Global network computers

• US 20020059392A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis III
• Original Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis III
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton E. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/76 Architectures of general purpose stored program computers with program plugboard G06F15/08; multicomputers G06F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. More particularly, this invention relates to one or more large networks composed of smaller networks and large numbers of computers connected, like the Internet, wherein more than one separate parallel processing operation involving more than one different set of computers occurs simultaneously and wherein ongoing processing linkages can be established between virtually any microprocessors of separate computers connected to the network. Still more particularly, this invention relates to business arrangements enabling the shared used of network microprocessors for parallel and other processing, wherein personal computer owners provide microprocessor processing power to a network, preferably for parallel processing, in exchange for network linkage to other personal and other computers supplied by network providers, including linkage to other microprocessors for parallel or other processing; the basis of the exchange between owners and providers being whatever terms to which the parties agree, subject to governing laws, regulations, or rules, including payment from either party to the other based on periodic measurement of net use or provision of processing power.

Claims

1. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers;

means for providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two personal computers within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

means for said at least two personal computers to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation, wherein

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

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

means for said master personal computer to subdivide said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

5. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers;

means for providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two personal computers within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

a monitor, constructed and arranged to monitor on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers;

means for maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to a personal user;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

means for said at least two personal computers to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation;

at least one of said computers including at least two microprocessors and having a connection with said network of computers;

a firewall for said at least two personal computers to limit access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said at least two personal computers, wherein;

said firewall will not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors, which include means for functioning as a master microprocessor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other microprocessor, including means for functioning as a slave microprocessor,

said firewall permitting access by said network to said slave microprocessor, and

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for said master personal computer to subdivide said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

9. A system for a network of at least two processors, comprising:

said at least two processors;

means for providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two processors within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two processors, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

means for at least one of said at least two processors, when directed, to function temporarily as a master processor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two processors in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two processors, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave processor to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master processor; and

means for said at least two processors to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation, wherein

each of said at least one slave processor consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave processor at a lower processing level.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for said master personal computer to subdivide said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein each of said at least two processors includes a corresponding memory.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein each of said corresponding memories is one of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for said master personal computer to subdivide said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein said firewall is implemented by non-configurable hardware at a microchip level.

15. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers comprises a PC microprocessor with a slave microprocessor;

means for providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two personal computers within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

a monitor, constructed and arranged to monitor on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers;

means for maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to a personal user;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

means for said at least two personal computers to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation;

a firewall for said at least two personal computers to limit access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said at least two personal computers, wherein;

said firewall will not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors, which include means for functioning as a master microprocessor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other microprocessor, including means for functioning as a slave microprocessor,

said firewall permitting access by said network to said slave microprocessor, and

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

20. A system for a network of at least two processors, comprising:

said at least two processors;

means for providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two processors within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two processors, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

means for at least one of said at least two processors, when directed, to function temporarily as a master processor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two processors in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two processors, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave processor to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master processor; and

means for said at least two processors to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation, wherein

at least one of said at least two processors is located within an automobile and is connected to said network.

21. A method comprising:

providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to at least two personal computers within a network;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

making said at least one other of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

alternating said at least two personal computers, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation, wherein

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

said master personal computer subdividing said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

said master personal computer subdividing said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising:

said master personal computer subdividing said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein each of said at least two processors includes a corresponding memory.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein each of said corresponding memories is one of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

said master personal computer subdividing said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is a microprocessor.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein said microprocessor is on a single chip.

39. The method according to claim 35, wherein said limiting is performed by non-configurable hardware at a microchip level.

25. A method comprising:

providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to at least two personal computers within a network;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

monitoring, on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers;

maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to a personal user;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

making said at least one other of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to function as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

alternating said at least two personal computers, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation;

limiting access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said at least two personal computers, wherein;

said limiting will not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors,

said limiting permitting access by said network to at least one other of said microprocessors, and

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

29. A method comprising:

providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to at least two processors within a network;

making at least one of said at least two processors available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

making at least one of said at least two processors available, when directed, to function temporarily as a master processor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two processors in said network;

making said at least one other of said at least two processors available, when idled, to function temporarily as at least one slave processor to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master processor; and

alternating said at least two processors, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation, wherein

each of said at least one slave processor consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave processor at a lower processing level.

35. A method comprising:

providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to at least two personal computers within a network, at least one of said at least two personal computers comprising a PC microprocessor with a slave microprocessor;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

monitoring, on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers;

maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to a personal user;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

making said at least one other of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

alternating said at least two personal computers, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation;

limiting access to said at least two personal computers by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said at least two personal computers, wherein;

said limiting will not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors,

said limiting permitting access by said network to said slave microprocessor, and

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

40. A method comprising:

providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to at least two processors within a network;

making at least one of said at least two processors available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

making at least one of said at least two processors available, when directed, to function temporarily as a master processor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two processors in said network;

making said at least one other of said at least two processors available, when idled, to function temporarily as at least one slave processor to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master processor; and

alternating said at least two processors, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation, wherein

at least one of said at least two processors is located within an automobile and is connected to said network.