Capability Based Distributed Processing

• US 20090216649A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Byteweavr, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Hubbard
• Inventors: Hubbard, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.610
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3239 involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

Various embodiments enable a server system to identify a workload capability factor for a distributed device and use the workload capability factor to determine an incentive for the distributed device. In one embodiment, a distributed processing system includes a server configured to be coupled to one or more distributed devices. The server may include a workload database configured to store at least one workload project, a capability database configured to store one or more workload capability factors associated with one or more distributed devices, and a control system configured to use the one or more workload capability factors from the capability database to perform at least one workload project from the workload database. The least one workload capability factor may also be used to determine an incentive for the one or more distributed devices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying, by a server system, at least one workload capability factor for at least one distributed device; and

utilizing, by the server system, the at least one workload capability factor to determine an incentive for the at least one distributed device.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one workload capability factor comprises one or more of:

a processor capability, a storage capacity, a graphics capability, a communications capability, or a software configuration.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one workload capability is identified responsive to a customer request.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one workload capability is identified responsive to a workload performed by the at least one distributed device.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

receiving, by the server system, an indication that at least one distributed device is available to process a workload; and

incentivizing, by the server system, at least one distributed device responsive to the indication.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, wherein the indication comprises at least one of:

a distributed device joining a distributed processing system, a distributed device processing a workload, or a distributed device transmitting results associated with a workload.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the incentive comprises at least one of:

a sweepstakes entry, a monetary prize, Internet access, domain name hosting, an E-mail account, data storage, or file sharing.

8. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing, by the sever system, the at least one work load capability factor in a capability database.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising distributing, by the server system, at least one workload to at least one distributed device responsive to the at least one workload capability factor.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising scheduling, by the server system, processing of at least one workload by at least one distributed device responsive to the at least one workload capability factor.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server system, a customer selection identifying at least one workload capability factor; and

distributing, by the server system, at least one workload to at least one distributed device responsive to the at least one workload capability factor identified by the customer.

12. A distributed processing system, comprising:

a server configured to be coupled to one or more distributed devices, the server comprising;

a workload database configured to store at least one workload project;

a capability database configured to store one or more workload capability factors associated with the one or more distributed devices; and

a control system configured to use the one or more workload capability factors from the capability database to perform at least one workload project from the workload database, wherein at least one workload capability factor is used to determine an incentive value for the one or more distributed devices.

13. The distributed processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one workload project comprises at least one of:

data processing, data storage, data broadcasting, or a computer simulation.

14. The distributed processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more workload capability factors comprise at least one of:

a processor capability, a storage capacity, a graphics capability, a communications capability, or a software configuration.

15. The distributed processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the control system is configured to perform at least one workload project by:

selecting at least one distributed device responsive to the one or more workload capability factors; and

distributing the at least one workload project to the at least one distributed device.

16. The distributed processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the control system is configured to perform at least one workload project by:

receiving a customer selection identifying at least one workload capability factor; and

distributing, the at least one workload project to at least one distributed device responsive to the at least one workload capability factor identified by the customer.

17. The distributed processing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the control system is further configured to:

receive an indication that at least one distributed device is available for use; and

provide an incentive to the at least one distributed device responsive to the indication.

18. The distributed processing system as recited in claim 17, wherein the incentive comprises at least one of:

a sweepstakes entry, a monetary prize, Internet access, domain name hosting, an E-mail account, data storage, or file sharing.

19. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

indicating, by a distributed device, that the distributed device is available for use; and

receiving, by the distributed device, an incentive, wherein the incentive is determined responsive to at least one workload capability factor associated with the distributed device.

20. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19, wherein the distributed device is configured to indicate that the distributed device is available for use by at least one of:

joining a distributed processing system, processing a project workload, or transmitting results associated with a project workload.

21. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19, wherein the incentive comprises at least one of:

a sweepstakes entry, a monetary prize, Internet access, domain name hosting, an E-mail account, data storage, or file sharing.

22. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one workload capability factor comprises at least one of:

a processor capability, a storage capacity, a graphics capability, a communications capability, or a software configuration.

23. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19, wherein a value of the incentive is configured to increase or decrease responsive to a change in at least one workload capability factor associated with the distributed device.

24. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19, wherein a value of the incentive is configured to increase or decrease responsive to a size of a project workload and/or a number of distributed devices processing a project workload.

25. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, by the distributed device, an agent, wherein the agent is configured to;

receive at least one project workload;

manage processing of the at least one project workload; and

transmit results associated with processing the at least one project workload.

26. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25, wherein the agent is further configured to display information associated with processing the at least one project workload.

27. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 26, wherein the displayed information comprises at least one of:

incentive information, project workload information, resource utilization information, or project workload security information.

28. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25, wherein the agent is further configured to:

determine a resource utilization for the distributed device; and

process at least one project workload responsive to the distributed device being underutilized.

29. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25, wherein the agent is further configured to:

receive at least one user input, and

processes the at least one project workload responsive to the at least one user input.

30. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 29, wherein the user input comprises at least one of:

a type of project workload to be processed, a processing time, or a resource utilization associated with the distributed device.