US Patent 9985848 Notification based pricing of excess cloud capacity

Methods and apparatus for notification-based pricing of excess cloud capacity are disclosed. A system includes a resource manager and a plurality of resource instances, each of which has an interruptibility setting. In response to a first acquisition request, the resource manager allocates a first instance with a first interruptibility setting to a first client, allowing the resource manager to revoke the first client's access to the first instance without a notification. In response to an approval of a second acquisition request, the resource manager allocates a second instance with a second interruptibility setting to a second client, allowing the client to retain access to the instance for a delay interval after the second client receives an access revocation notification. Respective billing amounts for the clients' use of the instances are determined based on the interruptibility settings used.