JP7210970B2 - Information processing system, information processing device, information processing method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program.

In recent years, a service form called IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) that provides a VM (Virtual Machine) instance via a network such as the Internet has become known. Also, software is installed in a VM instance provided as IaaS to provide some kind of cloud service (for example, a print service in which the VM instance functions as a print server).

Here, there is known a technique that can extend the life of the user's processing window by restricting the processing that can be specified by the user when the billing amount for the processing specified by the user approaches the upper limit. (See Patent Document 1, for example).

By the way, in order to use a VM instance, there are cases where a charge is incurred according to the performance, number, etc. of the virtual machine. Therefore, the user estimates in advance the planned amount of usage of the cloud service provided by the user (for example, the number of jobs of processing executed by the VM instance, etc.), and then determines the fee plan.

However, it is difficult for a user whose usage volume fluctuates, such as during busy periods and off-seasons, to estimate the expected usage amount, and there may be a period in which the rate plan is temporarily inappropriate. For example, during a busy period when the actual usage amount is larger than the pre-estimated planned usage amount, the performance and the number of virtual machines may be insufficient, and the service performance may be degraded. On the other hand, for example, during off-peak periods when the actual usage amount is smaller than the previously estimated usage amount, the performance and number of virtual machines are excessive, resulting in unnecessary charges.

The embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and aims to change to an appropriate construction plan according to usage prediction.

In order to achieve the above object, the embodiment of the present invention provides a fee plan for a service that builds a virtual server that can communicate with devices included in a customer environment via a network in an infrastructure providing environment, and for a predetermined period and at least one of the number of jobs that can be processed by the virtual server and the total size of data that can be processed by the virtual server during the period, and the usage amount of resources that can be used by the virtual server of the price plan, and the price plan. and a storage unit that stores price plan information associated with a fee paid by a user who uses the virtual server; a prediction unit for predicting a value, and a charge plan stored in the storage unit, according to the prediction value predicted by the prediction unit, a construction plan including the number of virtual servers and a charge plan for the virtual server; a determination unit that determines whether or not a construction plan identified by the identification unit differs from a construction plan for one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment; and a notification unit that notifies the user associated with the customer environment of information about the construction plan identified by the identification unit according to the determination result of the unit.

It is possible to change to an appropriate construction plan according to usage forecast.

It is a figure showing an example of the whole composition of the service environment construction system concerning this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outline of virtual server construction and construction plan change; It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a computer. 2 illustrates an example hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an environment building device according to this embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a charge plan information table. It is a figure which shows an example of the constructed information table. It is a figure which shows an example of a utilization record table. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of environment construction processing according to the embodiment; It is a figure which shows an example of an environment construction screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a price plan proposal screen. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the notification process of a change of a price plan or a change proposal which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a charge plan change mail. It is a figure which shows an example of a rate plan change proposal mail. It is a figure which shows an example of a charge plan change screen. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an environment building device according to this embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the specification table per virtual server. It is a figure which shows an example of the constructed information table. It is a figure which shows an example of a utilization record table. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of environment construction processing according to the embodiment; 9 is a flowchart showing an example of notification processing for changing or proposing to change the number of virtual servers according to the present embodiment; It is a figure which shows an example of a virtual server number change mail. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual server number change proposal mail; It is a figure which shows an example of a virtual server number change screen.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "present embodiments") will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, when software is installed in a VM instance to provide some kind of cloud service (hereinafter referred to as "user service"), a predicted value predicted from the actual amount of usage of this user service A service environment construction system 1 that proposes an optimal VM instance environment construction plan and provisioning VM instances of this environment construction plan will be described. Provisioning means constructing a VM instance on a physical machine.

Here, the usage amount of the user service is the usage amount of the resource used by the VM instance during a predetermined period (for example, one month). and the total data size of the data to be processed during the period. Also, the environment construction plan is information including a virtual machine fee plan and the number of virtual machines. Note that the charge plan is, for example, a plan of a charge (for example, monthly charge) determined according to the performance of the virtual machine. Hereinafter, the environment construction plan is also simply referred to as the "construction plan".

Note that the VM instance is also simply called "VM" or "virtual machine". Moreover, a virtual machine intended to function as a server (for example, a print server, etc.) is also called a "virtual server". Hereinafter, it is assumed that the VM instance functions as a server of some kind, and the term "virtual server" is used for explanation.

[First embodiment]
The first embodiment is an example of adjusting the construction plan appropriately according to the predicted usage amount by changing the usage plan.

<Overall composition>
First, the overall configuration of a service environment building system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a service environment building system 1 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the service environment building system 1 according to this embodiment includes an environment building device 10, a terminal device 20, and a device 30. FIG. Also, the environment construction device 10 and the terminal device 20 are communicably connected via a network such as the Internet. Furthermore, the environment construction apparatus 10 and the device 30 are connected to communicate with an infrastructure providing environment 200 of a company (infrastructure provider) that provides virtual servers as IaaS via a network.

The environment construction device 10 predicts the usage amount of the user service based on the actual usage amount of the user service (hereinafter, also referred to as "actual usage amount"). The environment construction device 10 proposes the optimum billing plan for the virtual server to the user of the terminal device 20 according to the prediction of the usage amount of the user service (hereinafter also referred to as "predicted usage amount"). Then, the environment building apparatus 10 builds the central server 210 and the device management server 220 as virtual servers in the infrastructure providing environment 200 according to the provisioning instruction for the price plan. This builds the environment necessary for providing user services.

In addition, the environment construction device 10 notifies the user of the terminal device 20 of a proposal to change the billing plan or notifies that the billing plan has been changed, according to the predicted usage amount of the user service. In this way, the environment construction device 10 proposes a change to the optimum price plan or changes to the optimum price plan according to the predicted usage amount.

Here, when constructing a virtual server in the infrastructure providing environment 200, a charge is incurred according to the performance and the number of virtual servers. The optimum price plan is a plan that satisfies the performance and number of units required for the predicted amount of user service usage and is the cheapest. By changing to such an optimum plan, the user of the terminal device 20 can construct an environment (service environment) necessary for using the user service with the optimum performance and number of virtual servers. In other words, the user of the terminal device 20 can optimally size the virtual servers necessary for using user services.

The terminal device 20 is a PC (personal computer) or the like used by a user who constructs an environment necessary for using user services. As the terminal device 20, for example, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, or the like may be used.

The devices 30 are various electronic devices that use user services. Examples of the device 30 include an image forming apparatus such as an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral), a PC, and the like. Note that the device 30 may be, for example, a printing device, a scanner device, an electronic blackboard device, a projector device, a digital signage device, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, etc., in addition to the image forming device and the PC.

Here, the central server 210 and the device management server 220 constructed as virtual servers in the infrastructure providing environment 200 are servers necessary for the devices 30 to use user services. The central server 210, for example, is constructed for each customer who owns the equipment 30, and manages one or more equipment management servers 220 constructed for the customer. Further, the device management server 220 is constructed, for example, for each customer environment 100 in which the device 30 is installed, manages the device 30 that uses the user service, and cooperates with the device 30 to realize the user service. process. A customer is a company, an organization, or the like (hereafter referred to as a "company, etc.") that uses or wishes to use the user service.

For example, assume that there are a plurality of customer environments 100 such as a customer environment 100A, a customer environment 100B, and a customer environment 100C as the customer environment 100 of a certain customer. For example, customer environment 100A is a system environment at a head office, customer environment 100B is a system environment at a branch office, and customer environment 100C is a system environment at another branch office. In this case, for example, a device management server 220A that manages the devices 30 installed in the customer environment 100A, a device management server 220B that manages the devices 30 installed in the customer environment 100B, and a device management server 220B that is installed in the customer environment 100C. A device management server 220</b>C that manages the device 30 that is present is constructed in the infrastructure providing environment 200 . In this manner, the device management server 220 for managing the devices 30 installed in the customer environment 100 is constructed for each customer environment 100 .

However, for example, when a plurality of customer environments 100 are geographically close to each other, one device management server 220 that manages the devices 30 installed in each of the plurality of customer environments 100 may be constructed. For example, one device management server 220 manages the devices 30 installed in the customer environment 100A, which is the system environment of the head office, and the devices 30 installed in the customer environment 100B, which is the system environment of a certain branch office. May be constructed.

