System and method for providing downloading services for digital objects

A method of allocating resources comprising:

• receiving a value representing an estimate of a calculated expected resource usage under a billing plan within a cycle, the value being derived from at least two measurable resource parameters;
• aggregating the value with a current actual resource usage for the cycle;
• and
• adjusting a resource allocation based upon a comparing of a result of the aggregating and a current available resource amount.

A method of billing for provision of resources comprising:

• receiving a value representing an estimate of a calculated expected resource usage under a billing plan within a cycle, the value comprising a mathematical combination of at least two measurable resource parameters, the billing plan comprising a charge for a base amount when an actual calculated resource usage during the cycle does not exceed the calculated expected resource usage and a surcharge when the actual calculated resource usage during the cycle exceeds the calculated expected resource usage;
• comparing the actual calculated resource usage with the value to determine if the estimate has been exceeded;
• and
• if the estimate has been exceeded and a pre-determined condition is met, aggregating the charge for the base amount with a surcharge, otherwise, if the estimate has not been exceeded but the pre-determined condition is met, applying only the charge for the base amount.

A system comprising:

• an estimate handler,
• an allocation manager,
• a monitor/calculator coupled for communication with at least the allocation manager and configured to monitor resource usage based upon communication between a provider and a user and calculate an actual usage value from parameters measured during the resource usage, and
• a billing manager, the billing manager and allocation manager being communicatively connected to the estimate handler so that, as the monitor/calculator monitors the resource usage, the monitor/calculator will provide the actual usage value to the allocation manager for use in resource allocation and the billing manager for use in billing according to a billing plan, the billing plan including a surcharge to a source when a total actual usage value incorporating the actual usage value exceeds an estimated resource need value.

A system comprising:

• means for receiving a value representing an estimate of a calculated expected resource usage under a billing plan within a cycle, the value comprising at least two measurable resource parameters;
• means for converting the measurable resource parameters to a calculated parametric value representative of a current actual resource usage, based upon a measuring within the cycle;
• and
• means for comparing the calculated parametric value with the estimate and setting an overage indicator when the calculated parametric value exceeds the estimate.

A computer readable medium having modules stored thereon, comprising:

• a module that, when executed, will processes received estimates of expected resource usage derived from a combination of at least two measurable parameters;
• a module that, when executed, will allocate resources based upon the received estimates and a current system resource state;
• a module that, when executed, calculates a usage value from at least two measured parametric values;
• and
• a module that, upon a completion of a billing cycle, bills an entity for a base charge when an actual calculated resource usage during the cycle does not exceed an expected resource usage and adds a surcharge when the actual calculated resource usage during the cycle exceeds the expected resource usage.