and SETI @ home, there are many users who want to provide their PC resources free of charge, Projects such as Fight AIDS @ home are actually being performed using resources provided by such users. However, there are few users who intend to provide their PC resources free of charge for commercial enterprises. Therefore, in order to make it possible to use the resources of PCs in ordinary households even for commercial enterprises, a mechanism is required that allows the resource provider to be paid appropriately for the provision of resources.

  As a conventional technique for paying a resource provider, an intermediary server that mediates the needs and seeds of the resource use terminal and the resource provision terminal is provided, and the intermediary server serves as the resource provision terminal that provided the resource. A technique is known in which an amount corresponding to the resource provided to the user is paid and an amount appropriate to the resource used is charged to the resource use terminal using the resource (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). ). The difference between the amount collected from the resource user and the amount paid to the resource provider is the profit of the broker.

  In addition, a method of paying consideration to a resource provider by a method other than money has been conventionally proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 4 and 5).

  In Patent Literature 4, an arithmetic processor device that mediates between a resource use terminal and a resource providing terminal is provided, and the arithmetic processor device returns points corresponding to the provided resource to the resource providing terminal that provided the resource. I am doing so. The points returned to the resource providing terminal can be used at a net shop or the like with which the processor is affiliated.

  In Patent Document 5, an intermediary server that mediates between the calculation request terminal and the resource providing terminal is provided, and the intermediary server transmits a calculation program for performing the calculation requested by the calculation request terminal to the resource providing terminal. At this time, the content is also transmitted, and the content is paid for providing the resource.

  On the other hand, although not related to grid computing, in order to reduce the cost when an ASP (Application Service Provider) collects an application service fee from the user, the ISP notifies the ISP of the application service fee collected from the user. There is also known a technique for charging the user by adding the user's Internet connection fee and the notified application service fee (see, for example, Patent Document 6).

JP 2004-206273 A JP 2004-326252 A JP 2004-362149 A JP 2004-302741 A JP 2004-102878 A JP 2002-163183 A

  According to the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 4 described above, it is possible to receive a price commensurate with the resource provided by the resource provider. Therefore, like FIG. AIDS @ home and SETI @ home In addition to projects that contribute to society or tick intellectual curiosity, it will be possible to secure resource providers, for example, for projects that are carried out by corporations for the purpose of profit.

  However, the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5 described above have the following problems.

  In the conventional techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the payment process such as transferring the resource provision fee to a bank account or the like is performed only to pay a consideration (resource provision fee) to the resource provider. Since the billing process is performed only to charge the user for a fee (resource usage fee), there is a problem that the payment process and the billing process are costly.

  In the conventional technology disclosed in Patent Document 4, points are returned instead of paying the resource provider fee to the resource provider, so the transfer process to the silver account or the like becomes unnecessary, and the transfer fee is reduced. It can be made unnecessary. However, this conventional technique has a problem that costs are required because points need to be managed for each resource provider. That is, a point database for managing resource provider points is provided, the resource provider points are added each time the resource provider provides resources, or the resource provider makes a purchase at an online shop. Each time, it is necessary to subtract the points of the resource provider, which is costly.

  In the conventional technique disclosed in Patent Document 5, when the brokerage company device transmits a calculation project for performing the calculation requested from the calculation request terminal to the resource providing terminal, the content is also transmitted. Is a price for providing resources. For this reason, the transfer process to a bank account and the management process of a point become unnecessary, and it becomes possible to hold down cost compared with the conventional technique mentioned above. However, since only the content is provided as a consideration, there is a problem that it is not attractive and it is difficult to secure many resource providers. Furthermore, since the resource user is charged only for charging a resource usage fee, there is a problem that costs are increased.

  Note that the technology disclosed in Patent Document 6 is not related to grid computing as described above.

(Object of invention)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of payment and billing associated with the provision and use of resources, and to secure a large number of resource providers.

A first grid computing system according to the present invention includes:
In a grid computing system including an ISP server, a resource providing terminal that provides resources, and a resource using terminal that uses resources,
The ISP server is
A billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs;
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. By subtracting, a counter-charge amount to be billed to the user of the resource providing terminal is obtained, and a consideration corresponding to the resource used by the resource using terminal is included in the ISP usage fee stored in the charging database. An offsetting unit for obtaining a post-offset billing amount charged to the user of the resource using terminal by adding to an ISP usage fee registered in association with a member ID of the user of the resource using terminal It is characterized by having.

A second grid computing system according to the present invention is the first grid computing system,
The ISP server includes a settlement unit that performs a settlement process according to the post-offset amount charged by the cancellation unit.

A third grid computing system according to the present invention is the second grid computing system,
The ISP server is
A resource providing terminal information database in which a pair of the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and the resource providing record information and the request number is stored in association with the member ID of the member using the logged-in resource providing terminal;
A resource use terminal database in which a request number for identifying a requested process is stored in association with a member ID of a member who uses the resource use terminal of the process request source;
A resource providing terminal management unit that associates a member ID of a member who uses the resource providing terminal with the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and registers it in the resource providing terminal information database when logging in the resource providing terminal;
When a process is requested from a resource use terminal, a request number for identifying the requested process is registered in the resource use terminal database in association with a member ID of a member using the resource use terminal; A resource providing terminal extraction unit for extracting a resource providing terminal to be a processing request destination from among the resource providing terminals registered in the resource providing terminal information database;
When requesting processing to the resource providing terminal extracted by the resource providing terminal extracting unit and transmitting the request number, the processing result, the request number, and the resource providing record information are returned from the resource providing terminal. A resource providing terminal processing request unit that stores a pair of the request number and the resource providing record information in the resource providing terminal information database;
The canceling unit calculates a price commensurate with the resource provided by the resource providing terminal by referring to the resource providing terminal information database, and refers to the resource providing terminal information database and the resource using terminal database to calculate the resource. It has the structure which calculates the consideration corresponding to the resource which the utilization terminal used.