Here, as a specific example of the user service, there is a "print service" in which the device management server 220 functions as a server that stores print jobs. In this case, for example, print jobs created by the device 30 such as a PC are accumulated in the device management server 220 . Then, the device 30 such as an image forming device or a printing device acquires a print job from the device management server 220 and executes the print job to perform printing. As a result, a print service is provided to the user of the device 30 such as a PC.

Another specific example of the user service is a "scan distribution service" in which the device management server 220 functions as a server that distributes scanned images to predetermined destinations. In this case, for example, a scanned image created by scanning a document by the device 30 such as an image forming device or a scanner device is transmitted to the device management server 220 . Then, the device management server 220 distributes the scanned image to a predetermined destination. As a result, a scan distribution service is provided to the user of the device 30 such as an image forming device or a scanner device. In the scan distribution service, after the device management server 220 performs some processing (for example, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) processing) on the scanned image, data indicating the processing result is distributed to a predetermined destination. You can For example, a process or service that sequentially executes a plurality of processes such as "after creating a scanned image by scanning, perform OCR processing on this scanned image, and then perform distribution processing" is a "workflow ” is also called.

As described above, the user service is realized by performing processing in cooperation with the device 30 and the device management server 220 that manages the device 30 . In the following description, as an example of user services, either a "print service", a "scan delivery service", or both of them will be assumed. Note that when the user service is the "print service", the usage amount of the user service is, for example, the "number of print jobs" or the "total data size of data to be printed". Further, when the user service is a "scan delivery service", the usage amount of the user service is, for example, "the number of scan delivery jobs" or "total data size of data to be delivered (or OCR target)". . However, in addition to these, the usage amount of the user service may be, for example, usage time while the device 30 is using the user service.

Note that the configuration of the service environment construction system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and other configurations may be used. For example, the environment building device 10 and the terminal device 20 may be included in the customer environment 100 . Also, depending on the contents of the user service and the implementation method thereof, the central server 210 may not be necessary. In this case, the environment building device 10 does not have to build the central server 210 in the infrastructure providing environment 200 .

In addition, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the service provider that provides the user service and the infrastructure provider that provides the virtual server by the infrastructure provision environment 200 are different providers, but they do not necessarily have to be different. It may be the same trader. Also, a contract (contract for building a virtual server) with an infrastructure provider for building a virtual server may be made by a customer or by a service provider that provides user services.

<Construction of virtual server and change of price plan>
Here, the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment builds the central server 210 and the device management server 220, which are virtual servers, in the infrastructure providing environment 200, and changes or optimizes the billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage. A case of proposing a change to a different rate plan will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of virtual server construction and construction plan change. By constructing the virtual server, an environment (service environment) necessary for using the user service is constructed.

In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the customer environment 100 includes a customer environment 100A, a customer environment 100B, and a customer environment 100C. and

S1-1) When constructing a virtual server for using a user service, the terminal device 20 inputs a planned usage amount of the user service (hereinafter also referred to as a “scheduled usage amount”) to the environment construction device 10. . The planned usage amount includes, for example, the number of jobs and the total data size. The number of jobs is, for example, the number of print jobs, the number of scan delivery jobs, or the number of both jobs. Similarly, the total data size is, for example, either the total data size of data to be printed, the total data size of data to be scanned and distributed, or the total data size of both data.

S1-2) The environment construction device 10 identifies the optimum charge plan based on the planned usage amount input from the terminal device 20 . The environment construction device 10 then proposes the specified price plan to the terminal device 20 . As a result, a user service that satisfies the planned usage amount input by the user of the terminal device 20 can be provided, and the cheapest rate plan is proposed to the user.

Here, the infrastructure provision environment 200 includes a data center environment 240, which is a system environment of a data center in which physical servers are installed. Note that the data center environment 240 may be divided into multiple data center environments located at different physical locations. For example, data center environment 240 is a data center environment that is the system environment of a data center located in a location on the eastern side of the United States and a data center environment that is a system environment of a data center located in a location on the western side of the United States. and may be divided into

S1-3) The terminal device 20 inputs a provisioning instruction to the environment construction device 10 when constructing a virtual server according to the fee plan proposed by the environment construction device 10 .

S1-4) When the provisioning instruction is input from the terminal device 20, the environment construction device 10 transmits a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 published by the infrastructure provider. The WebAPI 230 is an API (Application Programming Interface) for constructing a virtual server in the infrastructure providing environment 200 and acquiring various information from the virtual server constructed in the infrastructure providing environment 200 . The environment construction device 10 can construct a virtual server in the infrastructure provision environment 200 by transmitting a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 . The provisioning request includes, for example, information such as the performance and the number of virtual servers according to the planned usage amount.

As a result, for example, a device management server 220A for managing the devices 30 installed in the customer environment 100A, a device management server 220B for managing the devices 30 installed in the customer environment 100B, and a customer environment 100C. A device management server 220C for managing the devices 30 installed in the data center environment 240 is constructed.

Also, a central server 210 for managing each device management server 220 is constructed in the data center environment 240 . Note that the central server 210 may not be constructed.

As described above, the environment construction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment selects an optimum charge plan according to the planned amount of usage input by the user of the terminal device 20 (for example, the number of jobs of the user service, the total data size, etc.). Suggest to the user. Then, the environment building apparatus 10 according to this embodiment builds a virtual server proposed as a price plan according to the provisioning instruction input by the user of the terminal device 20 .

For this reason, the user of the terminal device 20 can obtain the optimum data by simply inputting the amount to be used (for example, the number of jobs, the total data size, etc.) without considering the performance, number, etc. of the virtual servers required for using the user service. You will be able to build a virtual server with a reasonable price plan.

S2-1) Also, the environment construction apparatus 10 transmits a usage record acquisition request to the WebAPI 230 at a predetermined timing (for example, at the end of each month or at a date and time designated by the user). The environment construction apparatus 10 acquires the actual usage amount of the user service (for example, the actual number of jobs, the actual total data size, etc.) by transmitting a request to acquire the actual usage amount to the WebAPI 230. be able to. The acquisition request for the actual usage amount includes information necessary for acquiring the actual usage amount (for example, information specifying the central server 210 necessary for providing user services, etc.). Also, the acquired usage record amount is stored in a usage record table that stores past usage record amounts.

S2-2) The environment construction device 10 predicts the future usage amount of the user service from the past usage record amount of the user service. The details of the calculation method of the predicted usage amount will be described later. The environment construction device 10 identifies the optimum price plan according to the predicted amount of usage of user services. Then, if the specified price plan is different from the current price plan (that is, if the current price plan is not optimal), the environment construction device 10 changes the price plan and then notifies the terminal device of the change of the price plan. 20. Alternatively, the environment construction device 10 notifies the terminal device 20 of a billing plan change proposal. As a result, the user of the terminal device 20 is notified that the billing plan has been changed to the optimum billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage, or that a change to the billing plan is proposed to be the optimum billing plan. It should be noted that, for example, it depends on the contract with the user whether to notify that the billing plan has been changed to the optimum one or to notify the proposal of changing to the optimum billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage. It is determined.

As described above, the environment construction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment calculates the predicted usage amount of user services at a predetermined timing. Then, the environment construction device 10 according to the present embodiment identifies the optimum billing plan according to the calculated predicted usage amount, and if the identified billing plan differs from the current billing plan, proposes a billing plan change, etc. to the user. to notify. Therefore, the user of the terminal device 20 can, at a predetermined timing, change to an optimum billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage of the user service.

Therefore, according to the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, for example, even for a user whose actual usage amount fluctuates during busy periods and off-seasons, You will be able to change to the most suitable rate plan.

<Hardware configuration>
Next, the hardware configurations of the environment construction device 10, the terminal device 20, and the device 30 according to this embodiment will be described.

The environment building device 10 and the terminal device 20 according to this embodiment can be realized by using one or more computers 300 shown in FIG. 3, for example. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the computer 300. As shown in FIG. Note that when the device 30 is a PC or the like, the device 30 can also be realized by using one or more computers 300 shown in FIG. 3, for example.

