CONFIGURING INTERFACE DEVICES WITH RESPECT TO TASKS AND SUBTASKS

• US 20130081033A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US13/436,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20130081033A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6281 at program execution time, where the protection is within the operating system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• 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

Abstract

Computationally implemented methods and systems include configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor, facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks, and controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Claims

1. A computationally-implemented method, comprising:

configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor;

facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks; and

controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

2. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor comprises:

configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor,

the subtasks configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task and/or the task requestor.

6. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor comprises:

configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks, each subtask related to a discrete task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor.

7. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor comprises:

configuring a device to acquire, at predetermined time intervals, one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices,

said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor.

8. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor comprises:

configuring a device to acquire, in response to one or more predetermined conditions, one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor.

12. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor comprises:

installing, on a device, software configured to allow the device to acquire one or more subtasks, said one or more subtasks corresponding to one or more portions of a task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor.

13. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor comprises:

configuring software on a device such that said software, when activated, is configured to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices and corresponding to one or more portions of a task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor.

21. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

requesting permission to execute at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

23. The computationally-implemented method of claim 21, wherein said requesting permission to execute at least one of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

requesting permission from software of the device to execute at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

24. The computationally-implemented method of claim 23, wherein said requesting permission from software of the device to execute at least one of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

requesting permission from an operating system of the device to execute at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

26. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

modifying a counter when at least one of the received one or more subtasks has been executed.

39. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

presenting one or more instructions for completing one or more portions of at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

40. The computationally-implemented method of claim 39, wherein said presenting one or more instructions for completing one or more portions of at least one of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

displaying one or more instructions on a display of the device, the instructions for carrying out one or more portions of at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

43. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

providing access to one or more portions of the device that are used to carry out at least a portion of at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

44. The computationally-implemented method of claim 43, wherein said providing access to one or more portions of the device that are used to carry out at least a portion of at least one of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

providing access to one or more sensors of the device that are used to collect information for carrying out at least a portion of at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

45. The computationally-implemented method of claim 44, wherein said providing access to one or more sensors of the device that are used to collect information for carrying out at least a portion of at least one of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

providing access to an image capturing sensor of the device used to collect image data for carrying out at least a portion of at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

47. The computationally-implemented method of claim 44, wherein said facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks comprises:

providing access to a wireless radio used to collect data for carrying out at least a portion of at least one of the received one or more subtasks.

53. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

selectively allowing access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

54. The computationally-implemented method of claim 53, wherein said selectively allowing access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

selectively allowing a user access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

56. The computationally-implemented method of claim 53, wherein said selectively allowing access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

selectively allowing remote access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

57. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

selectively suppressing at least one particular feature of the device from a list of features of the device, wherein the at least one particular feature is unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

58. The computationally-implemented method of claim 57, wherein said selectively suppressing at least one particular feature of the device from a list of features of the device, wherein the at least one particular feature is unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

selectively preventing presentation of the at least one particular feature of the device, wherein the at least one particular feature is unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks.

60. The computationally-implemented method of claim 57, wherein said selectively suppressing at least one particular feature of the device from a list of features of the device, wherein the at least one particular feature is unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

selectively altering presentation of the at least one particular feature of the device to indicate availability of the at least one particular feature of the device, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

61. The computationally-implemented method of claim 60, wherein said selectively altering presentation of the at least one particular feature of the device to indicate availability of the at least one particular feature of the device, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

changing a display color of the at least one particular feature of the device when the at least one particular feature of the device is displayed with a group of features of the device, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

63. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to information stored on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

64. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

managing access rights for various programs running on the device to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

65. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

managing access rights for various entities using the device to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

70. The computationally-implemented method of claim 65, wherein said managing access rights for various entities using the device to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

managing access rights of one or more programs having a particular property to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

71. The computationally-implemented method of claim 70, wherein said managing access rights of one or more programs having a particular property to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

managing access rights of one or more programs requiring use of a particular feature of the device to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

72. The computationally-implemented method of claim 71, wherein said managing access rights of one or more programs requiring use of a particular feature of the device to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

managing access rights of one or more programs requiring use of a particular feature of the device to the particular feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

75. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

76. The computationally-implemented method of claim 75, wherein said controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to a program for making outgoing phone calls, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

81. The computationally-implemented method of claim 75, wherein said controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to a program for sending text messages, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

87. The computationally-implemented method of claim 75, wherein said controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one game on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

91. The computationally-implemented method of claim 75, wherein said controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one application loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

93. The computationally-implemented method of claim 91, wherein said controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one social networking application loaded on the device, unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

94. The computationally-implemented method of claim 91, wherein said controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one instant messaging application loaded on the device, unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

95. The computationally-implemented method of claim 91, wherein said controlling access to at least one program loaded on the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one e-mail application loaded on the device, unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

97. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one component of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

98. The computationally-implemented method of claim 97, wherein said controlling access to at least one component of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one sensor of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

99. The computationally-implemented method of claim 98, wherein said controlling access to at least one sensor of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to an image capturing sensor of the device that is not used in execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

106. The computationally-implemented method of claim 97, wherein said controlling access to at least one component of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one physical feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

107. The computationally-implemented method of claim 106, wherein said controlling access to at least one physical feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to a keyboard of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

108. The computationally-implemented method of claim 97, wherein said controlling access to at least one component of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to a radio of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

113. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said controlling access to a radio of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

limiting an amount of data transferred by the radio of the device, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

115. The computationally-implemented method of claim 108, wherein said controlling access to a radio of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

limiting a type of content that may be transferred via the radio of the device, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

116. The computationally-implemented method of claim 115, wherein said limiting a type of content that may be transferred via the radio of the device, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

allowing streaming video to be transferred via the radio of the device, upon successful execution of one or more of the one or more subtasks.

123. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one feature of the device that is idle when at least one of the one or more subtasks is carried out, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

132. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks comprises:

controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of a predetermined number of subtasks of the one or more subtasks.

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140. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

means for configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor;

means for facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks; and

means for controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

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279. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

circuitry for configuring a device to acquire one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by at least two discrete interface devices, said one or more subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring data requested by a task requestor;

circuitry for facilitating execution of the received one or more subtasks; and

circuitry for controlling access to at least one feature of the device unrelated to the execution of the one or more subtasks, based on successful execution of the one or more subtasks.

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