A fourth grid computing system according to the present invention is the first grid computing system,
The ISP server is configured to provide surplus resources to the resource use terminal.

The first ISP server according to the present invention is:
A billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs;
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. By subtracting, a counter-charge amount to be billed to the user of the resource providing terminal is obtained, and a consideration corresponding to the resource used by the resource using terminal is included in the ISP usage fee stored in the charging database. An offsetting unit for obtaining a post-offset billing amount charged to the user of the resource using terminal by adding to an ISP usage fee registered in association with a member ID of the user of the resource using terminal It is characterized by having.

The second ISP server according to the present invention is the first ISP server,
It is characterized by comprising a settlement unit that performs a settlement process according to the post-offset amount charged by the cancellation unit.

The third ISP server according to the present invention is the second ISP server,
A resource providing terminal information database in which a pair of the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and the resource providing record information and the request number is stored in association with the member ID of the member using the logged-in resource providing terminal;
A resource use terminal database in which a request number for identifying a requested process is stored in association with a member ID of a member who uses the resource use terminal of the process request source;
A resource providing terminal management unit that associates a member ID of a member who uses the resource providing terminal with the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and registers it in the resource providing terminal information database when logging in the resource providing terminal;
When a process is requested from a resource use terminal, a request number for identifying the requested process is registered in the resource use terminal database in association with a member ID of a member using the resource use terminal; A resource providing terminal extraction unit for extracting a resource providing terminal to be a processing request destination from among the resource providing terminals registered in the resource providing terminal information database;
When requesting processing to the resource providing terminal extracted by the resource providing terminal extracting unit and transmitting the request number, the processing result, the request number, and the resource providing record information are returned from the resource providing terminal. A resource providing terminal processing request unit that stores a pair of the request number and the resource providing record information in the resource providing terminal information database;
The canceling unit calculates a price commensurate with the resource provided by the resource providing terminal by referring to the resource providing terminal information database, and refers to the resource providing terminal information database and the resource using terminal database to calculate the resource. It has the structure which calculates the consideration corresponding to the resource which the utilization terminal used.

The fourth ISP server according to the present invention is the first ISP server,
The ISP server is configured to provide surplus resources to the resource use terminal.

The charging method according to the present invention is as follows:
In a grid computing system including an ISP server, a resource providing terminal that provides resources, and a resource using terminal that uses resources,
The ISP server is
A billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs;
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. Obtaining a post-offset billing amount billed to the user of the resource providing terminal by subtracting;
Compensation commensurate with the resources used by the resource use terminal is set to the ISP use charge registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource use terminal among the ISP use charges stored in the charging database. A step of calculating an offset billing amount charged to the user of the resource using terminal by adding.

The program according to the present invention is:
A computer having a billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs.
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. By subtracting, a counter-charge amount to be billed to the user of the resource providing terminal is obtained, and a consideration corresponding to the resource used by the resource using terminal is included in the ISP usage fee stored in the charging database. Function as an offsetting unit for obtaining a post-offset amount charged to the user of the resource using terminal by adding to the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource using terminal Let

[Action]
An ISP usage fee is registered in the billing database provided in the ISP server in association with the member ID of the ISP member. The ISP usage fee is a monthly ISP connection fee or the like determined by a contract established between the member and the ISP.

  In addition, the canceling unit provided in the ISP server periodically (for example, at the end of the month) pays a price corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage charges stored in the charging database. By subtracting from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal, the post-offset billing amount charged to the user of the resource providing terminal is obtained. Further, the offsetting unit registers the price corresponding to the resource used by the resource usage terminal in association with the member ID of the user of the resource usage terminal in the ISP usage fee stored in the accounting database. By adding to the ISP usage fee, the billing amount after offset charged to the user of the resource usage terminal is obtained.

  If the settlement process is performed based on the post-offset billing amount, it is possible to reduce the cost of payment and billing associated with the provision and use of resources. In other words, as part of the ISP usage fee billing process, it is possible to pay and bill for the fees that accompany the provision and use of resources, thereby reducing costs. Further, since the privilege of discounting the ISP usage fee according to the provided resource is given to the resource provider, a large number of resource providers can be secured.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost required for payment and billing that occurs in association with the provision and use of resources. The reason for this is that the ISP server obtains the billed amount after offset by subtracting the consideration commensurate with the provided resource from the ISP usage fee charged to the member for the member using the resource providing terminal, and determines the resource using terminal. This is because the member in use is provided with an offsetting unit for obtaining an after-offset billing amount obtained by adding a consideration commensurate with the resource used for the ISP usage fee charged to the member. In other words, as part of the ISP usage fee billing process, it is possible to pay and bill for the fees that accompany the provision and use of resources, thereby reducing costs. Further, since the privilege of discounting the ISP usage fee according to the provided resource is given to the resource provider, a large number of resource providers can be secured.

[First Embodiment]
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Description of Configuration of First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a first embodiment of a grid computing system according to the present invention. Referring to the figure, the grid computing system according to the present embodiment includes an ISP server 100, a resource use terminal 120, and a resource providing terminal 130, which are connected via the Internet 110.

  The resource use terminal 120 is a terminal of a research institute or company that wants to use computer resources (sometimes referred to simply as resources) in grid computing, and the resource providing terminal 130 provides computer resources to the resource use terminal 120. This is a terminal used by an individual or a corporation, and a terminal used by an ISP member (sometimes referred to simply as a member) who has a contract for ISP connection with an ISP.

  The ISP server 100 is a server operated by the ISP, and in addition to a function of providing various services such as an Internet connection service to a terminal used by an ISP member, a resource using terminal 120 that performs processing by grid computing It has a function of mediating with a resource providing terminal 130 that provides resources to grid computing.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the ISP server 100, the resource using terminal 120, and the resource providing terminal 130 illustrated in FIG.

[Configuration of ISP Server 100]
Referring to FIG. 2, the ISP server 100 includes a resource use terminal management unit 210, a storage device 220, a resource providing terminal monitoring unit 230, and a billing unit 280.

