Granted Patent B2

US 12,749,032 · App. 18/639,766 · Granted Sep 29, 2026

Inventors: Rohit Shetty (Cary, NC); Sandeep Andre (Seattle, WA); Sibashis Chatterjee (Hyderabad, IN)

Assignee: Oracle International Corporation

G06Q10/06312G06Q10/06313G06Q20/22G06Q30/0201H04L63/102

Abstract

Claims (104)

1 . A method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of usage rates corresponding respectively to a plurality of cloud computing services, wherein values for the plurality of usage rates are modifiable over time;

generating a first set of rate cards that respectively indicate a first set of values for a corresponding first set of usage rates of the plurality of usage rates;

storing the first set of rate cards in a mutable data structure, wherein the mutable data structure is modified responsive to determining that a change has occurred in a value of at least one of the first set of usage rates;

generating a second set of rates cards that respectively indicate a second set of values for a corresponding second set of usage rates of the plurality of usage rates;

storing the second set of rate cards in a semi-immutable data structure, wherein the semi-immutable data structure is not modified responsive to determining that a change has occurred in a value of any of the second set of usage rates;

storing an association between the mutable data structure and a first plurality of affiliations in a first one-to-many relationship;

storing an association between the semi-immutable data structure and a second plurality of affiliations in a second one-to-many relationship;

executing a first memory read operation to obtain a first usage rate value in the mutable data structure to determine a respective first set of applicable values for service usage, corresponding to a first rate card in the first set of rate cards, by two or more of the first plurality of affiliations of the plurality of cloud computing services; and

executing a second memory read operation to obtain a second usage rate value in the semi-immutable data structure to determine a respective second set of applicable values for service usage, corresponding to a second rate card in the second set of rate cards, by two or more of the second plurality of affiliations of the plurality of cloud computing services;

wherein the method is performed by at least one device including a hardware processor.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an updated value or change of a first one of the first set of usage rates; and

modifying the mutable data structure to add an updated usage rate corresponding to the first one of the first set of usage rates, wherein the updated usage rate in the modified mutable data structure references the updated value.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an updated value or change of a first one of the second set of usage rates; and

generating a new semi-immutable data structure that comprises the semi-immutable data structure with an addition of an updated usage rate corresponding to the first one of the second set of usage rates, wherein the updated usage rate in the new semi-immutable data structure references the updated value.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a new usage rate for a new cloud computing service not included in the plurality of cloud computing services;

modifying the mutable data structure to add the new usage rate corresponding to usage of the new cloud computing service, wherein the new usage rate in the modified mutable data structure references a value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service;

generating a new semi-immutable data structure that comprises the semi-immutable data structure At Contract Price (ACP) rate card with an addition of the new usage rate corresponding to usage of the new cloud computing service, wherein the new usage rate in the new semi-immutable data structure references the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service;

referencing the modified mutable data structure to determine the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service for service usage associated with use by the first plurality of affiliations of the new cloud computing service; and

referencing the semi-immutable data structure to determine the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service for service usage associated with use by the first plurality of affiliations of the new cloud computing service.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a new affiliation or subscription relating to one of the plurality of cloud computing services;

determining whether a value of a usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprises one or more of the values of the first or second sets of usage rates; and one of:

associating the new affiliation with the mutable data structure based on the value of the usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprising one or more of the first set of usage rates; or

associating the new affiliation with the semi-immutable data structure based on the usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprising one or more of the second set of usage rates.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that a first affiliation or subscription of the first plurality of affiliations is associated with the mutable data structure based on a first subscription characteristic or operator realm associated with the service usage of the first affiliation relative to the plurality of cloud computing services deployed in a cloud computing infrastructure; and

determining that a second affiliation or subscription of the second plurality of affiliations is associated with the semi-immutable data structure based on a second subscription characteristic of the second affiliation relative to the plurality of cloud computing services deployed in a cloud computing infrastructure.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a new affiliation relating to one of the plurality of cloud computing services;

determining whether a value of a usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprises one or more of the first or second sets of usage rates; and

generating a new semi-immutable data structure based on the determined usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services to be neither of the first or second sets of usage rates.

