Monitoring of computer-related resources and associated methods and systems for disbursing compensation
First Claim
1. A method of measuring the extent of resources or benefit provided by a second user to a first user in a distributed network, said method comprising the steps of:
- associating a first trusted entity with the first user;
associating a second trusted entity with the second user;
receiving, from the first trusted entity, information about an intended resource use;
providing a ticket, from a server to the first trusted entity, wherein said ticket includes at least portion of said information;
transmitting said ticket from the first trusted entity to the second trusted entity;
having the second trusted entity modify the ticket;
transmitting said modified ticket to the first trusted entity;
having the first trusted entity send the ticket to the server; and
utilizing said ticket and said modified ticket to determine the extent of benefit or resources provided by the second user to the first user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for monitoring resource usage in an architecture where neither the resource buyer nor the resource seller can be trusted, and for rewarding benefits, compensation, or rewards based upon such monitored resource usage data. The system rewards users who offer to share the memory, storage, or bandwidth of their computing resource to third parties within a distributed network. In an exemplary embodiment, users share processing, storage, bandwidth or memory resources with third parties by permitting such third parties to access files-stored in the memory of the users'"'"' computing devices. Users that offer files for upload are encouraged to register with a central authority, and receive value each time a third party accesses a resource from their computing devices. The value awarded to each such user is tracked by the central authority. They can use the value in exchange for products or services.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of measuring the extent of resources or benefit provided by a second user to a first user in a distributed network, said method comprising the steps of:
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associating a first trusted entity with the first user;
associating a second trusted entity with the second user;
receiving, from the first trusted entity, information about an intended resource use;
providing a ticket, from a server to the first trusted entity, wherein said ticket includes at least portion of said information;
transmitting said ticket from the first trusted entity to the second trusted entity;
having the second trusted entity modify the ticket;
transmitting said modified ticket to the first trusted entity;
having the first trusted entity send the ticket to the server; and
utilizing said ticket and said modified ticket to determine the extent of benefit or resources provided by the second user to the first user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A resource usage module capable of operating as a trusted entity in data communication with a computing device comprising a receipt request generator, receipt generator module, and receipt validation module.
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18. An event record for monitoring an extent of resources provided by a second user to a first user in a distributed network comprising a plurality of tickets wherein each of said tickets comprises at least one of a randomly generated number field, a computing device identifier field, a date field and a time field, and a signature field and wherein each of said tickets contains information about the extent of resources provided by the second user to the first user or a value field.
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19. A system for measuring the extent of resources provided by a second user to a first user in a distributed network, comprising:
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a first trusted entity in data communication with a computing device used by a first user;
a second trusted entity in data communication with a computing device used by a second user;
a server in data communication with each of said first and second trusted entities wherein said server is capable of generating a ticket comprising at least one of a randomly generated number field, a computing device identifier field, a date field and a time field, a value field, and a signature field.
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20. A method of awarding compensation to a second user based upon the extent of resources provided by said second user, operating a second computing device in data communication with a second trusted entity, to a first user, operating a first computing device in data communication with a first trusted entity, in a distributed network, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from the first trusted entity, information about an intended resource use;
providing a ticket, from a server to the first trusted entity, wherein said ticket includes at least portion of said information;
transmitting said ticket from the first trusted entity to the second trusted entity;
having the second trusted entity modify the ticket;
transmitting said modified ticket to the first trusted entity;
utilizing said modified ticket to determine the extent of resources provided by the second user to the first user; and
allocating value to said second user based upon said determination of the extent of resources provided by the second user. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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32. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of having the first trusted entity validate said signed ticket.
Specification