  The storage device 220 includes a resource use terminal database (DB) 221, a charging DB 222, a resource providing terminal information DB 223, a calculation DB 224, a member DB 225, and a monitoring AP storage unit 226.

  The member DB 225 stores member information of ISP members. FIG. 3 shows an example of the member DB 225. Referring to the figure, in the member DB 225, a member ID, a password used at the time of login, whether or not to cooperate with grid computing (whether or not to provide resources), name, address , Personal information including a telephone number, an e-mail address, and the like is stored. The first record in the figure shows that the member with the member ID “00000000001” is the member who cooperates with grid computing with the password “P1” used at the time of login.

  In the billing DB 222, as shown in FIG. 4, a member ID, ISP usage fee determined by a contract with a member such as a provider connection fee, a billed amount after offsetting, a bank account for deducting the billed amount after offsetting, etc. Is stored. The billed amount after offsetting for a member who uses the resource use terminal 120 is an amount obtained by adding a consideration corresponding to the resource used to the ISP use fee of the member, and the member using the resource providing terminal 130. The amount charged after offsetting is the amount obtained by subtracting the consideration commensurate with the provided resource from the ISP usage fee of the member. In this embodiment, the member DB 225 and the billing DB 222 are separate DBs, but both may be configured as a single DB.

  The calculation DB 224 stores calculation-related data itself that is sent from the resource use terminal 120 and necessary for processing.

  The monitoring AP storage unit 225 stores a resource information acquisition AP (application program) to be transmitted to the resource providing terminal 130.

  Information related to the resource providing terminal 130 logged into the ISP server 100 is registered in the resource providing terminal information DB 223. FIG. 5 shows an example of the contents of the resource providing terminal information DB 223. Referring to the figure, the resource providing terminal information DB 223 includes a member ID 501, a terminal ID 502, a connection start time 503, a connection end time 504, a terminal specification (default) 505, and an available specification (latest) 506. , Resource provision record information / request number 507 is stored. Each item of the resource providing terminal information DB 223 will be described in detail in the description of the operation.

  The resource use terminal DB 221 stores information sent from the resource use terminal 120 that wants to use grid computing. FIG. 6 shows an example of the contents of the resource use terminal DB 221. Referring to the figure, the resource use terminal DB 221 stores a member ID 601, a request time 602, a delivery time 603, a calculation number 604, a calculation time 605, a terminal specification (recommended) 606, and a calculation AP. The file name 607 of the file, the file names 608, 609,... Of the file storing the input data of the calculation AP, and the request number 610 are stored. Each item of the resource use terminal DB 221 will be described in detail in the description of the operation.

  The resource providing terminal monitoring unit 230 includes a resource providing terminal management unit 231 and a data transmission / reception unit 232.

  The data transmission / reception unit 232 has a function of exchanging data via the Internet 110.

  The resource providing terminal management unit 231 collects the resource information of the resource providing terminal 130 at the timing when the resource providing terminal 130 logs in to the ISP server 100, and manages the resource information for each member of the ISP (in association with the member ID). Thereafter, during the connection, the resource providing terminal information DB 223 of the storage device 220 is stored and held by periodically collecting resource information.

  The resource use terminal management unit 210 includes a data transmission / reception unit 211, a resource provision terminal extraction unit 212, and a resource provision terminal processing request unit 213.

  The data transmission / reception unit 211 has a function of exchanging data via the Internet 110. Here, the data transmission / reception unit exists in both the resource use terminal management unit 210 and the resource providing terminal monitoring unit 230, but this is only described separately for convenience, and the data transmission / reception unit is provided on the ISP server 100. Only one may be provided.

  The resource providing terminal extraction unit 212 has a function of extracting a resource providing terminal 130 that can provide a resource when a processing request is received from the resource use terminal 120.

  The resource providing terminal processing request unit 213 has a function of requesting processing to the resource providing terminal 130 extracted by the resource providing terminal extraction unit 212.

  The accounting unit 280 includes an ISP usage fee management unit 281, an offsetting unit 282, and a settlement unit 283.

  The ISP usage fee management unit 281 has a function of registering the member ID and the ISP usage fee in association with the charging DB 222 in accordance with an instruction from the administrator. The ISP usage fee is a provider connection fee determined according to a contract between the member and the ISP.

  For the member who uses the resource use terminal 120, the canceling unit 282 obtains an after-offset charge amount obtained by adding a consideration corresponding to the resource used to the ISP usage fee of the member, and uses the resource providing terminal 130. Each member has a function of obtaining an offset billed amount by subtracting a consideration commensurate with the provided resource from the ISP usage fee of the member.

  The settlement unit 283 has a function of performing a settlement process based on the post-cancellation charge amount obtained by the cancellation unit 282.

  The ISP server 100 having such a function can be realized by a computer. When the ISP server 100 is realized by a computer, for example, the following is performed. A disk, a semiconductor memory, and other recording media on which a program for causing the computer to function as the ISP server 100 is recorded are prepared, and the computer reads the program. The computer controls the operation of itself according to the read program, thereby realizing the resource use terminal management unit 210, the resource providing terminal monitoring unit 230, and the charging unit 280 on the computer.

[Configuration of resource use terminal 120]
The resource use terminal 120 includes a data control unit 240 and a storage device 250.

  The data control unit 240 includes a data transmission / reception unit 241 and a calculation data division / combination unit 242.

  The data transmission / reception unit 241 has a function of transmitting / receiving data via the Internet 110.

  When the computation data dividing / combining unit 242 requests the ISP server 100 to perform processing using grid computing, the processing data dividing / combining unit 242 divides the requested processing into units to be processed by individual resource providing terminals or returned from the ISP server 100. It has a function to combine processing results.

  The storage device 250 stores a calculation AP 251 corresponding to the requested process and a calculation data file 252 corresponding to the requested process.

  The resource utilization terminal 120 can be realized by a computer, and when realized by a computer, for example, is as follows. A disk, a semiconductor memory, and other recording media on which a program for causing the computer to function as the resource use terminal 120 is recorded are prepared, and the computer reads the program. The computer implements the data control unit 240 on its own computer by controlling its own operation according to the read program.

