The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2005
Akemi Sanada, Chigasaki, JP;
Hideo Tabuchi, Odawara, JP;
Toshio Nakano, Chigasaki, JP;
Sajio Ishizuki, Odawara, JP;
Isamu Kage, Yokohama, JP;
Akemi Sanada, Chigasaki, JP;
Hideo Tabuchi, Odawara, JP;
Toshio Nakano, Chigasaki, JP;
Sajio Ishizuki, Odawara, JP;
Isamu Kage, Yokohama, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Reduction of the initial investment cost of a user of a storage system can be realized, and the user of the storage system can easily perform timely addition for a short time. In a preferred embodiment, a method for renting and charging the storage system includes the steps of: reading a used volume from a use management table held in the storage system; and sending the read used volume from the storage system to a charging system. Preferably, the storage system has means for allowing an owner to grasp that a user starts using the storage system, wherein the owner rents to the user a storage system having a disk volume, a cache volume, and other components more than the user's increase intension, charges for a used volume of the user for a fixed period, and reviews the added volume and the charged cost on the fixed period basis.