A computer 300 shown in FIG. 3 has an input device 301 , a display device 302 , an external I/F 303 and a communication I/F 304 . The computer 300 shown in FIG. 3 also has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 305 , a RAM (Random Access Memory) 306 , a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 307 and an auxiliary storage device 308 . Each of these pieces of hardware is connected by a bus 309 .

The input device 301 is, for example, a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, or the like, and is used by the user to input various operations. The display device 302 is, for example, a display, and displays the processing result by the computer 300 . Note that the computer 300 does not have to have at least one of the input device 301 and the display device 302 .

An external I/F 303 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 303a and the like. The computer 300 can perform reading, writing, etc. of the recording medium 303 a via the external I/F 303 . The recording medium 303a includes, for example, a USB memory, an SD memory card, a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, and the like.

Communication I/F 304 is an interface for connecting computer 300 to a network. Computer 300 can communicate with other devices and the like via communication I/F 304 .

A ROM 305 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory that can retain programs and data even when the power is turned off. The ROM 305 stores programs and data such as BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), OS (Operating System) settings, and network settings that are executed when the computer 300 is started. A RAM 306 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily holds programs and data.

The CPU 307 is an arithmetic unit that implements the overall control and functions of the computer 300 by reading programs and data from the ROM 305 and the auxiliary storage device 308 onto the RAM 306 and executing processing.

The auxiliary storage device 308 is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), and is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data. The programs and data stored in the auxiliary storage device 308 include an OS that is basic software that controls the entire computer 300, an application program that provides various functions on the OS, and one or more programs that implement this embodiment. . The auxiliary storage device 308 manages stored programs and data using a predetermined file system or DB (database).

The environment construction device 10 and the terminal device 20 according to this embodiment can implement various processes by the hardware configuration of the computer 300 shown in FIG. Note that the central server 210 and the device management server 220 (more precisely, physical servers that realize the central server 210 and the device management server 220) are also realized by the hardware configuration of the computer 300 shown in FIG.

Next, when the equipment 30 is an image forming apparatus, the equipment 30 can be implemented by, for example, an image forming apparatus 400 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 400. As shown in FIG.

The image forming apparatus 400 shown in FIG. 4 has a controller 401 , an operation panel 402 , an external I/F 403 , a communication I/F 404 and an image processing engine 405 . The controller 401 also has a CPU 411 , a RAM 412 , a ROM 413 , an NVRAM 414 and an auxiliary storage device 415 .

A ROM 413 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory that can retain programs and data even when the power is turned off. A RAM 412 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily holds programs and data. The NVRAM 414 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory that stores setting information, for example. Also, the auxiliary storage device 415 is, for example, an HDD, an SSD, or the like, and is a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data.

The CPU 411 is an arithmetic unit that realizes overall control and functions of the image forming apparatus 400 by reading programs, data, setting information, and the like from the ROM 413, the NVRAM 414, the auxiliary storage device 415, and the like onto the RAM 412 and executing processing.

The operation panel 402 is an input/output device that includes an input unit for receiving input from a user and a display unit for displaying. An external I/F 403 is an interface with an external device. The external device includes a recording medium 403a and the like. The image forming apparatus 400 can perform reading, writing, etc. of the recording medium 403 a via the external I/F 403 .

Examples of the recording medium 403a include an IC card, USB memory, SD memory card, flexible disk, CD, and DVD.

A communication I/F 404 is an interface for connecting the image forming apparatus 400 to a network. The image forming apparatus 400 can communicate with other apparatuses and the like via the communication I/F 404 .

The image processing engine 405 is, for example, a plotter, a scanner, or the like, and is a device that performs various types of image processing such as print processing and scan processing.

When the device 30 according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus, the device 30 can implement various processes by the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 400 shown in FIG.

<Functional configuration>
Next, the functional configuration of the environment construction device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the environment construction device 10 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an input reception unit 501, a display control unit 502, a built-up determination unit 503, a usability determination unit 504, and a built-up information creation/updating unit. It has a unit 505 , a construction plan specifying unit 506 , an actual usage amount acquisition unit 507 , a usage prediction amount calculation unit 508 , a provisioning unit 509 , and a notification unit 510 . Each of these units is implemented by processing that one or more programs installed in the environment construction apparatus 10 cause the CPU 307 to execute.

Further, the environment construction device 10 according to this embodiment has a storage unit 511 . The storage unit 511 can be implemented using the auxiliary storage device 308, for example. Note that the storage unit 511 may be implemented using, for example, a storage device or the like connected to the environment construction apparatus 10 via a network.

The storage unit 511 stores a price plan information table 1000 , a constructed information table 2000 , and a usage history table 3000 . Details of each of these tables will be described later.

The input reception unit 501 receives various inputs from the terminal device 20 (for example, input of planned usage amount, input of provisioning instructions, etc.).

The display control unit 502 causes the terminal device 20 to display various screens. The various screens include, for example, a screen for the user of the terminal device 20 to input the planned usage amount, a screen for proposing an optimum charge plan to the user of the terminal device 20, and the like.

When the input receiving unit 501 receives the input of the planned usage amount, the constructed determination unit 503 refers to the constructed information table 2000 stored in the storage unit 511 to obtain a virtual Determine whether the server has been constructed. That is, the established determination unit 503 determines whether or not the service environment has been established for the user.

When the built determination unit 503 determines that the virtual server has been built, the usability determination unit 504 determines whether or not the user service can be used on the built virtual server. A user service can be used on a built virtual server. For example, even if a virtual server is not newly built, a user service that is planned to be used as input by a user can be used by a built virtual server (that is, a device management server 220, etc.).

When the usability determination unit 504 determines that the user service can be used on the configured virtual server (the device management server 220 or the like), the created information creating/updating unit 505 stores the user service in the created information table 2000. Update the built information that is stored. The constructed information is information for managing, for each user, the usage amount (for example, the number of jobs that can be additionally accumulated) that can be additionally used by the constructed virtual server (device management server 220, etc.). .

Further, when a virtual server (such as the device management server 220) is constructed by a provisioning request from the provisioning unit 509, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 creates constructed information about the constructed virtual server, and updates the constructed information. Store in table 2000 .

When the input receiving unit 501 receives the input of the planned usage amount, the construction plan specifying unit 506 refers to the charge plan information table 1000 stored in the storage unit 511 and selects the optimal usage amount according to the expected usage amount. Identify your rate plan. Here, the price plan information stored in the price plan information table 1000 is information in which usage amounts of user services and their fees are associated with each other. Therefore, the construction plan specifying unit 506 refers to the charge plan information table 1000 to specify the optimum charge plan that has the lowest total charge and satisfies the planned usage amount.

Further, when the predicted usage amount is calculated by the predicted usage amount calculation unit 508, the construction plan specifying unit 506 refers to the price plan information table 1000 stored in the storage unit 511, Identify the best pricing plan. That is, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the price plan information table 1000 to identify the optimum price plan that has the lowest total charges and satisfies the predicted usage amount.

The actual usage amount acquisition unit 507 transmits an acquisition request for the actual usage amount to the Web API 230 published by the infrastructure provider at a predetermined timing. As a result, the actual usage amount acquisition unit 507 can acquire the actual usage amount and store it in the actual usage table 3000 . Here, the predetermined timing can be any date and time. For example, it may be at the end of every month, every weekend, or every six months. Alternatively, for example, the date and time specified by the user may be used. In this manner, the actual usage amount acquisition unit 507 acquires the actual usage amount and stores it in the actual usage table 3000 every predetermined period or at a predetermined date and time.

The predicted usage amount calculation unit 508 calculates the predicted future usage amount of the user from the past usage record amount stored in the usage record table 3000 . For example, the predicted usage amount calculation unit 508 calculates the actual usage amount for each month from the actual usage amount in the past, and calculates the predicted usage amount for each month from the past actual usage amount for each month.

In addition, the method of calculating the predicted usage amount for each month from the actual usage amount for each month in the past is different from the method for calculating the average value of the actual usage amount for each month in the past as the predicted usage amount for each month in the future. can be used. For example, in the case of a user who has busy months and off-peak months, the actual usage amount for each month tends to be the same every year. available.