[Configuration of Resource Providing Terminal 130]
The resource providing terminal 130 includes a data control unit 260 and a resource 270 such as a CPU, a disk, and a memory.

  The data control unit 260 includes a data transmission / reception unit 261, a resource information acquisition unit 262, and an arithmetic processing unit 263.

  The data transmission / reception unit 261 has a function of exchanging data via the Internet 110.

  The resource information acquisition unit 262 is realized by the resource information acquisition AP sent from the ISP server 100, and has a function of transmitting the CPU performance, disk capacity, memory capacity, etc. of the own terminal 130 to the ISP server 100. .

  The arithmetic processing unit 263 is realized by the arithmetic AP sent from the ISP server 100 and has a function of executing the requested processing.

  The resource providing terminal 130 can be realized by a computer, and when realized by a computer, for example, is as follows. A disk, a semiconductor memory, and other recording media recording a program for causing the computer to function as the resource providing terminal 130 are prepared, and the computer is caused to read the program. The computer implements the data control unit 260 on its own computer by controlling its own operation according to the read program.

[Description of Operation of First Embodiment]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

[Operation when the resource providing terminal 130 logs in]
First, an operation performed when the resource providing terminal 130 logs into the ISP server 100 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  When an ISP member who uses the resource providing terminal 130 logs in to the ISP server 100, the ISP member transmits authentication information including a member ID and a password distributed in advance to the ISP server 100. When the resource providing terminal management unit 231 in the ISP server 100 receives the authentication information sent from the resource providing terminal 130 via the data transmission / reception unit 232, the resource providing terminal management unit 231 uses the member ID and password registered in the member DB 225. Authentication is performed (step 701).

  In the case of authentication OK, the resource providing terminal management unit 231 registers, in the member DB 225, whether or not the member using the logged-in resource providing terminal 130 is a member permitted to provide resources in grid computing. Judgment is made based on the cooperation availability information (step 711).

  If the member does not permit the provision of resources, the ISP server 100 connects the resource providing terminal 130 to the Internet 110 as usual, and ends the process of FIG. On the other hand, if the member is permitted to provide the resource, the resource providing terminal 130 is connected to the Internet 110 and the resource providing terminal 130 is inquired about the presence or absence of the resource information acquisition AP (step 712). . The resource information acquisition AP is resident in the resource providing terminal 130 and implements the resource information acquisition unit 262. Specification information (OS, CPU clock frequency, DISK capacity, memory capacity, etc.) of the resource 270 of the resource providing terminal 130 is provided. ) And the current resource usage status (CPU usage rate, DISK, memory usage capacity, etc.), and periodically transmits the same to the ISP server 100.

  When there is no resource information acquisition AP, the resource providing terminal management unit 231 transmits the resource information acquisition AP stored in the monitoring AP storage unit 226 to the resource providing terminal 130, but at this time, the resource providing terminal 130 is not necessary. If there is, it is desirable to configure so that reception can be rejected. Therefore, in step 714, the resource providing terminal management unit 231 transmits an inquiry screen asking whether the resource information acquisition AP may be transmitted to the resource providing terminal 130, and uses the resource providing terminal 130. The member who uses the inquiry screen answers whether or not to permit transmission of the resource information acquisition AP. As described above, when there is no resource information acquisition AP in the resource providing terminal 130 of the ISP member who is permitted to provide the resource, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the resource information acquisition AP may be transmitted. This is because the number of terminals used by the ISP member is not necessarily fixed to one, and there is a possibility that a terminal that does not want to provide resources is used.

  If a response indicating that transmission of the resource information acquisition AP is not permitted is sent from the resource providing terminal 130, the process ends. On the other hand, when an answer to permit transmission of the resource information acquisition AP is sent, the resource information acquisition AP is transmitted to the resource providing terminal 130, and the resource providing terminal 130 installs the resource information acquisition AP. (Steps 715 and 702). The resource information acquisition unit 262 is realized by the installed resource information acquisition AP.

  The resource information acquisition unit 262 realized by the resource information acquisition AP includes the specification information (OS, CPU clock frequency, DISK capacity, memory capacity, etc.) of the resource 270 of the resource providing terminal 130 and the current resource usage status (CPU usage rate). , DISK, memory used capacity, etc.) and transmitted to the ISP server 100, and the resource providing terminal management unit 231 in the ISP server 100 stores the information in the resource providing terminal information DB 223 (steps 703, 704, 716). ). The same processing is performed when step 713 is “present” (steps 703, 704, and 716).

  Specifically, information is stored in the resource providing terminal information DB 223 with file items as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the record Rec01 will be described as an example.

  This record Rec01 means that the member with the member ID “00001123456” has logged in from the terminal with the terminal ID “00001123456-01” at the connection start time February 7, 2005, 10:12. Here, the terminal ID has the identifier “-01” as the member ID, but any information that can uniquely identify the terminal may be used, such as a mac address.

  The connection end time 504 is information on how long the resource providing terminal 130 will continue to be connected after logging in. For example, the connection ending time 504 may be adopted by a method of allowing the user of the resource providing terminal 130 to input in an interactive format when logging in. If not input, the average continuous connection time of the user is calculated based on the past continuous connection time history of the user (ISP member) measured and recorded in the ISP server 100, and the connection start time is calculated. The time when the average continuous connection time has elapsed may be set as the connection end time.

  In the terminal specification (default) 505, the specification information of the resource providing terminal 130 is recorded. This example shows that the OS is Windows (registered trademark) XP HomeEdition SP2, the CPU clock frequency is 2.93 GHz, the disk capacity is 250 GB, and the memory is 512 MB.

