Offline Optimization of Computer Software
An offline optimization for computer software may involve creating optimized parameters or components for a software product, and charging customers for the optimization service. The software product may be distributed under one licensing regime and the optimization components may be distributed under a second licensing regime. In some embodiments, a low cost or no-cost monitoring system may be provided, which may interface with a remote service that optimizes the software product for its current workload. A user may pay for the remote optimization service through a subscription, pay-per-use, pay-for-performance, or other payment models.
1 . A method of doing business, said method comprising:
distributing a first executable code that executes on a computer processor;
said first executable code comprising a baseline configuration and executing at a baseline functional level;
receiving a set of monitored parameters from said first executable code;
generating an optimization component for said first executable code, said optimization component being created on a server computer remote from said computer processor; and
transmitting said optimization component to said computer processor;
said executable code being distributed at no cost;
said optimization component being distributed at a first cost.
2 . The method of claim 1 , said first executable code being an execution engine that executes an application, said application being supplied by a third party.
3 . The method of claim 2 , said execution engine being a process virtual machine.
4 . The method of claim 2 , said execution engine being an operating system.
5 . The method of claim 1 , said first executable code being an application executing within an execution engine, said execution engine being supplied by a third party.
6 . The method of claim 2 , said first executable code having a monitoring system that gathers said set of monitored parameters and transmits said set of monitored parameters to said server computer.
7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising:
determining an optimized functional level for said first executable code executing with said optimization component;
determining a functional improvement between said baseline functional level and said optimized functional level; and
determining said first cost based on said functional improvement.
8 . The method of claim 7 , said functional improvement being a performance improvement.
9 . The method of claim 8 , said performance improvement being expressed in a percentage improvement over said baseline functional level.
10 . The method of claim 6 , said first cost being determined on a pay per use basis.
11 . The method of claim 10 , said pay per use basis being paid prior to said use of said server.
12 . The method of claim 11 , said first cost being determined by a number of uses of said server.
13 . The method of claim 6 , said first cost being determined at least in part by a size of said set of monitored parameters.
14 . The method of claim 13 :
said first cost being determined by a cost schedule, said cost schedule having said first cost for a first group of said monitored parameters and a second cost for a second group of said monitored parameters;
said method further comprising:
determining that said monitored parameters is within said first group of said monitored parameters.
15 . The method of claim 14 , said method further comprising:
determining that said monitored parameters is not contained within said second group of said monitored parameters.
16 . A business method comprising:
transmitting a first executable code to a user for no cost, said first executable code comprising a baseline configuration and executing at a baseline functional level;
charging said user a first cost for performing an optimization for said executable code at a first cost, said optimization being performed by an optimization method comprising:
receiving a set of monitored parameters from said user;
generating an optimization component; and
transmitting said optimization component.
17 . The method of claim 16 , said user being granted a license to said first executable code.
18 . The method of claim 17 , said license being a commercial open source license.
19 . The method of claim 16 , said commercial open source license comprising patent licenses.
20 . The method of claim 19 , said optimization component having a proprietary license granted to said user.