In addition, the method of calculating future monthly usage forecast from past monthly usage volume is to use a regression function to examine the slope of change in monthly usage usage volume, and A method of calculating the predicted usage amount can be used. For example, in the case of a user whose company scale is expanding or shrinking, it is conceivable that the actual monthly usage amount will tend to differ from year to year. It is also possible to use a method of calculating the predicted usage amount for the next month from the slope of the actual annual usage amount.

Here, an example of calculating the future monthly usage forecast from the past monthly usage usage has been explained. It may be one that calculates the amount.

When the input receiving unit 501 receives an input of a provisioning instruction, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 published by the infrastructure provider. As a result, a virtual server corresponding to the provisioning request is constructed in the infrastructure provision environment 200 .

The notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 of the price plan proposal or change proposal identified by the construction plan identification unit 506 . Alternatively, the notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 of the change to the billing plan identified by the construction plan identification unit 506 .

<<Price plan information table 1000>>
Here, the charge plan information table 1000 stored in the storage unit 511 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a price plan information table. As shown in FIG. 6, the price plan information table 1000 stores one or more price plan information. Each charge plan information includes “charge plan name”, “total data size”, “number of jobs”, and “charge” as data items.

A name of a price plan, which is an example of information for identifying a price plan, is set in the "price plan name". The "total data size" is set with the total data size that can be used by the user under the price plan. The "number of jobs" is set with the number of jobs available to the user under the price plan. In the "charge", the charge to be paid by the user using the charge plan is set.

<<Constructed information table 2000>>
Here, the constructed information table 2000 stored in the storage unit 511 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the constructed information table 2000. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the constructed information table 2000 stores one or more pieces of constructed information. Each piece of constructed information includes "user name", "virtual server", "price plan name", "margin usage", and "automatic change flag" as data items.

A user name, which is an example of information identifying a user such as a company that uses or desires to use a user service, is set in the "user name" field. Information (for example, the name of the device management server 220, etc.) for identifying one or more virtual servers (the device management server 220, etc.) constructed by the customer is set in the “virtual server”. The name of the price plan selected by the user is set in the "price plan name". In the "margin usage amount", the usage amount of the user service that can be additionally used by one or more virtual servers constructed by the user is set. In the "automatic change flag", a flag is set to indicate whether or not to automatically permit the change to the optimum billing plan according to the user's predicted usage amount.

Here, for example, when "automatic change permission" is set in the "automatic update flag", the charge plan is automatically changed to the optimum rate plan according to the predicted usage amount. In this case, the user's terminal device 20 is notified that the billing plan has been changed to the optimum billing plan according to the predicted usage amount. On the other hand, for example, if the "automatic update flag" is set to "not allow automatic change", the billing plan is not automatically changed to the optimum rate plan according to the predicted usage amount. In this case, the user's terminal device 20 is notified of a proposal to change to an optimum billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage.

In this way, the constructed information table 2000 contains, for each user, information about the virtual server constructed by the user, the price plan name selected by the user, and whether or not automatic change to the optimum price plan is permitted. is stored.

<<Use record table 3000>>
Here, the usage record table 3000 stored in the storage unit 511 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a usage record table. As shown in FIG. 8, the usage record table 3000 stores one or more pieces of past usage record information. Each piece of usage record information includes, as data items, "user name", "selected price plan name", "data size usage record", and "job number usage record".

A user name, which is an example of information identifying a user such as a company that uses or desires to use a user service, is set in the "user name" field. The "selected price plan name" is set with the name of the price plan selected by the user for that month and year. The actual usage amount of the data size used by the user in that month and year is set in the "actual usage amount of data size". The actual usage amount of the number of jobs used by the user in the year and month is set in the "actual usage amount of the number of jobs".

In this manner, the usage record table 3000 stores the user's past usage record for each predetermined period such as every month.

<Details of processing>
Next, the details of the processing of the service environment building system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

≪Environment building processing≫
Hereinafter, processing (environment building processing) when building a service environment by the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of environment building processing according to this embodiment.

First, in response to a request from the terminal device 20, the display control unit 502 causes the terminal device 20 to display, for example, an environment construction screen G100 shown in FIG. 10 (step S101). The user of the terminal device 20 displays the environment construction screen G100 shown in FIG. 10 by, for example, inputting a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) into a web browser, pressing a link to the URL, or the like. be able to.

The environment construction screen G100 shown in FIG. 10 is a screen for inputting the planned usage amount of the user service when constructing the service environment (that is, constructing the virtual server). The environment construction screen G100 shown in FIG. 10 includes a user name display field G110, an expected usage amount input field G120, and an OK button G130.

The user name display field G110 displays the user name indicating the name of the company or the like to which the user of the terminal device 20 belongs. Also, the planned usage amount input field G120 is an input field for inputting an expected usage amount such as the number of jobs, the total data size, or both. Note that the expected usage amount input field G120 is an input field for inputting an expected usage amount (number of jobs, total data size, etc.) for each user service (eg, "print service", "scan delivery service", etc.). can be

The user enters the planned usage amount in the expected usage amount input field G120, and then presses the OK button G130. This allows the user to input the planned usage amount. The planned usage amount includes, for example, the number of jobs, the total data size, etc. The planned usage amount is the expected usage amount for a certain unit period (for example, one month). Note that the user may be able to input, for example, the number of devices 30 that use the user service, the location of the customer environment 100, and the like, in addition to the planned usage amount.

The input reception unit 501 receives input of the planned usage amount by the user of the terminal device 20 (step S102). The planned usage amount accepted by the input accepting unit 501 includes the user name of the company or the like to which the user belongs and the expected usage amount entered in the expected usage amount input field G120. Here, it is assumed that the planned usage amount is either "number of jobs", "total data size", "number of jobs and total data size", or "number of jobs and total data size for each user service". Hereinafter, the number of jobs input as the planned usage amount is also referred to as "scheduled job number", and the total data size input as the scheduled usage amount is also referred to as "scheduled total data size".

Next, the built-up determination unit 503 refers to the built-up information table 2000 and determines whether or not the company or the like to which the user of the terminal device 20 belongs has built a service environment (step S103). At this time, the built-up determination unit 503 determines that the service environment has been built when the built-up information table 2000 stores the built-up information of the user name indicating the company etc. to which the user of the terminal device 20 belongs. . On the other hand, if the built-up information table 2000 does not store the built-up information of the user name indicating the company or the like to which the user of the terminal device 20 belongs, the built-up determination unit 503 determines that the service environment has not been built up. .

If it is determined in step S103 that the service environment has not been constructed, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the price plan information table 1000 and identifies the optimum price plan according to the planned usage amount (step S104). .

As shown in FIG. 6, the price plan information table 1000 stores one or more price plan information. Each charge plan information includes “charge plan name”, “total data size”, “number of jobs”, and “charge” as data items.

At this time, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the price plan information table 1000, and satisfies the planned number of jobs and the planned total data size according to the planned usage amount (the planned number of jobs and the planned total data size), and , to identify the rate plan with the lowest rate (or total rate). Note that when there are multiple user services (for example, "print service" and "scan distribution service"), the scheduled number of jobs is the total number of jobs for these multiple user services. Similarly, this planned total data size is the total data size of data to be processed by each of these user services.

For example, if the scheduled number of jobs is "400 Jobs" and the scheduled total data size is "5 G", selecting the rate plan "Minimum" is the cheapest and can realize the user service. Therefore, in this case, the construction plan specifying unit 506 specifies the price plan "Minimum" as the price plan for the virtual server.

Further, for example, when the scheduled number of jobs is "2000 Jobs" and the scheduled total data size is "5 G", selecting the charge plan "Basic" is the cheapest and can realize the user service. Therefore, in this case, the construction plan specifying unit 506 specifies the price plan "Minimum" as the price plan for the virtual server.

Also, for example, when the scheduled number of jobs is "90000 Jobs" and the scheduled total data size is "900 G", selecting the rate plan "Super High" is the cheapest and can realize the user service. Therefore, in this case, the construction plan specifying unit 506 specifies the charge plan "Super High" as the charge plan for the virtual server.