  The usable specification (latest) 506 records resource information that can be used in grid computing in consideration of resources that are actually used in an application or the like that is actually running on the resource providing terminal 130. This example shows that 92% of the CPU, 75% of the disk capacity, and 88% of the memory are available. The usable specification (latest) 506 is transmitted to the ISP server 100 from the resource information acquisition unit 262 in the resource providing terminal 130 periodically, not only at the time of login, and the resource providing terminal management unit 231 in the ISP server 100. Updates the usable specification (latest) 506 of the corresponding record Rec01 stored in the resource providing terminal information DB 223 with the latest information sent from the resource providing terminal 130.

[Operation when Resource Usage Terminal 120 Requests ISP Server 100 to Perform Processing by Grid Computing]
Next, the operation when the resource use terminal 120 requests the ISP server 100 to perform processing by grid computing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Hereinafter, as a specific example, a case will be described in which the ISP server 100 is requested to perform a process of extracting a feature word from patent gazettes such as an open patent gazette and a patent gazette (simply referred to as a patent gazette). The process of extracting feature words from a patent gazette is performed using, for example, an application program that performs text mining processing on the text data of the patent gazette. In this application program, for example, for each word appearing in the patent gazette, Based on the frequency, distance from other words, etc., the level is digitized, and a word with a high level is extracted as a feature word. Such a process for extracting feature words from patent gazettes is suitable for grid computing because each patent gazette has no dependency. The extracted feature words are registered in the database of the patent search system in association with the patent gazette, for example, and used when performing a keyword search of the patent gazette.

  Consider, for example, a case where the resource use terminal 120 requests the ISP server 100 to extract a feature word from 280 patent gazettes.

  The storage device 250 in the resource use terminal 120 stores a calculation AP 251 that performs a feature word extraction process and a calculation data file 252 that stores text data of 280 patent gazettes.

  In step 801, the calculation data dividing / combining unit 242 divides the text data of 280 patent gazettes stored in the calculation data file 252 into text data for each patent gazette. In the next step 802, the operation data dividing / combining unit 242 logs in to the ISP server 100, stores the operation AP 251 (referred to as file name “xyz.exe”), and a text corresponding to one patent publication. 280 files storing data (file names “abc001”, “abc002”,..., “Abc280”) are transmitted to the ISP server 100. Further, in step 802, the member ID, the delivery time (for example, February 7, 2005, 14:00) indicating when the processing result is desired to be returned, the number of operations (“280”), Terminal specifications (recommended) that the resource providing terminal 130 that actually performs the requested processing must have (for example, OS is WindowsXP SP1 or higher, CPU is 1.00 GHz or higher, DISK capacity is 50 GB or higher, memory is 256 MB or higher), Average processing time (for example, 600 seconds) per case when feature word extraction processing is performed with this terminal specification (recommended), and the file name ("xyz.exe") of the file storing the calculation AP 251 Then, the file names (“abc001”, “abc002”,..., “Abc280”) of the 280 files storing the text data are transmitted to the ISP server 100.

  The resource use terminal management unit 210 stores each file received by the data transmission / reception unit 211 (the file storing the calculation AP 251 and the 280 files storing the text data of the patent gazette) in the calculation DB 224. Remaining data received by the data transmitting / receiving unit 211 (member ID, delivery time, number of calculations, calculation time, terminal specification, file name of the file storing the calculation AP, file of the text data serving as input data of the calculation AP (File name) is stored in items 601, 603 to 609 as shown in FIG. The request time 602 stores the data reception time (in the example of FIG. 6, “200502071100”, February 7, 2005, 11:00). Further, the request number 610 stores a request number (R000001 in the example of FIG. 6) for uniquely identifying the request from the resource use terminal 120 accepted this time.

  After that, the resource providing terminal extraction unit 212 in the resource using terminal management unit 210 uses the data sent from the resource using terminal 120 and the contents of the resource providing terminal information DB 223 stored in the resource using terminal DB 221, The resource providing terminal 130 for requesting the extraction process is extracted (step 811), and the resource providing terminal process requesting unit 213 transmits the calculation related data to each resource providing terminal extracted by the resource providing terminal extracting unit 212. (Step 812).

  Specifically, in step 811, referring to the resource providing terminal information DB 223, the usable specification (latest) 506 satisfies the conditions of the terminal specification (recommended) 606 registered with the current processing request, and The resource providing terminal 130 whose connection end time 504 is later than the current time by the calculation time 605 (600 seconds) or longer is extracted.

  In step 812, the resource providing terminal processing request unit 213 first executes the file (calculation) of the file name xyz.exe set in the item 607 for one of the resource providing terminals 130 extracted in step 811. The file storing the AP), the file with the file name abc001 set in the item 608 (the first file storing the text data for one patent publication), and the current request uniquely The calculation related data including the request number R000001 to be specified is transmitted. After that, the resource providing terminal request processing unit 213 is set in the item 609 and the file in which the calculation AP is stored for another one of the resource providing terminals 130 extracted in step 811. The calculation related data including the file with the file name abc002 (second file storing text data for one patent publication) and the request number R000001 is transmitted. Hereinafter, the resource providing terminal processing request unit 213 performs the above-described processing until it transmits computation-related data including a file with the file name abc280 (a 280th file in which text data for one patent publication is stored). Similar processing is repeated. If the number of resource providing terminals extracted in step 811 is less than the number of operations “280” indicated by the item 604, a plurality of processes should be requested to one resource providing terminal. It may be. In that case, the operation time 605 (600 seconds) multiplied by the number of requests may be extracted in consideration of the connection end time 504, and these operations are input / output devices (not shown) of the ISP server 100. ), The operator may set the content interactively.

  When the resource providing terminal 130 receives the calculation related data sent from the ISP server 100 (step 821), the resource providing terminal 130 starts the calculation AP (stored in the file name xyz.exe) included therein. The processing unit 263 is realized. The arithmetic processing unit 263 extracts feature words from the text data of the patent gazette included in the calculation related data, and the extracted feature words, the request number R000001 included in the calculation related data, and how much resources are included. Resource provision record information indicating whether the information has been provided is transmitted to the ISP server 100 (steps 822 and 823).

