METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING THE USE OF A COMPUTER SYSTEM RESOURCE USING A RESOURCE PLANNER AND A RESOURCE PROVIDER

A method and system for scheduling the use of a computer system resource using a resource planner and a resource provider are provided. In a preferred embodiment, a resource is scheduled for use by a plurality of consumer entities. Each consumer entity may request the commitment of a share of the resource. The method and system use representations of resource usage policy, present commitments of shares of the resource, and present commitments of specified amounts of the resource over a specified period of time. The method and system first receive a request from a consumer entity for the commitment of a specified share of the resource. In response, the method and system determine whether the specified share of the resource should be committed to the requesting consumer entity. This determination is based on the representations of resource usage policy and present commitments of shares of the resource. If it is determined that the specified share of the resource should be committed to the requesting consumer entity, then the method and system modify the representation of present commitments of shares of the resource to commit the specified share of the resource to the requesting consumer entity. The method and system then schedule the use of the resource by the plurality of consumer entities based on the modified representation of present commitments of shares of the resource.