In this way, the construction plan identifying unit 506 identifies the virtual server charge plan that satisfies the planned number of jobs and the planned total data size and has the lowest charge as the optimum charge plan.

Return to FIG. Following step S104, the construction plan identification unit 506 calculates the surplus usage amount from the identified price plan and the scheduled usage amount (step S105). Here, the surplus usage amount is obtained by subtracting the scheduled usage amount from the usage amount of the rate plan. For example, by subtracting the scheduled number of jobs and the scheduled total data size from the number of jobs and the total data size of the price plan, the surplus usage amount can be obtained.

Next, the display control unit 502 causes the terminal device 20 to display, for example, a price plan proposal screen G200 shown in FIG. 11 (step S106).

The billing plan proposal screen G200 shown in FIG. 11 is a screen on which the billing plan identified by the construction plan identifying unit 506 and the surplus usage amount are displayed. The price plan proposal screen G200 shown in FIG. 11 includes a price display field G210 and a price plan display field G220 as the price plans specified by the construction plan specifying unit 506. FIG. Further, the charge plan proposal screen G200 shown in FIG. 11 includes a surplus usage amount display field G230 as the surplus usage amount calculated by the construction plan specifying unit 506. FIG.

The charge display field G210 displays the charge of the charge plan specified by the construction plan specifying unit 506. FIG. The example shown in FIG. 11 indicates that the charge of the charge plan is "100,000".

The charge plan specified by the construction plan specifying unit 506 is displayed in the charge plan display field G220. The marginal usage amount calculated by the construction plan identification unit 506 is displayed in the marginal usage amount display field G230.

As a result, the user of the terminal device 20 can know the most suitable billing plan for the user service of the planned usage amount input by the user himself/herself. In addition, the user of the terminal device 20 can also know the extra available usage amount when the virtual server is constructed with this rate plan.

Then, the user of the terminal device 20 can input a provisioning instruction by pressing the OK button G240.

The input reception unit 501 receives input of a provisioning instruction from the user of the terminal device 20 (step S107). The provisioning instruction whose input is received by the input receiving unit 501 includes the charge plan displayed in the total display field G210 as the charge plan.

Next, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 published by the infrastructure provider (step S108). At this time, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request including, for example, information indicating the charge plan. As a result, a virtual server corresponding to the price plan is constructed in the data center environment 240 of the infrastructure providing environment 200 .

Here, after the provisioning unit 509 builds a virtual server in the infrastructure providing environment 200, it is necessary to install a program necessary for realizing user services in the virtual server. For example, the provisioning unit 509 needs to install a program in the virtual server that causes the virtual server built in the infrastructure providing environment 200 to function as the device management server 220 . Therefore, after the virtual server is constructed, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a required program installation request to the virtual server.

Note that in step S108 above, a virtual server that functions as the device management server 220 is built, but in addition to this, the provisioning unit 509 also builds a virtual server that functions as the central server 210. FIG.

Next, when a virtual server (such as the device management server 220) is constructed by the provisioning request in step S108, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 creates constructed information about the constructed virtual server. Then, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 stores the created constructed information in the constructed information table 2000 (step S109). Here, at this time, the value of the automatic change flag included in the constructed information is determined by a contract with the user. That is, when a contract permitting automatic change of the price plan has been concluded with the user, the automatic change flag included in the constructed information is set to "automatic change permitted". On the other hand, if such a contract has not been concluded with the user, the automatic change flag included in the constructed information is set to "automatic change not permitted".

If it is determined in step S103 that the service environment has been constructed, the usability determination unit 504 determines whether or not the user service can be used in the constructed virtual server (step S110). Here, a user service can be used in a built virtual server when, for example, the planned usage amount is smaller than the surplus usage amount.

If it is determined in step S110 that the user service cannot be used in the constructed virtual server, the process of step S104 is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S110 that the user service is available in the built virtual server, the built information creating/updating unit 505 updates the built information stored in the built information table 2000. (step S111). That is, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 identifies the constructed information including the user name among the constructed information stored in the constructed information table 2000 . Then, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 subtracts the planned usage amount from the surplus usage amount of the identified constructed information. As a result, the surplus usage amount of the corresponding constructed information is updated.

≪Notification processing of change or proposed change of rate plan≫
In the following, the processing in the case where the environment construction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment changes or proposes to change the billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage will be described with reference to FIG. 12 . FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing an example of notification processing for changing or proposing a change to a billing plan according to the present embodiment.

The predicted usage amount calculation unit 508 calculates the predicted usage amount of the user with the corresponding user name at a predetermined timing (step S201). As for the predicted usage amount, the predicted future usage amount of the user is calculated from the past usage record amount stored in the usage record table 3000, as described above.

Next, the construction plan specifying unit 506 refers to the charge plan information table 1000 and selects the optimum charge plan according to the predicted usage amount calculated by the predicted usage amount calculation unit 508, as in step S104 of FIG. Identify (step S202).

Next, the construction plan identification unit 506 calculates the surplus usage amount (gap from the current situation) from the identified billing plan and the predicted usage amount (step S203). Here, the surplus usage amount is obtained by subtracting the predicted usage amount from the usage amount of the rate plan.

Next, the constructed plan identification unit 506 refers to the constructed information table 2000 and determines whether or not the identified price plan is different from the current price plan (step S204).

If it is not determined in step S204 that the billing plan is different from the current billing plan, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S204 that the billing plan is different from the current billing plan, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the construction completion information table 2000, and the automatic change flag of the user with the corresponding user name is set to "automatic change permitted." ” (step S205).

If it is determined in step S205 that the automatic change flag is "automatic change permitted", the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230, as in step S108 of FIG. 9 (step S206). At this time, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request including, for example, the corresponding user name and information indicating the price plan of the price plan specified in step S202 above. As a result, the price plan of the virtual server built in the data center environment 240 of the infrastructure providing environment 200 is changed to the price plan specified in step S202 above. In other words, the virtual server constructed in the data center environment 240 is reconstructed.

Next, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 updates the constructed information stored in the constructed information table 2000 (step S207). That is, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 identifies the constructed information including the user name among the constructed information stored in the constructed information table 2000 . Then, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 updates the identified constructed information to the constructed information related to the price plan identified in step S202. As a result, the corresponding constructed information is updated.

Next, the notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 that the billing plan has been changed to the optimum one according to the predicted usage amount (step S208). As a result, the content of the price plan change mail G300 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed on the terminal device 20 by the display control unit 502, for example.

The billing plan change mail G300 shown in FIG. 13 contains the current billing plan (current plan and resources), the predicted usage amount (forecasted resources), the marginal usage amount (gap from the current situation), and the changed billing plan ( changed plan) is included as content.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, the current plan and resources are "Minimum (10G 1000 Jobs)", the future predicted resources are "100G 5000 Jobs", and the gap with the current situation is "90G shortage, 4000 Job shortage". , indicates that the billing plan has been changed to “Basic”.

As a result, the user of the terminal device 20 can see that the billing plan has been changed according to the predicted usage amount, the content of the current billing plan, the gap between the contents of the current billing plan and the predicted usage amount, and the You can know the contents of the price plan of

If the automatic change flag is not determined to be "automatic change permitted" in step S205, the notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 of a change proposal to the optimum billing plan according to the predicted usage amount (step S209). ). Accordingly, the display control unit 502 displays, for example, the price plan change proposal mail G400 shown in FIG. 14 on the terminal device 20. FIG.

The billing plan change proposal mail G400 shown in FIG. 14 is a screen for proposing a change to the optimum billing plan. The billing plan change proposal screen G400 shown in FIG. 14 includes the current billing plan (current plan and resources), the predicted usage amount (predicted resources in the future), and the marginal usage amount (comparison with the current situation) as a proposal to change the billing plan. gap), a rate plan to be changed (proposed plan), and a URL link G440 of a site for changing the rate plan.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the current plan and resources are "Minimum (10G 1000Job)", the future predicted resource is "100G 5000Job", and the gap with the current situation is "90G shortfall, 4000Job shortfall". , proposes to change to the rate plan "Basic". Also, in the example shown in FIG. 14, the URL link G440 of the site for changing the rate plan is included. The user can change the billing plan from, for example, the UI screen G500 in FIG. 15, which is the destination of the URL link G440. Specifically, the user can change to the proposed rate plan by selecting the rate plan proposed to be changed by the mail of FIG. 14 with the radio button G510 and pressing the OK button G520.