  Here, the resource providing terminal 130 is not necessarily connected until the connection end time 504, and may be disconnected in the middle or unexpectedly due to a power outage or the like. The providing terminal management unit 231 monitors the status of the resource providing terminal 130 until the calculation result is received after the calculation related data is transmitted (step 813). For example, a method of inquiring whether the resource providing terminal 130 is operating normally from the resource use terminal management unit 210 can be adopted. If there is no response indicating that the resource providing terminal 130 is operating normally in response to this inquiry, the same calculation related data as the calculation related data transmitted to the resource providing terminal 130 to the other resource providing terminals. Send.

  When the resource providing terminal management unit 231 in the ISP server 100 returns from the resource providing terminal 130 the feature word that is the processing result, the resource providing record information, and the request number R000001, the resource providing record information and the request A billing flag indicating whether or not the billing process is completed for the pair with the number R000001 (in this embodiment, the billing process is not completed when the billing flag is “0”, and “1”. At this point, since the charging process is not completed, the value of the charging flag to be added is “0”), and the corresponding information in the resource providing terminal information DB 223 is added. To the item 507 of the record to be recorded, and further, the feature word as the processing result is transmitted to the resource use terminal 120 (steps 814 to 816).

  The resource provision record information may be stored in the resource provision terminal information DB 223, but various methods can be considered for the information to be accumulated depending on the criteria for considering the consideration for the resource provision. To obtain the necessary information. The possible examples are listed below.

(1) Calculation based on the number of processing / calculation requests Considering the example of the present embodiment, the number of processed files is recorded in the resource providing terminal information DB 223 in this case by the method of calculating based on the number of patent gazettes subjected to text mining processing. To do.

(2) Calculation by processing / calculation time Similarly, in the example of the present embodiment, it is a method of calculating by the text mining processing time at the resource providing terminal 130. In this case, the time processed by the xyz.exe process Is recorded in the resource providing terminal information DB 223. The processing time of the process is acquired by the resource information acquisition AP (resource information acquisition unit 262) resident in the resource providing terminal 130 that has performed the processing, and is transmitted together when the calculation result is transmitted.

(3) Calculation based on data amount of processing / calculation Similarly, in the example of the present embodiment, in the method of calculating according to the data amount of the patent gazette, in this case, the data amount of the processed patent gazette is the resource providing terminal. It records in information DB223.

  The method is not limited to the above methods (1) to (3). For example, if the CPU performance is good, the processing time can be shortened. It may be multiplied as a value. In any case, data that is the basis of calculation is recorded and accumulated in the resource providing terminal information DB 223.

  The calculation data dividing / combining unit 242 in the resource using terminal 120 receives the processing results and combines the results (steps 803 and 804).

  The above is the operation when the resource use terminal 120 requests the ISP server 100 to perform processing.

[Operation when charging]
Next, a description will be given of a payment process for consideration relating to resource provision to the resource provision terminal 130 and a billing process for consideration relating to processing / calculation to the resource use terminal.

  The canceling unit 282 in the charging unit 280 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 periodically (for example, at the end of the month).

  The canceling unit 282 first pays attention to one of the records in the accounting DB 222 and acquires the member ID stored in the record (step 91). Thereafter, the offsetting unit 282 calculates a price commensurate with the resource provided by the resource providing terminal 130 used by the member with the member ID (step 93).

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the process performed in step 93. Referring to the figure, the offsetting unit 282 pays attention to one of the records of the resource providing terminal information DB 223 (step 931), the member ID stored in the record, and the attention in the charging DB 222 in step 91. It is checked whether or not the member ID acquired from the record matches (step 933).

  If the member IDs do not match (NO in step 933), the process returns to step 931. On the other hand, if the member IDs match (YES in step 933), a pair of the resource provision record information and the request number is added to the item 507 of the record of the billing DB 222 that is currently focused on and added. It is checked whether or not a pair with a charge flag value of “0” is stored (step 934).

  If the pair with the charging flag “0” is not stored (NO in step 934), the process returns to step 931. On the other hand, when the pair with the charging flag “0” is registered (YES in step 934), the consideration corresponding to the resource provision record information included in the pair is calculated, and the consideration calculated this time is calculated. Is accumulated in the accumulated amount of consideration commensurate with the resource provision performance (step 935). Thereafter, the canceling unit 282 performs the process of step 931. The canceling unit 282 repeats the above processing, and when there are no unfocused records, the processing of step 94 in FIG. 9 is performed.

  In step 94, the consideration corresponding to the resource used by the resource use terminal 120 used by the member of the member ID acquired in step 91 is calculated with reference to the resource use terminal DB 221 and the resource providing terminal information DB 223.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the process performed in step 94. Referring to the figure, the canceling unit 282 first pays attention to one of the records of the resource use terminal DB 221 (step 941). Thereafter, the offsetting unit 282 checks whether or not the member ID stored in the record of interest matches the member ID acquired in Step 91 (Step 943).

  If the member IDs do not match (NO in step 943), the process returns to step 941.

  On the other hand, if the member IDs match (YES in step 943), the request number stored in the item 610 of the record of interest is acquired (step 944). Thereafter, the offsetting unit 282 pays attention to one of the records of the resource providing terminal information DB 223 (step 945), the item 507 of the record includes the same request number as the request number acquired in step 944, and the accounting flag It is checked whether or not a pair of resource provision record information and request number for which "0" is stored (step 947).

  If no pair satisfying the above condition is stored (NO in step 947), the process returns to step 945. On the other hand, when a pair satisfying the above condition is stored (YES in step 947), for each pair satisfying the condition, the resource provision record information (for the resource use terminal 120) included in the pair. The price corresponding to the resource usage record information is calculated, and the calculated price is accumulated in the accumulated amount of the price corresponding to the resource usage record (step 948). Further, in step 948, the value of the accounting flag added to the pair of the resource provision record information and the request number for which the accumulation process has been completed is changed to “1”. Thereafter, the canceling unit 282 returns to the process of step 945 and repeats the processes of steps 945 to 948 until there are no unfocused records in the resource providing terminal information DB 223.

