Global network computers

• US 6,725,250 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis III
• Original Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis III
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US09/213,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/14, 705/35, 705/26, 705/30, 705/32, 709/200, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/208, 709/209, 709/210, 709/211, 709/100, 709/104, 709/105, 713/200, 713/201, 712/32, 712/36
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/825 Mixtures of compounds all of which are non-ionic
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. More particularly, this invention relates to one or more large networks composed of smaller networks and large numbers of computers connected, like the Internet, wherein more than one separate parallel processing operation involving more than one different set of computers occurs simultaneously and wherein ongoing processing linkages can be established between virtually any microprocessors of separate computers connected to the network. Still more particularly, this invention relates to business arrangements enabling the shared used of network microprocessors for parallel and other processing, wherein personal computer owners provide microprocessor processing power to a network, preferably for parallel processing, in exchange for network linkage to other personal and other computers supplied by network providers, including linkage to other microprocessors for parallel or other processing; the basis of the exchange between owners and providers being whatever terms to which the parties agree, subject to governing laws, regulations, or rules, including payment from either party to the other based on periodic measurement of net use or provision of processing power.

Claims

1. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers;

at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and

at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units;

wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer processing operation;

wherein the microchip further provides active configuration of one or more circuits of the microchip;

means for providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two personal computers within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a personal user, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

a monitor, constructed and arranged to monitor on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to said personal user; and

means for maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to said personal user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system includes at least 1024 of said personal computers.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said system includes at least 256 of said personal computers participating in a single shared computer processing operation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said network is connected to at least one other network, so that said personal computers include at least one million personal computers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said network is connected to a World Wide Web.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said network further includes at least one network server constructed and arranged to participate in said shared computer processing.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor includes a meter device to measure a flow of computing power between said at least two personal computers and said network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor includes means for providing said personal user of one of said at least two personal computers with a prospective estimate of a cost for said network to execute an operation requested by said personal user prior to execution of said operation by said network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises control means for permitting and denying access to said at least two personal computers by said network for said shared computer processing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein access to said at least two personal computers by said network is limited to times when said at least two personal computers are idle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least two personal computers communicate with said network through a connection having a speed of data transmission that is greater than a peak data processing speed of said at least one microprocessor.

12. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers;

at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and

at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units;

wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer processing operation;

wherein the microchip further provides active configuration of one or more circuits of the microchip;

means for providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two personal computers within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a personal user, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

a monitor, constructed and arranged to monitor on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to said personal user;

means for maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to said personal user;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a corresponding personal user, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

means for said at least two personal computers to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operations.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said system includes at least 1,024 of said personal computers.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said system includes at least 256 of said personal computers participating in a single shared computer processing operation.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said network is connected to at least one other network, so that said at least two personal computers include at least one million personal computers.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein a standard cost is fixed.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein a fixed standard cost is zero.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said means for maintaining a standard cost basis includes a use of making available a standard number of said at least two personal computers for shared processing by said at least two personal computers.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said network is connected to a World Wide Web.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said personal user can override said means for maintaining a standard cost basis so that said personal user can obtain additional network services.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein said system further comprises control means for permitting and denying access to said personal computers by said network for said shared computer processing.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein said at least two personal computers communicate with said network through a connection having a speed of data transmission that is greater than a peak data processing speed of said microprocessor.

23. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers;

means for providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two personal computers within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a personal user, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

a monitor, constructed and arranged to monitor on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to said personal user;

means for maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to said personal user;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a corresponding personal user, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

means for said at least two personal computers to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operations;

at least one of said computers including at least two microprocessors and having a connection with said network of computers;

a firewall for said at least two personal computers to limit access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said at least two personal computers, wherein;

said firewall will not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors, which include means for functioning as a master microprocessor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other microprocessor, including means for functioning as a slave microprocessor, and

said firewall permitting access by said network to said slave microprocessor.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said at least one of said personal computers is a microchip.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said network is connected to at least one other network, so that said personal computers include at least one million of said personal computers.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said system includes at least 256 of said at least two personal computers.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers includes at least one microprocessor and communicates with said network through a connection having a speed of data transmission that greater than a peak data processing speed of said at least one microprocessor.

28. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers;

at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and

at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units;

wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer processing operation;

wherein the microchip further provides active configuration of one or more circuits of the microchip;

means for network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to be provided to said at least two personal computers within said network;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a personal user, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network;

means for maintaining a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers or to said personal user;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a corresponding personal user, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer; and

means for said at least two personal computers to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operations.

29. A system for a network of computers, comprising:

at least two personal computers;

means for at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed by a corresponding personal user, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

means for said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled by a corresponding personal user, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing operation controlled by said master personal computer;

means for said at least two personal computers to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operations;

a firewall for said at least two personal computers to limit access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said at least two personal computers, wherein;

at least one of said personal computers includes at least two microprocessors and has a connection with said network of computers,

said firewall does not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors, which includes means for functioning as a master microprocessor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other microprocessor, including means for functioning as a slave microprocessor, and

said firewall permits access by said network to said slave microprocessor.

30. A system architecture for computers, including personal computers, to function within a network of computers, comprising:

a computer with at least one controller and at least one microprocessor, said computer including a connection with a network of computers;

said architecture for said computers including a firewall for personal computers to limit access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said personal computers;

said firewall will not permit access by said network to said at least one controller including means for functioning as a master to initiate and control execution of a computer processing operation shared with said at least one other microprocessor including means for functioning as a slave microprocessor; and

said firewall permitting access by said network to said slave microprocessor.

31. The system architecture of claim 30, wherein said computer is a personal computer.

32. The system architecture of claim 31, wherein said personal computer is a microchip.

33. The system architecture of claim 30, wherein said computer includes means for permitting and for denying access to said computer by said network for shared computer processing.

34. The system architecture of claim 31, wherein said system includes at least 256 of said personal computers.

35. The system architecture of claim 31, wherein said network is connected to an Internet, so that said personal computers include at least one million personal computers.

36. The system architecture of claim 31, wherein said system includes at least 256 of said personal computers capable of participating in a single shared computer processing operation.

37. The system architecture of claim 31, wherein said personal computers include at least one microprocessor and said personal computers are arranged to communicate with said network through a connection having a speed of data transmission that is at least greater than a peak data processing speed of said at least one microprocessor.

38. The system architecture of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller is capable of being used remotely from another one of said personal computers.

39. A system architecture for computers, including personal computers, to function within a network of computers, comprising:

a computer with at least two microprocessors and having a connection with a network of computers;

said architecture for said computers including a firewall by which said personal computers limit access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components of said personal computers;

said firewall not permitting access by said network to at least one of said at least two microprocessors, said at least one of said at least two microprocessors including means for functioning as a master microprocessor and for initiating and controlling execution of a computer processing operation shared with at least one other microprocessor including means for functioning as a slave microprocessor;

said firewall permitting access by said network to said slave microprocessor; and

a configuration of said firewall capable of being changed by a computer user or an authorized local network administrator.

40. The system architecture of claim 39, wherein said computer is a personal computer.

41. The system architecture of claim 39, wherein said personal computer is a microchip.

42. The system architecture of claim 39, wherein said computer include means for permitting and for denying access to said computer by said network for shared computer processing.

43. The system architecture of claim 40, wherein said system includes at least 256 of said personal computers.

44. The system architecture of claim 40, wherein said network is connected to an Internet, so that said personal computers include at least one million personal computers.

45. The system architecture of claim 40, wherein at least 256 of said personal computers participate in a single shared computer processing operation.

46. The system architecture of claim 40, wherein said personal computers include at least one microprocessor and are arranged to communicate with said network through a connection having a speed of data transmission that is at least greater than a peak data processing speed of said at least one microprocessor.

47. The system architecture of claim 40, wherein said change in a firewall configuration is made, at least in part, by using field-programmable gate arrays.