Marketing using distributed computing

• US 20050216560A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Potkonen, Ari, Mononen, Jari, Pohja, Seppo
• Application Number:
  US10/811,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

A commercial activity can be marketed using distributed computing. Processor-executable code is sent to a plurality of users. The users are requested to run the processor-executable code on network-coupled computing arrangements accessible by the users. A distributed computing task is performed on each of the computing arrangements by running the processor-executable code on the computing arrangements. The distributed computing tasks work in concert to solve a computational problem. As a result of the distributed computing task, a user-perceivable experience is provided via the computing arrangements. The user-perceivable experience is configured for purposes of marketing the commercial activity.

Claims

1. A method of marketing a commercial activity, comprising:

sending processor-executable code to a plurality of users;

requesting that the users run the processor-executable code on network-coupled computing arrangements accessible by the users;

running the processor-executable code on each of the computing arrangements to perform distributed computing tasks on the computing arrangement, the distributed computing tasks working in concert to solve a computational problem; and

providing, as a result of the distributed computing task, a user-perceivable experience via the computing arrangements, the user-perceivable experience configured for purposes of marketing the commercial activity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computational problem comprises a processor-implemented creation of a product related to the commercial activity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computational problem comprises rendering of video.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user-perceivable experience comprises displaying of rendered frames on the computing arrangements.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the commercial activity comprises creation of a motion picture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more of the computing arrangements perform the distributed computing tasks in a peer-to-peer arrangement.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing arrangements perform the distributed computing tasks in coordination with a centralized server arrangement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the distributed computing tasks include gathering input from the users of the computing arrangements.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the distributed computing tasks include storing data on the computing arrangements.

10. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computing arrangement coupled to one or more computing entities via a network for performing steps comprising:

performing a distributed computing task on a processor of the computing arrangement, the distributed computing task performed in concert with the one or more computing entities to solve a computational problem;

providing, as a result of the distributed computing task, a user-perceivable experience via an output of the computer arrangement, the user-perceivable experience configured for purposes of promoting a commercial marketing activity.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computational problem comprises a processor-implemented creation of a product related to the commercial marketing activity.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the computing arrangement is coupled to one or more of the computing entities in a peer-to-peer arrangement to perform the distributed computing task.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the distributed computing task is performed in coordination with a centralized server arrangement.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the distributed computing task includes gathering input from the user of the computing arrangement.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the distributed computing task comprises storing data on the computing arrangement.

16. A system comprising:

a plurality of network-coupled computing arrangements, each computing arrangement including a processor coupled to a memory, the memory containing instructions configured to cause the processor to,

perform a distributed computing task on each computing arrangement, the distributed computing task operating in concert with other computing arrangements of the plurality of computing arrangements to solve a computational problem; and

initiate a user-perceivable experience on each computing arrangement as a result of the distributed computing task, wherein the user-perceivable experience is related to a commercial marketing activity.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the computational problem comprises a processor-implemented creation of a product related to the commercial marketing activity.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein two or more of the computing arrangements are coupled in a peer-to-peer arrangement to perform the distributed computing task.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising a network-coupled centralized server arrangement, wherein the computing arrangements perform the distributed computing task in coordination with the centralized server arrangement.

20. A computing arrangement coupled to one or more computing entities via a network, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory and a user interface, the memory containing instructions configured to cause the processor to,

perform a distributed computing task operating in concert with other computing arrangements of the plurality of computing arrangements to solve a computational problem; and

initiate a user-perceivable experience on the user interface of the computing arrangement as a result of the distributed computing task, wherein the user-perceivable experience is related to a commercial marketing activity.

21. The computing arrangement of claim 20, wherein the computational problem comprises a processor-implemented creation of a product related to the commercial marketing activity.

22. The computing arrangement of claim 20, wherein the computing arrangement is coupled to one or more of the computing entities in a peer-to-peer arrangement to perform the distributed computing task.

23. The computing arrangement of claim 20, wherein the computing arrangement performs the distributed computing task in coordination with a centralized server arrangement.

24. The computing arrangement of claim 20, wherein the computing arrangement comprises a mobile terminal.

25. A system for marketing a commercial activity, comprising:

means for sending processor-executable code to a plurality of users;

means for requesting that the users run the processor-executable code on network-coupled computing arrangements accessible by the users;

means for performing a distributed computing task on each of the computing arrangements by running the processor-executable code on the computing arrangements, the distributed computing tasks working in concert to solve a computational problem; and

means for providing, as a result of the distributed computing task, a user-perceivable experience via the computing arrangements, the user-perceivable experience configured for purposes of marketing the commercial activity