  When there is no unfocused record in the resource providing terminal information DB 223 (NO in step 946), the process returns to step 941 and the processes in steps 941 to 948 are repeated until there is no unfocused record in the resource use terminal DB 221. Do. Then, when there are no unfocused records in the resource use terminal DB 221 (NO in step 942), the canceling unit 282 performs the process of step 95 in FIG.

  In step 95, {(ISP usage fee in the record noted in step 91) − (cumulative amount commensurate with the resource provision record accumulated in step 935) + (accumulated amount commensurate with the resource utilization record accumulated in step 948) } Is calculated and stored in the record under attention in the billing DB 222. Further, in step 95, processing for returning the accumulated amount accumulated in steps 935 and 948 to “0” is also performed.

  When the process of step 95 is completed, the canceling unit 282 returns to the process of step 91 and repeats the above-described process until there is no unfocused record in the charging DB 222 (until the last record in the charging DB 222 is processed). Then, when there are no unfocused records in the accounting DB 222 (NO in step 92), the settlement unit 283 is activated, and then the process is terminated.

  When activated, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the settlement unit 283 pays attention to one of the records in the accounting DB 222 (step 121), and pays attention to the offset billing amount stored in the record of interest. A settlement process such as withdrawing from the bank account indicated by the account information stored in the record in the middle is performed (step 123). Thereafter, the settlement unit 283 returns to Step 121 and repeats the same processing as described above until there is no unfocused record (Step 122 becomes NO).

  The above is the description of a series of operations of the present embodiment, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this example. In the present embodiment, the case where feature words are extracted from a patent gazette using grid computing has been described as an example. However, business processing such as creation of a large amount of invoices as described above may be used. In the case of such processing, since personal information is included, all work files and calculation results that are encrypted when processing-related data is transmitted from the resource use terminal 120 and processed and calculated by the resource providing terminal 130 are also calculated AP. The data security is maintained by transmitting the calculation result to the ISP server 100 and deleting all the result data.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the cost required for payment and billing that accompany the provision and use of resources. The reason for this is that the ISP server 100 obtains a billed amount after offset by subtracting the consideration corresponding to the resource provided from the ISP usage fee charged to the member for the member who uses the resource providing terminal 130, and uses the resource. This is because the member who uses the terminal 120 is provided with an offsetting unit 282 for obtaining an after-offset amount after adding a consideration corresponding to the resource used for the ISP usage fee charged to the member. In other words, as part of the ISP usage fee billing process, it is possible to pay and bill for the fees that accompany the provision and use of resources, thereby reducing costs. Further, since the privilege of discounting the ISP usage fee according to the provided resource is given to the resource provider, a large number of resource providers can be secured.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the grid computing system according to the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is characterized in that surplus resources of the ISP server 100 are also provided to the resource use terminal 120.

  In the present embodiment, in the grid computing system of FIG. 2, the resource providing terminal management unit 231 performs not only information related to the logged-in resource providing terminal 130 (items 501 to 506 in FIG. 5), but also the same regarding the server 100 itself. Information is also registered in the resource providing terminal information DB 223, and when the resource providing terminal extraction unit 213 extracts a resource providing terminal to be a processing request destination in step 811 in FIG. To extract. However, when information related to the ISP server 100 is stored in the resource providing terminal information DB 223, values unique to the ISP server 100 are stored in the items 501, 502, and 505, and the items 503 and 504 are always connected. Stores a specific value to indicate. In addition, the item 506 is periodically updated by the resource providing terminal management unit 231. In addition, when the resource providing terminal 130 extracts the processing request destination in step 811 of FIG. 8, a record storing a specific value indicating that it is always connected to the items 503 and 504 is requested. It is determined that the connection is made until the processed processing is completed. Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  When the ISP also operates an ISP server (not shown) other than the ISP server 100 shown in FIG. 2, the surplus resources of each ISP server operated by the ISP are provided to the resource use terminal 120. You can also In this case, the resource providing terminal management unit 231 in the ISP server 100 registers information about the server 100 and other ISP servers in the resource providing terminal information DB 223, and the resource providing terminal extraction unit 212 in the ISP server 100 When extracting the resource providing terminal to be the processing request destination in step 811 of FIG. 8, the processing server is extracted from the ISP server 100 and other ISP servers. In step 811, when extracting the processing request destination, it may be determined in advance whether the resource providing terminal is preferentially extracted or the ISP server is preferentially extracted.

[Effects of Second Embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the resources that can be used by the resource utilization terminal increase, and the processing by grid computing can be performed more efficiently. It becomes possible to obtain the effect. This is because not only the resource providing terminal 130 but also the ISP server 100 has a configuration for providing surplus resources.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to establish grid computing as a business, and as a result, for-profit companies and the like can easily use grid computing. In other words, ISP providers can reduce ISP usage fees, companies that want to use grid computing with routine processing, etc. can perform processing within a cheaper range than their own processing, and resources for ISPs. Since there is a merit that it is possible to reduce the cost of payment and billing associated with the provision and use of grid computing, it becomes possible to establish grid computing as a business.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of whole structure of 1st Embodiment of the grid computing system concerning invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ISP server 100, a resource use terminal 120, and a resource providing terminal 130. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of member DB225. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of the accounting DB222. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of resource provision terminal information DB223. It is a figure which shows the example of the content of resource utilization terminal DB221. It is a flowchart which shows the process example when the resource provision terminal 130 logs in. It is a flowchart which shows the process example when the resource utilization terminal 120 requests | requires the process by grid computing. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a cancellation unit 282. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process example of step 93 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process example of step 94 of FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a settlement unit 283.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... ISP server 210 ... Resource utilization terminal management part 211 ... Data transmission / reception part 212 ... Resource provision terminal extraction part 213 ... Resource provision terminal processing request part 220 ... Storage device 221 ... Resource utilization terminal DB
222 ... Billing DB
223 ... Resource providing terminal information DB
224 ... Calculation DB
225 ... Member DB
226 ... Monitoring AP storage unit 230 ... Resource providing terminal monitoring unit 231 ... Resource providing terminal management unit 232 ... Data transmission / reception unit 280 ... Billing unit 281 ... ISP usage fee management unit 282 ... Offsetting unit 283 ... Payment unit 110 ... Internet 120 ... Resource Usage terminal 240 ... Data control unit 241 ... Data transmission / reception unit 242 ... Calculation data division / combination unit 250 ... Storage device 251 ... Calculation AP
252 ... Calculation data file 130 ... Resource providing terminal 260 ... Data control unit 261 ... Data transmission / reception unit 262 ... Resource information acquisition unit 263 ... Calculation processing unit 270 ... Resource

