Method and apparatus for resource allocation with guarantees

A method for resource allocation with guarantees for a plurality of arrival processes performed by a resource allocator coupled to a controller, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a dedicated resource pool and a shared resource pool;
• identifying an arrival process;
• obtaining a predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process;
• responsive to said obtained predefined characterizing value, allocating resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• and
• utilizing the controller for tracking resource use and for providing the predefined characterizing value for each of the plurality of arrival processes including the steps of;
• incrementing a usage charge for said allocated resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• decrementing said usage charge for an identified end of use of said allocated resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• evaluating resource use for said identified arrival process;
• and
• updating said predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process;
• wherein the step of updating said predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process includes the steps of identifying an importance factor for each of said plurality of arrival processes;
• identifying all active arrival processes in the shared resource pool;
• calculating a product of a ratio of said identified importance factor of said arrival process to the sum of the importance factors of all active arrival processes in the shared resource pool and a total amount of shared resources;
• and comparing said usage charge with a low threshold value and with said product.

Apparatus for resource allocation with guarantees for a plurality of arrival processes, said apparatus comprising:

• means for providing a dedicated resource pool and a shared resource pool;
• means responsive to identifying an arrival process, for obtaining a predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process;
• means responsive to said obtained predefined characterizing value, for allocating resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• and
• controller means for tracking resource use and for providing the predefined characterizing value for each of the plurality of arrival processes;
• said controller means including means for incrementing a usage charge for said allocated resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• means for decrementing said usage charge for an identified end of use of said allocated resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• means for evaluating resource use for said identified arrival process;
• and
• means for updating said predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process including means for identifying an importance factor for each of said plurality of arrival processes;
• identifying all active arrival processes in the shared resource pool;
• means for calculating a product of a ratio of said identified importance factor of said arrival process to the sum of the importance factors of all active arrival processes in the shared resource pool and a total amount of shared resources;
• and means for comparing said usage charge with a low threshold value and with said product.

A computer program product for use with apparatus for resource allocation with guarantees for a plurality of arrival processes, the computer program product comprising:

• a recording medium;
• means, recorded on said recording medium, for providing a dedicated resource pool and a shared resource pool;
• means, recorded on said recording medium, responsive to identifying an arrival process, for identifying a predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process;
• means, recorded on said recording medium, responsive to said identified predefined characterizing value, for allocating resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• and
• means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing a controller to monitor resource use by each of the plurality of arrival processes and update said predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process including the steps of;
• incrementing a usage charge for said allocated resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• decrementing said usage charge for an identified end of use of said allocated resource from one of said dedicated resource pool or said shared resource pool for said identified arrival process;
• evaluating resource use for said identified arrival process and calculating a total unused resource in the shared resource pool;
• and
• updating said predefined characterizing value for said identified arrival process including the steps of identifying an importance factor for said identified arrival process;
• calculating a product of said identified importance factor and said calculated total unused resource in the shared resource pool;
• and comparing said usage charge with a low threshold value and with said product.