8 . A system, comprising:

one or more computers comprising one or more microprocessors;

a cloud environment running on the one or more computers;

a plurality of services deployed within one or more realms of the cloud environment; and

a rate card service operable in a realm of the cloud environment controlled by a cloud infrastructure provider, the rate card service being operable to:

identify a plurality of usage rates corresponding respectively to a plurality of cloud computing services, wherein values for the plurality of usage rates are modifiable over time;

generate a first set of rate cards that respectively indicate a first set of values for a corresponding first set of usage rates of the plurality of usage rates;

store the first set of rate cards in a mutable data structure, wherein the mutable data structure is modified responsive to determining that a change has occurred in a value of at least one of the first set of usage rates;

generate a second set of rates cards that respectively indicate a second set of values for a corresponding second set of usage rates of the plurality of usage rates;

store the second set of rate cards in a semi-immutable data structure, wherein the semi-immutable data structure is not modified responsive to determining that a change has occurred in a value of any of the second set of usage rates;

store an association between the mutable data structure and a first plurality of affiliations in a first one-to-many relationship;

store an association between the semi-immutable data structure and a second plurality of affiliations in a second one-to-many relationship;

execute a first memory read operation to obtain a first usage rate value in the mutable data structure to determine a respective first set of applicable values for service usage, corresponding to a first rate card in the first set of rate cards, by two or more of the first plurality of affiliations of the plurality of cloud computing services; and

execute a second memory read operation to obtain a second usage rate value in the semi-immutable data structure to determine a respective second set of applicable values for service usage, corresponding to a second rate card in the second set of rate cards, by two or more of the second plurality of affiliations of the plurality of cloud computing services.

9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the rate card service is further operable to:

identify an updated value or change of a first one of the first set of usage rates; and

modify the mutable data structure to add an updated usage rate corresponding to the first one of the first set of usage rates, wherein the updated usage rate in the modified mutable data structure references the updated value.

10 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the rate card service is further operable to:

identify an updated value for an expired value of a first one of the second set of usage rates; and

generate a new semi-immutable data structure that comprises the semi-immutable data structure with an addition of an updated usage rate corresponding to the first one of the second set of usage rates, wherein the updated usage rate in the new semi-immutable data structure references the updated value.

11 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the rate card service is further operable to:

identify a new usage rate for a new cloud computing service not included in the plurality of cloud computing services;

modify the mutable data structure to add the new usage rate corresponding to usage of the new cloud computing service, wherein the new usage rate in the modified mutable data structure references a value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service;

generate a new semi-immutable data structure that comprises the semi-immutable data structure At Contract Price (ACP) rate card with an addition of the new usage rate corresponding to usage of the new cloud computing service, wherein the new usage rate in the new semi-immutable data structure references the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service;

reference the modified mutable data structure to determine the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service for service usage associated with use by the first plurality of affiliations of the new cloud computing service; and

reference the semi-immutable data structure to determine the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service for service usage associated with use by the first plurality of affiliations of the new cloud computing service.

12 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the rate card service is further operable to:

receive a new affiliation or subscription relating to one of the plurality of cloud computing services;

determine whether a value of a usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprises one or more of the values of the first or second sets of usage rates; and one of:

associate the new affiliation with the mutable data structure based on the value of the usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprising one or more of the first set of usage rates; or

associate the new affiliation with the semi-immutable data structure based on the usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprising one or more of the second set of usage rates.

13 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the rate card service is further operable to:

determine that a first affiliation of the first plurality of affiliations is associated with the mutable data structure based on a first subscription characteristic of the first affiliation relative to the plurality of cloud computing services deployed in a cloud computing infrastructure; and

determining that a second affiliation of the second plurality of affiliations is associated with the semi-immutable data structure based on a second subscription characteristic of the second affiliation relative to the plurality of cloud computing services deployed in a cloud computing infrastructure.

