SELECTION OF VIRTUAL COMPUTING RESOURCES USING HARDWARE MODEL PRESENTATIONS
A user can configure and purchase virtual computing resources in much the same way buyers now configure and purchase physical computers. One embodiment allows a user to select various performance parameters that are commonly known and used by the average user of a personal computer. For example, a baseline computer system can be selected and then customized by choosing performance parameter such as a processor brand name, processor clock speed, random-access memory (RAM) capacity, hard disk drive capacity, etc. The performance parameters can then be used to configure virtual computing resources to achieve a virtual computer that substantially meets the performance parameters.
1 . A method for configuring virtual computing resources, the method comprising:
displaying multiple performance parameters for a standalone computer system, wherein a performance parameter includes a processor characteristic;
accepting a signal from a user input device to select one of the performance parameters;
configuring the virtual computing resources in order to achieve a virtual computer system designed to meet the processor characteristic of the selected performance parameter; and
providing the virtual computing resources to a user for use in achieving a function.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a performance parameter includes a clock speed.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a performance parameter includes a processor brand name.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a performance parameter includes multiple processor cores.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a performance parameter includes execution time of a benchmark test.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a computer description includes a number of operations per unit interval.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying resource parameters for one or more of the virtual computing resources, wherein a resource parameter includes one or more of (1) memory size, (2) hard disk drive capacity, (3) bus speed, (4) graphics acceleration.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
charging a user based on the configured virtual computing resources.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
charging the user based on the time duration for which the configured virtual computing resources are made available to the user.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a price in association with each of the multiple computer descriptions; and
charging a user an amount in correspondence with the price associated with the selected computer description.
11 . A method for configuring virtual computing resources, the method comprising:
displaying multiple standalone computer performance parameters for selection by a user;
accepting a signal from a user input device to select two or more of the performance parameters;
configuring the virtual computing resources in order to achieve a virtual computer system designed to meet the selected performance parameters; and
providing the configured virtual computing resources to a user for use in achieving a function.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a performance parameter includes processor performance.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a performance parameter includes storage capacity.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a performance parameter includes transmission speed.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
displaying a purchase price for use of configured virtual computing resources that are designed to meet the performance of a standalone computer having the selected performance parameters.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
charging for the configured virtual computing resources in accordance with the displayed purchase price.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the charging is based on one or more of the following: a one-time payment, a payment over time, use of the configured virtual computing resources over time, use of the configured virtual computing resources per task.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
accepting a signal from a user input device to select an application;
automatically selecting virtual computing resources in order to optimize execution of the selected application by using the selected virtual computing resources.
19 . An apparatus for configuring virtual computing resources, the apparatus comprising:
a processor;
a processor-readable storage device including instructions executable by the processor for:
displaying multiple standalone computer performance parameters for selection by a user;
accepting a signal from a user input device to select two or more of the performance parameters;
configuring the virtual computing resources in order to achieve a virtual computer system designed to meet the selected performance parameters; and
providing the configured virtual computing resources to a user for use in achieving a function.
20 . A processor-readable storage device including one or more instructions executable by a processor for:
displaying multiple standalone computer performance parameters for selection by a user;
accepting a signal from a user input device to select two or more of the performance parameters;
configuring the virtual computing resources in order to achieve a virtual computer system designed to meet the selected performance parameters; and
providing the configured virtual computing resources to a user for use in achieving a function.