Thereby, the user of the terminal device 20 can know the optimum billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage. Then, the user of the terminal device 20 can change to the optimum billing plan from, for example, the UI screen G500 in FIG. 15, which is the link destination of the URL link G440. In this case, similarly to steps S206 and S207, provisioning is performed and then the constructed information is updated.

<Summary>
As described above, the environment construction device 10 according to the present embodiment identifies the optimum price plan according to the predicted amount of usage of the virtual server that has already been constructed, and if the identified price plan differs from the current price plan, notifies users of changes in billing plans, etc. As a result, even users with fluctuations in actual usage, such as during busy periods and off-seasons, can change to the optimal billing plan according to the predicted amount of usage predicted from the actual actual usage. .

[Second embodiment]
The second embodiment is an example in which the number of virtual servers (the number of VM instances) is changed to adjust the construction plan appropriately according to the predicted usage. Since the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for some parts, the explanation of the same parts will be omitted as appropriate.

<Overall composition>
The overall configuration of the service environment construction system 1 according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that the optimal number of virtual servers is proposed according to the predicted amount of usage of user services. In addition, the environment construction device 10 notifies a proposal to change the number of virtual servers or notifies that the number of virtual servers has been changed, according to the predicted amount of usage of user services. In this manner, the environment construction apparatus 10 proposes a change to the optimum number of virtual servers or changes to the optimum number of virtual servers according to the predicted usage amount.

<Building virtual servers and changing the number of virtual servers>
Here, the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment builds the central server 210 and the device management server 220, which are virtual servers, in the infrastructure provision environment 200, and changes the number of virtual servers to the optimal number according to the predicted amount of usage. Alternatively, a case of proposing a change to the optimum number of virtual servers will be described with reference to FIG.

S1-1) When constructing a virtual server for using a user service, the terminal device 20 inputs the expected usage amount of the user service to the environment construction device 10 .

S1-2) The environment construction device 10 identifies the optimum number of virtual servers (minimum number of virtual servers required) based on the planned usage amount input from the terminal device 20, and determines the identified optimum virtual server is proposed to the terminal device 20 . As a result, the number of virtual servers that can provide a user service that satisfies the planned usage amount input by the user of the terminal device 20 and has the lowest fee is proposed to the user.

S1-3) The terminal device 20 inputs a provisioning instruction to the environment construction device 10 when constructing the number of virtual servers proposed by the environment construction device 10 .

S1-4) When the provisioning instruction is input from the terminal device 20, the environment construction device 10 transmits a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 published by the infrastructure provider. The environment construction device 10 can construct a virtual server in the infrastructure provision environment 200 by transmitting a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 . The provisioning request includes, for example, information such as the performance and the number of virtual servers according to the planned usage amount.

As described above, the environment construction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment proposes to the user the optimal number of virtual servers according to the planned usage amount input by the user of the terminal device 20 . Then, the environment building apparatus 10 according to this embodiment builds the proposed number of virtual servers according to the provisioning instruction input by the user of the terminal device 20 .

Therefore, the user of the terminal device 20 can construct the optimum number of virtual servers simply by inputting the expected amount of use without considering the performance and the number of virtual servers required to use the user service. become.

S2-1) Further, the environment construction device 10 acquires the actual usage amount of the user service by transmitting a request for acquiring the actual usage amount to the WebAPI 230, and stores the actual usage amount in the usage history table storing the past usage amount. Store.

S2-2) The environment construction device 10 predicts the future usage amount of the user service from the past usage record amount of the user service. The environment construction device 10 specifies the optimum number of virtual servers according to the predicted amount of usage of user services. Then, if the specified number of virtual servers differs from the current number of virtual servers (that is, if the current number of virtual servers is not optimal), the environment construction apparatus 10 changes the number of virtual servers and The terminal device 20 is notified that the number of servers has been changed. Alternatively, the environment construction device 10 notifies the terminal device 20 of a proposal to change the number of virtual servers. As a result, the user of the terminal device 20 is notified that the number of virtual servers has been changed to the optimum number according to the predicted amount of usage, or that the number of virtual servers has been changed to the optimum number. It should be noted that whether to notify that the number of virtual servers has been changed to the optimum number according to the predicted amount of use or to notify the proposal of changing the number of virtual servers to the optimum number depends, for example, on the discussion with the user. determined by contract between

As described above, the environment construction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment identifies the optimum number of virtual servers according to the calculated usage prediction amount, and when the identified number of virtual servers differs from the current billing plan, The user is notified of a proposal to change the number of servers. Therefore, the user of the terminal device 20 can change the number of virtual servers to the optimal number according to the predicted amount of use of the user service.

Therefore, according to the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, for example, even for a user whose actual usage amount fluctuates during busy periods and off-seasons, It becomes possible to change the number of virtual servers to the optimum number using

<Hardware configuration>
The hardware configurations of the environment construction device 10, the terminal device 20, and the device 30 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

<Functional configuration>
Next, the functional configuration of the environment construction device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the environment construction device 10 according to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 16, the environment construction apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the table stored in the storage unit 511. FIG. The storage unit 511 of the second embodiment stores a constructed information table 2000, a usage history table 3000, and a specification table 4000 per virtual server. Details of each of these tables will be described later.

The display control unit 502 causes the terminal device 20 to display various screens. The various screens include, for example, a screen for the user of the terminal device 20 to input the planned usage amount, a screen for proposing the optimum number of virtual servers to the user of the terminal device 20, and the like.

When the input receiving unit 501 receives the input of the planned usage amount, the construction plan specifying unit 506 refers to the spec table 4000 for each virtual server stored in the storage unit 511 and satisfies the planned usage amount. The minimum required number of virtual servers (optimal number of virtual servers corresponding to the planned usage amount) is specified.

Further, when the predicted usage amount is calculated by the predicted usage amount calculation unit 508, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the spec table 4000 per virtual server stored in the storage unit 511, and determines the predicted usage amount. Identify the optimal number of virtual servers according to volume.

The notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 of a proposal or change proposal for the number of virtual servers identified by the construction plan identification unit 506 . Alternatively, the notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 that the number of virtual servers specified by the construction plan specifying unit 506 has been changed.

<<Spec table 4000 per virtual server>>
Here, the specification table 4000 per virtual server stored in the storage unit 511 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a spec table for one virtual server. As shown in FIG. 17, the specification information per virtual server is stored in the specification table 4000 per virtual server. The spec information includes "CPU", "memory", "total data size", and "number of jobs" as data items.

In "CPU", the number of cores of the CPU that implements the virtual server is set. "Memory" is set with the capacity of the memory that implements the virtual server. The "total data size" is set with the total data size that can be used by the user on the virtual server. The "number of jobs" is set with the number of jobs that can be used by the user on the virtual server.

<<Constructed information table 2000>>
Here, the constructed information table 2000 stored in the storage unit 511 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the constructed information table 2000. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 18, the constructed information table 2000 stores one or more pieces of constructed information. Each piece of constructed information includes "user name", "virtual server", "number of virtual servers", "margin usage", and "automatic change flag" as data items.

A user name, which is an example of information identifying a user such as a company that uses or desires to use a user service, is set in the "user name" field. Information (for example, the name of the device management server 220, etc.) for identifying one or more virtual servers (the device management server 220, etc.) constructed by the customer is set in the “virtual server”. The number of virtual servers selected by the user is set in the "number of virtual servers". In the "margin usage amount", the usage amount of the user service that can be additionally used by one or more virtual servers constructed by the user is set. In the "automatic change flag", a flag is set to indicate whether or not to automatically permit a change to the optimum number of virtual servers in accordance with the expected amount of usage of the user.