14 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein the rate card service is further operable to:

receive a new affiliation relating to one of the plurality of cloud computing services;

determine whether a value of a usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprises one or more of the first or second sets of usage rates; and

generate a new semi-immutable data structure based on the determined usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services to be neither of the first or second sets of usage rates.

15 . One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more hardware processors, cause performance of operations comprising:

identifying a plurality of usage rates corresponding respectively to a plurality of cloud computing services, wherein values for the plurality of usage rates are modifiable over time;

generating a first set of rate cards that respectively indicate a first set of values for a corresponding first set of usage rates of the plurality of usage rates;

storing the first set of rate cards in a mutable data structure, wherein the mutable data structure is modified responsive to determining that a change has occurred in a value of at least one of the first set of usage rates;

generating a second set of rates cards that respectively indicate a second set of values for a corresponding second set of usage rates of the plurality of usage rates;

storing the second set of rate cards in a semi-immutable data structure, wherein the semi-immutable data structure is not modified responsive to determining that a change has occurred in a value of any of the second set of usage rates;

storing an association between the mutable data structure and a first plurality of affiliations in a first one-to-many relationship;

storing an association between the semi-immutable data structure and a second plurality of affiliations in a second one-to-many relationship;

executing a first memory read operation to obtain a first usage rate value in the mutable data structure to determine a respective first set of applicable values for service usage, corresponding to a first rate card in the first set of rate cards, by two or more of the first plurality of affiliations of the plurality of cloud computing services; and

executing a second memory read operation to obtain a second usage rate value in the semi-immutable data structure to determine a respective second set of applicable values for service usage, corresponding to a second rate card in the second set of rate cards, by two or more of the second plurality of affiliations of the plurality of cloud computing services.

16 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

identifying an updated value or change of a first one of the first set of usage rates; and

modifying the mutable data structure to add an updated usage rate corresponding to the first one of the first set of usage rates, wherein the updated usage rate in the modified mutable data structure references the updated value.

17 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

identifying an updated value or change of a first one of the second set of usage rates; and

generating a new semi-immutable data structure that comprises the semi-immutable data structure with an addition of an updated usage rate corresponding to the first one of the second set of usage rates, wherein the updated usage rate in the new semi-immutable data structure references the updated value.

18 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

identifying a new usage rate for a new cloud computing service not included in the plurality of cloud computing services;

modifying the mutable data structure to add the new usage rate corresponding to usage of the new cloud computing service, wherein the new usage rate in the modified mutable data structure references a value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service;

generating a new semi-immutable data structure that comprises the semi-immutable data structure At Contract Price (ACP) rate card with an addition of the new usage rate corresponding to usage of the new cloud computing service, wherein the new usage rate in the new semi-immutable data structure references the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service;

referencing the modified mutable data structure to determine the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service for service usage associated with use by the first plurality of affiliations of the new cloud computing service; and

referencing the semi-immutable data structure to determine the value of the new usage rate for the new cloud computing service for service usage associated with use by the first plurality of affiliations of the new cloud computing service.

19 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

receiving a new affiliation or subscription relating to one of the plurality of cloud computing services;

determining whether a value of a usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprises one or more of the values of the first or second sets of usage rates; and one of:

associating the new affiliation with the mutable data structure based on the value of the usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprising one or more of the first set of usage rates; or

associating the new affiliation with the semi-immutable data structure based on the usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprising one or more of the second set of usage rates.

20 . The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:

receiving a new affiliation relating to one of the plurality of cloud computing services;

determining whether a value of a usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services comprises one or more of the first or second sets of usage rates; and

generating a new semi-immutable data structure based on the determined usage rate for access by the new affiliation to the one of the plurality of cloud computing services to be neither of the first or second sets of usage rates.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)