Sharing Data Processing Resources
First Claim
1. A computer processing device having the capability to access services installed on co-operating devices, and the capability to retrieve data to allow installation of such services for its own use and for the use of co-operating devices, comprising means for identifying the current extent of provision of one or more services, further comprising means identifying whether an underprovision condition exists for a service required by the device and means for retrieving data for installing, on the device, one or more services for which such an underprovision condition is identified, and means to allow access by co-operating devices to the services stored thereon in response to a request from such a co-operating device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A group of computer processing devices are arranged to co-operate to host services for use by each other. Each device stores information relating to the devices known to have such services installed (38). When one of the devices requires a service that it does not already have installed, it transmits a request (32, 35) for the required service. If a neighbouring device is able to provide the service, it responds accordingly (33, 34, 36, 37) and supplies the requested service (391). If a device is unable to identify sufficient suitable neighbouring host devices it may install the service itself (392) when an opportunity to do so is identified.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A computer processing device having the capability to access services installed on co-operating devices, and the capability to retrieve data to allow installation of such services for its own use and for the use of co-operating devices, comprising means for identifying the current extent of provision of one or more services, further comprising means identifying whether an underprovision condition exists for a service required by the device and means for retrieving data for installing, on the device, one or more services for which such an underprovision condition is identified, and means to allow access by co-operating devices to the services stored thereon in response to a request from such a co-operating device.
- 11. A method in which computer processing devices co-operate to host services for use by each other, wherein the devices co-operate to identify the extent of provision of a given service, in which a first device, when requiring a service that it does not already have installed, attempts to identify a neighbouring device which can provide the required service, and if it identifies an underprovision condition, it attempts to install the required service by retrieving service data suitable for performing the service.
Specification