Here, for example, when the "automatic update flag" is set to "permit automatic change", the number of virtual servers is automatically changed to the optimum number according to the predicted usage amount. In this case, the user's terminal device 20 is notified that the number of virtual servers has been changed to the optimum number according to the predicted usage amount. On the other hand, for example, when the "automatic update flag" is set to "not allow automatic change", the number of virtual servers is not automatically changed to the optimum number according to the predicted usage amount. In this case, the user's terminal device 20 is notified of a change proposal to the optimum number of virtual servers according to the predicted usage amount.

In this way, the constructed information table 2000 contains, for each user, information on the virtual server constructed by the user, the number of virtual servers selected by the user, and automatic change to the optimum number of virtual servers. It stores constructed information including a flag indicating whether or not.

<<Use record table 3000>>
Here, the usage record table 3000 stored in the storage unit 511 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a usage record table. As shown in FIG. 19, the usage record table 3000 stores one or more pieces of past usage record information. Each piece of usage record information includes data items such as "user name", "number of used virtual servers", "data size usage record", and "job number usage record".

A user name, which is an example of information identifying a user such as a company that uses or desires to use a user service, is set in the "user name" field. The number of virtual servers used by the user in that month and year is set in the "number of used virtual servers". The actual usage amount of the data size used by the user in that month and year is set in the "actual usage amount of data size". The actual usage amount of the number of jobs used by the user in the year and month is set in the "actual usage amount of the number of jobs".

In this manner, the usage record table 3000 stores the user's past usage record for each predetermined period such as every month.

<Details of processing>
Next, the details of the processing of the service environment building system 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

≪Environment construction processing≫
Hereinafter, processing (environment building processing) when building a service environment by the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 20 . FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of environment building processing according to this embodiment. Steps S301-S302 are the same as steps S101-S102 in FIG.

Next, the built-up determination unit 503 refers to the built-up information table 2000 in FIG. 18 and determines whether or not the company or the like to which the user of the terminal device 20 belongs has built a service environment (step S303). .

If it is determined in step S303 that the service environment has not been constructed, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the specification table 4000 for each virtual server, and determines the optimum number of virtual servers according to the planned usage amount. Identify (step S304).

As shown in FIG. 17, the specification information per virtual server is stored in the specification table 4000 per virtual server. The spec information includes "CPU", "memory", "total data size", and "number of jobs" as data items.

At this time, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the spec table 4000 for each virtual server, and determines the number of scheduled jobs and the total scheduled data size according to the scheduled usage amount (the number of scheduled jobs and the scheduled total data size). and specify the minimum number of virtual servers required.

For example, in the spec table 4000 per virtual server in FIG. number of units. Therefore, in this case, the construction plan specifying unit 506 specifies "5" as the number of virtual servers.

Return to FIG. Following step S304, the construction plan identification unit 506 calculates the surplus usage amount from the specification information per virtual server, the number of specified virtual servers, and the planned usage amount (step S305). Next, the display control unit 502 causes the terminal device 20 to display a virtual server number screen (step S306).

The number-of-virtual-servers screen is a screen that displays the number of virtual servers specified by the construction plan specifying unit 506 and the surplus usage amount. Thereby, the user of the terminal device 20 can know the optimum number of virtual servers for the user service of the planned usage amount input by the user himself/herself. In addition, the user of the terminal device 20 can also know the extra usage capacity that can be additionally used when a virtual server is constructed with this number of virtual servers.

The input reception unit 501 receives input of a provisioning instruction from the user of the terminal device 20 (step S307). The provisioning instruction received by the input receiving unit 501 includes the number of virtual servers.

Next, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 published by the infrastructure provider (step S308). At this time, the provisioning unit 509 transmits, for example, a provisioning request including information indicating the number of virtual servers. As a result, a virtual server corresponding to the price plan is constructed in the data center environment 240 of the infrastructure providing environment 200 .

Here, after the provisioning unit 509 builds a virtual server in the infrastructure providing environment 200, it is necessary to install a program necessary for realizing user services in the virtual server. For example, the provisioning unit 509 needs to install a program in the virtual server that causes the virtual server built in the infrastructure providing environment 200 to function as the device management server 220 . Therefore, after the virtual server is constructed, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a required program installation request to the virtual server.

Note that in step S308 above, a virtual server that functions as the device management server 220 is built, but in addition to this, the provisioning unit 509 also builds a virtual server that functions as the central server 210. FIG.

Next, when a virtual server (such as the device management server 220) is constructed by the provisioning request in step S308, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 creates constructed information about the constructed virtual server. Then, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 stores the created constructed information in the constructed information table 2000 (step S309). Here, at this time, the value of the automatic change flag included in the constructed information is determined by a contract with the user. That is, if a contract has been concluded with the user to the effect that automatic change of the number of virtual servers is permitted, the automatic change flag included in the constructed information is set to "automatic change permitted". On the other hand, if such a contract has not been concluded with the user, the automatic change flag included in the constructed information is set to "automatic change not permitted".

If it is determined in step S303 that the service environment has been constructed, the usability determination unit 504 determines whether or not the user service can be used in the constructed virtual server (step S310). Here, a user service can be used in a built virtual server when, for example, the planned usage amount is smaller than the surplus usage amount.

If it is determined in step S310 that the user service cannot be used in the constructed virtual server, the process of step S304 is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S310 that the user service is available on the virtual server that has already been constructed, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 updates the constructed information stored in the constructed information table 2000. (step S311). That is, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 identifies the constructed information including the user name among the constructed information stored in the constructed information table 2000 . Then, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 subtracts the planned usage amount from the surplus usage amount of the identified constructed information. As a result, the surplus usage amount of the corresponding constructed information is updated.

≪Notification processing for changing or proposing a change in the number of virtual servers≫
Hereinafter, a process in which the environment construction apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment changes the number of virtual servers or notifies a change proposal according to the predicted usage amount will be described with reference to FIG. 21 . FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing an example of notification processing for changing or proposing to change the number of virtual servers according to this embodiment.

The predicted usage amount calculation unit 508 calculates the predicted usage amount of the user with the corresponding user name at a predetermined timing (step S401). As for the predicted usage amount, the predicted future usage amount of the user is calculated from the past usage record amount stored in the usage record table 3000, as described above.

Next, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the spec table 4000 for each virtual server, as in step S304 of FIG. number of virtual servers is specified (step S402).

Next, the construction plan identification unit 506 calculates the surplus usage amount (gap from the current situation) from the identified number of virtual servers and the predicted usage amount (step S403). Here, the surplus usage amount is obtained by subtracting the predicted usage amount from the usage amount of the specified number of virtual servers.

Next, the construction plan identifying unit 506 refers to the constructed information table 2000 and determines whether the identified number of virtual servers is different from the current number of virtual servers (step S204).

If it is not determined in step S404 that the current number of virtual servers is different, the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S404 that the number of virtual servers is different from the current number, the construction plan identification unit 506 refers to the construction completion information table 2000 and sets the automatic change flag of the user with the corresponding user name to "Auto It is determined whether or not it is "permission of change" (step S405).

If it is determined in step S405 that the automatic change flag is "allow automatic change", the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request to the WebAPI 230 (step S406), as in step S308 of FIG. At this time, the provisioning unit 509 transmits a provisioning request including, for example, the relevant user name and information indicating the number of virtual servers specified in step S402 above. As a result, the number of virtual servers built in the data center environment 240 of the infrastructure providing environment 200 is changed to the number of virtual servers identified in step S402 above. In other words, the virtual server constructed in the data center environment 240 is reconstructed.

Next, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 updates the constructed information stored in the constructed information table 2000 (step S407). That is, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 identifies the constructed information including the user name among the constructed information stored in the constructed information table 2000 . Then, the constructed information creating/updating unit 505 updates the identified constructed information to the constructed information regarding the number of virtual servers identified in step S402. As a result, the corresponding constructed information is updated.

Next, the notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 that the number of virtual servers has been changed to the optimum number according to the predicted usage amount (step S408). As a result, the content of the virtual server number change mail G600 shown in FIG. 22 is displayed on the terminal device 20 by the display control unit 502, for example.