Claims (10)

In a grid computing system including an ISP server, a resource providing terminal that provides resources, and a resource using terminal that uses resources,
The ISP server is
A billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs;
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. By subtracting, a counter-charge amount to be billed to the user of the resource providing terminal is obtained, and a consideration corresponding to the resource used by the resource using terminal is included in the ISP usage fee stored in the charging database. An offsetting unit for obtaining a post-offset billing amount charged to the user of the resource using terminal by adding to an ISP usage fee registered in association with a member ID of the user of the resource using terminal A grid computing system characterized by comprising. The grid computing system of claim 1.
The grid computing system, wherein the ISP server includes a settlement unit that performs a settlement process in accordance with the post-offset amount charged by the cancellation unit. The grid computing system according to claim 2, wherein
The ISP server is
A resource providing terminal information database in which a pair of the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and the resource providing record information and the request number is stored in association with the member ID of the member using the logged-in resource providing terminal;
A resource use terminal database in which a request number for identifying a requested process is stored in association with a member ID of a member who uses the resource use terminal of the process request source;
A resource providing terminal management unit that associates a member ID of a member who uses the resource providing terminal with the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and registers it in the resource providing terminal information database when logging in the resource providing terminal;
When a process is requested from a resource use terminal, a request number for identifying the requested process is registered in the resource use terminal database in association with a member ID of a member using the resource use terminal; A resource providing terminal extraction unit for extracting a resource providing terminal to be a processing request destination from among the resource providing terminals registered in the resource providing terminal information database;
When requesting processing to the resource providing terminal extracted by the resource providing terminal extracting unit and transmitting the request number, the processing result, the request number, and the resource providing record information are returned from the resource providing terminal. A resource providing terminal processing request unit that stores a pair of the request number and the resource providing record information in the resource providing terminal information database;
The canceling unit calculates a price commensurate with the resource provided by the resource providing terminal by referring to the resource providing terminal information database, and refers to the resource providing terminal information database and the resource using terminal database to calculate the resource. A grid computing system having a configuration for calculating a price commensurate with a resource used by a user terminal. The grid computing system of claim 1.
A grid computing system, wherein the ISP server has a configuration for providing surplus resources to the resource use terminal. A billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs;
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. By subtracting, a counter-charge amount to be billed to the user of the resource providing terminal is obtained, and a consideration corresponding to the resource used by the resource using terminal is included in the ISP usage fee stored in the charging database. An offsetting unit for obtaining a post-offset billing amount charged to the user of the resource using terminal by adding to an ISP usage fee registered in association with a member ID of the user of the resource using terminal An ISP server characterized by comprising: The ISP server according to claim 5, wherein
An ISP server comprising a settlement unit that performs a settlement process according to a post-cancellation charge amount obtained by the cancellation unit. The ISP server according to claim 6, wherein
A resource providing terminal information database in which a pair of the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and the resource providing record information and the request number is stored in association with the member ID of the member using the logged-in resource providing terminal;
A resource use terminal database in which a request number for identifying a requested process is stored in association with a member ID of a member who uses the resource use terminal of the process request source;
A resource providing terminal management unit that associates a member ID of a member who uses the resource providing terminal with the terminal ID of the resource providing terminal and registers it in the resource providing terminal information database when logging in the resource providing terminal;
When a process is requested from a resource use terminal, a request number for identifying the requested process is registered in the resource use terminal database in association with a member ID of a member using the resource use terminal; A resource providing terminal extraction unit for extracting a resource providing terminal to be a processing request destination from among the resource providing terminals registered in the resource providing terminal information database;
When requesting processing to the resource providing terminal extracted by the resource providing terminal extracting unit and transmitting the request number, the processing result, the request number, and the resource providing record information are returned from the resource providing terminal. A resource providing terminal processing request unit that stores a pair of the request number and the resource providing record information in the resource providing terminal information database;
The canceling unit calculates a price commensurate with the resource provided by the resource providing terminal by referring to the resource providing terminal information database, and refers to the resource providing terminal information database and the resource using terminal database to calculate the resource. An ISP server characterized by having a configuration for calculating a price commensurate with a resource used by a user terminal. The ISP server according to claim 5, wherein
An ISP server having a configuration for providing surplus resources to the resource utilization terminal. In a grid computing system including an ISP server, a resource providing terminal that provides resources, and a resource using terminal that uses resources,
The ISP server is
A billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs;
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. Obtaining a post-offset billing amount billed to the user of the resource providing terminal by subtracting;
Compensation commensurate with the resources used by the resource use terminal is set to the ISP use charge registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource use terminal among the ISP use charges stored in the charging database. And a step of obtaining an offset billing amount charged to a user of the resource using terminal by adding. A computer having a billing database in which ISP usage fees are stored in association with member IDs.
Consideration corresponding to the resource provided by the resource providing terminal is obtained from the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource providing terminal among the ISP usage fees stored in the charging database. By subtracting, a counter-charge amount to be billed to the user of the resource providing terminal is obtained, and a consideration corresponding to the resource used by the resource using terminal is included in the ISP usage fee stored in the charging database. Function as an offsetting unit for obtaining a post-offset amount charged to the user of the resource using terminal by adding to the ISP usage fee registered in association with the member ID of the user of the resource using terminal Program to let you.

Images