Method of providing metered capacity of temporary computer resources

A computer-implemented method for providing metered capacity of at least one temporary resource on demand in a computer system that includes a plurality of logical partitions, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one processor in the computer system;
• providing a network interface coupled to the at least one processor that allows the computer system to communicate with other computer systems;
• requesting an enablement code from a resource provider for the computer system;
• receiving the enablement code from the resource provider, wherein the enablement code includes a specified resource-time for a selected resource;
• enabling the selected resource for use;
• when the selected resource is dedicated to one of the plurality of logical partitions, performing the steps of:
• starting a meter timer;
• using the selected resource until a time to bill occurs;
• sending a record of metered usage to the resource provider based on value of the meter timer;
• and
• the resource provider sending a bill for the metered usage of the selected resource to a customer;
• when the selected resource is not dedicated to one of the plurality of logical partitions and is shared between first and second logical partitions, performing the steps of:
• the first logical partition using the selected resource without charge until the metered use of the selected resource by the first logical partition exceeds a first predetermined non-zero threshold that specifies allowable usage of the selected resource by the first logical partition;
• metering use of the selected resource by the first logical partition that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold until a time to bill occurs;
• sending a record of metered usage of the selected resource by the first logical partition that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold to the resource provider;
• the resource provider sending a bill for the metered usage of the selected resource that exceeds the first predetermined non-zero threshold to the customer;
• the second logical partition using the selected resource without charge until the metered use of the selected resource by the second logical partition exceeds a second predetermined non-zero threshold that specifies allowable usage of the selected resource by the second logical partition;
• metering use of the selected resource by the second logical partition that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold until a time to bill occurs;
• sending a record of metered usage of the selected resource by the second logical partition that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold to the resource provider;
• and
• the resource provider sending a bill for the metered usage of the selected resource that exceeds the second predetermined non-zero threshold to the customer.