The virtual server number change mail G600 shown in FIG. 22 contains the current number of virtual servers (current number of instances and resources), predicted usage (predicted resources in the future), surplus usage (gap from the current situation), and post-change The number of virtual servers (the number of instances changed) and the number of virtual servers are included as contents.

In the example shown in FIG. 22, the current number of instances and resources are "1 unit (200G 2000Jobs)", the future predicted resources are "800G 10000Jobs", and the gap with the current situation is "600G shortage, 8000Job shortage". Therefore, the number of instances has been changed to "5 (1000G 10000Job)".

As a result, the user of the terminal device 20 can see that the number of virtual servers has been changed according to the predicted usage amount, the resources based on the current number of virtual servers, the resources based on the current number of virtual servers, and the estimated usage amount. and the resources based on the number of virtual servers after change.

If the automatic change flag is not determined to be "automatic change permitted" in step S405, the notification unit 510 notifies the terminal device 20 of a change proposal to the optimum number of virtual servers according to the predicted usage amount ( step S409). As a result, the display control unit 502 displays, for example, a virtual server number change proposal mail G700 shown in FIG.

The virtual server number change proposal mail G700 shown in FIG. 23 is a screen for proposing a change to the optimum number of virtual servers. The number of virtual servers change proposal screen G700 shown in FIG. The content includes the usage amount (gap from the current situation), the number of virtual servers to be changed (the number of instances to be proposed), and the URL link G740 of the site for changing the number of virtual servers.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, the current number of instances and resources are "1 unit (200G 2000Jobs)", the resources predicted in the future are "800G 10000Jobs", and the gap with the current situation is "600G shortage, 8000Job shortage". Therefore, it is proposed to change the number of instances to "5 (1000G 10000Job)". The example shown in FIG. 23 also includes a site URL link G740 for changing the number of virtual servers. The user can change the number of virtual servers from, for example, the UI screen G800 in FIG. 24, which is the link destination of the URL link G740. Specifically, the user inputs the number of virtual servers proposed to be changed by the mail in FIG.

Thereby, the user of the terminal device 20 can know the optimal number of virtual servers according to the predicted usage amount. Then, the user of the terminal device 20 can change the number of virtual servers to the optimum number from, for example, the UI screen G800 in FIG. 24, which is the link destination of the URL link G740. In this case, similarly to steps S406 and S407, provisioning is performed, and the constructed information is updated.

<Summary>
As described above, the environment building apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment identifies the optimum number of virtual servers according to the predicted utilization amount of the virtual servers that have already been constructed, and then sets the number of the identified virtual servers to the current virtual server. If it differs from the number of servers, the user is notified of the change in the number of virtual servers. As a result, even for users with fluctuations in the amount of usage, such as during busy periods and off-seasons, it is possible to change the number of virtual servers to the optimum number according to the predicted amount of usage predicted from the actual amount of usage. become.

The invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments above, but various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the claims.

1 service environment building system 10 environment building device 20 terminal device 30 device 220A to 220C device management server (virtual server)
501 Input reception unit 502 Display control unit 503 Built-up determination unit 504 Availability determination unit 505 Built-up information creation/update unit 506 Construction plan identification unit 507 Actual usage amount acquisition unit 508 Predicted usage amount calculation unit 509 Provisioning unit 510 Notification unit 511 Storage unit 1000 Price plan information table 2000 Completed information table 3000 Usage record table 4000 Spec table per virtual server

JP-A-2002-108589

Claims (8)

A price plan for a service that constructs a virtual server that can communicate with devices included in the customer environment via a network in an infrastructure providing environment, the number of jobs that can be processed by the virtual server during a predetermined period, and the period. a price plan in which at least one of the total data size that can be processed by the virtual server is associated with the usage amount of the resource available in the virtual server of the price plan and the fee to be paid by the user using the price plan. a storage unit that stores information;
a prediction unit that predicts the predicted value of the usage amount from the actual value of the usage amount of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment;
a specifying unit that specifies, from the price plan information stored in the storage unit, a configuration plan including the number of virtual servers and a price plan for the virtual servers according to the predicted value predicted by the prediction unit;
a determination unit that determines whether or not the construction plan identified by the identification unit is different from the construction plan of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment;
a notification unit that notifies a user associated with the customer environment of information related to the construction plan identified by the identification unit according to the determination result of the determination unit;
An information processing system characterized by having: The notification unit
When the determination unit determines that the construction plan identified by the identification unit is different from the construction plan of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment, the construction plan is changed to the construction plan identified by the identification unit. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the user is notified of information proposing to do so. When the determining unit determines that the construction plan identified by the identifying unit is different from the construction plan of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment, one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment has a construction unit that reconstructs the virtual server of according to the construction plan identified by the identification unit,
The notification unit
Information indicating that, when the construction unit reconstructs the one or more virtual servers, the construction plan of the one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment is changed to the construction plan specified by the identification unit. 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the user is notified of the. The identification unit
The number of the virtual servers and the price plan of the virtual server so that the total usage amount of the resources available to the virtual server is equal to or greater than the predicted value and the price indicated by the price plan is the lowest. 4. The information processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the construction plan is specified by determining the device is an image forming device,
The number of jobs is at least one of the number of print jobs for causing the device to execute the print function and the number of scan jobs including scan data generated by the execution of the scan function by the device. ,
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the total data size is at least one of a data size of print data to be processed by the print job and a data size of the scan data. Information processing system. A price plan for a service that constructs a virtual server that can communicate with devices included in the customer environment via a network in an infrastructure providing environment, the number of jobs that can be processed by the virtual server during a predetermined period, and the period. a price plan in which at least one of the total data size that can be processed by the virtual server is associated with the usage amount of the resource available in the virtual server of the price plan and the fee to be paid by the user using the price plan. a storage unit that stores information;
a prediction unit that predicts the predicted value of the usage amount from the actual value of the usage amount of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment;
a specifying unit that specifies, from the price plan information stored in the storage unit, a configuration plan including the number of virtual servers and a price plan for the virtual servers according to the predicted value predicted by the prediction unit;
a determination unit that determines whether or not the construction plan identified by the identification unit is different from the construction plan of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment;
a notification unit that notifies a user associated with the customer environment of information related to the construction plan identified by the identification unit according to the determination result of the determination unit;
An information processing device comprising: A price plan for a service that constructs a virtual server that can communicate with devices included in the customer environment via a network in an infrastructure providing environment, the number of jobs that can be processed by the virtual server during a predetermined period, and the period. a price plan in which at least one of the total data size that can be processed by the virtual server is associated with the usage amount of the resource available in the virtual server of the price plan and the fee to be paid by the user using the price plan. An information processing device having a storage unit for storing information,
a prediction procedure for predicting the predicted value of the usage amount from the actual value of the usage amount of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment;
a specifying step of specifying, from the price plan information stored in the storage unit, a construction plan including the number of virtual servers and a price plan for the virtual servers according to the predicted value predicted by the prediction step;
A determination procedure for determining whether or not the construction plan identified in the identification procedure is different from the construction plan for one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment;
a notification procedure for notifying a user associated with the customer environment of information related to the construction plan identified in the identification procedure according to the determination result in the determination procedure;
An information processing method characterized by executing A fee plan for a service that builds a virtual server that can communicate with devices included in the customer environment via a network in an infrastructure providing environment, the number of jobs that can be processed by the virtual server during a predetermined period, and the period. a price plan in which at least one of the total data size that can be processed by the virtual server is associated with the usage amount of the resource that can be used by the virtual server of the price plan and the fee to be paid by the user using the price plan. An information processing device having a storage unit for storing information,
a prediction procedure for predicting the predicted value of the usage amount from the actual value of the usage amount of one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure providing environment;
a specifying step of specifying, from the price plan information stored in the storage unit, a configuration plan including the number of virtual servers and a price plan for the virtual servers according to the predicted value predicted by the prediction step;
a determination procedure for determining whether or not the construction plan identified in the identification procedure is different from the construction plan for one or more virtual servers constructed in the infrastructure provision environment;
a notification procedure for notifying a user associated with the customer environment of information related to the construction plan identified in the identification procedure according to the determination result in the determination procedure;
A program characterized by causing the execution of

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