Method and apparatus for providing remote processing of a task over a network

• US 6,249,836 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Downs, Terry, Kisor, Gregory Hurst
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US09/313,441
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 710/268, 710/260, 709/227, 709/226, 709/103, 707/104, 703/27, 714/25, 714/48, 714/57
• US Class Current: 710/268
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing remote, distributed processing of a task by employing a wide area network (e.g., the Internet). A resource provider initiates the process by sending an application to a resource allocator requesting to be added to the resource allocator'"'"'s list of providers. The resource allocator accepts or rejects a particular resource provider based on the application. If accepted, the resource provider waits for a task from the resource allocator. Upon receiving a task, the resource provider evaluates the currently available local resources. The resource provider determines whether or not it is currently able to handle the task in view of the available local resources. If the resource provider is able to handle the task, it accepts the task. The resource provider processes the task and returns the results to either the resource allocator or the original resource requester. If the resource provider is unable to handle the task in view of the current load, the resource provider notifies the resource allocator or the resource requester that it is unable to complete the task.

Claims

1. A method of computing, comprising:

a first computer receiving a first request, over a first network connection to a second computer system, to have a first set of executable code executed;

the first computer system processing a first application conveying a third computer system'"'"'s hardware capabilities; and

the first computer system facilitating transfer of the first set of executable code to the third computer system determined by the first application;

wherein the transfer is effectuated through a second networking connection between either the first or the second computer system to the third computer system.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which there can be plural computer systems for receiving the transfer, the method further comprising:

the first computer system selecting the third computer system as recipient of the transfer, in view of the third computer system'"'"'s hardware capabilities.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the first computer system receiving information conveying service requirements associated with the first set of executable code.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the service requirements include at least a selected one of a hardware requirement and a service quality level requirement for executing the first set of executable code.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the first computer system receiving the first set of executable code from the second computer system; and

the first computer system transferring the first set of executable code to the third computer system.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

the first computer receiving a response from the third computer system;

wherein the response comprises indication of whether the third computer will execute the first set of executable code.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

the first computer system notifying the second computer system to transfer the first set of executable code to the third computer system.

8. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer instructions capable of causing a processor to perform the steps of claim 1.

9. A method of computing, comprising:

a first computer receiving a first request, over a first network connection with a second computer system, to have a first set of executable code executed;

the first computer system processing a first application conveying a fourth computer system'"'"'s hardware capabilities;

the first computer system processing a second application conveying a fifth computer system'"'"'s hardware capabilities;

the first computer receiving a second request, over a second network connection with a third computer system, to have a second set of executable code executed;

the first computer system facilitating transfer of the first set of executable code to the fourth computer system determined by the first application, where the transfer is effectuated through a third networking connection between either the first or the second computer system to the fourth computer system; and

the first computer system facilitating transfer of the second set of executable code to the fifth computer system determined by the second application, where the transfer is effectuated through a fourth networking connection between either the first or the third computer system to the fifth computer system.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the second and the third computer systems are the same computer system.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the fourth and the fifth computer systems are the same computer system.

12. A method according to claim 9, in which the fourth and fifth computing systems are members of a group of computing systems for receiving transfer of executable code, the method further comprising:

the first computer system receiving service requirements associated with the first set of executable code;

the first computer system receiving service requirements associated with the second set of executable code;

selecting the fourth computing system, from the group of computing systems, according to the service requirements associated with the first set of executable code; and

selecting the fifth computing system, from the group of computing systems, according to the service requirements associated with the second set of executable code.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having encoded thereon computer instructions capable of causing a processor to perform the steps of claim 12.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first computer transfers executable code to the fourth and fifth computer systems.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first computer transfers executable code to a recipient computer system selected from the group of computer systems.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the recipient computer transfers executable code, received from the first computer system, to the fourth and fifth computer systems.

17. A method of computing, comprising:

a first computer system dynamically processing an application conveying a second computer system'"'"'s processing capabilities;

the first computer system receiving a request, over a first network connection to a third computer system, to have a set of executable code executed; and

the first computer system facilitating transfer of the set of executable code to the second computer system determined by the second computer system'"'"'s processing capabilities contained in the application;

wherein the transfer is effectuated through a second networking connection between either the first or a third computer system to the second computer system.