Computer system, method, and business method for enabling customer access to computer system performance data in exchange for allowing access to the performance data by another computer system

摘要

An apparatus, method, and business method allow a customer to access performance data only if transmission of the performance data to the vendor is enabled. In a first embodiment, the customer cannot access any performance data unless transmission of the performance data to the vendor is enabled. In a second embodiment, the customer can access some limited performance data, but cannot access more extensive performance data unless transmission of the performance data to the vendor is enabled. The preferred embodiments provide the capability of a customer accessing historical performance data in exchange for the customer transmitting the performance data to the vendor. In this manner the needs of both vendor and customer are satisfied.