Commercial distributed processing by personal computers over the internet

• US 6,732,141 B2
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frampton Erroll Ellis
• Original Assignee: Frampton Erroll Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton Erroll
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/980,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,351 Days
• Field of Search: 709/11, 709/102, 709/105, 709/106, 709/201, 709/202, 709/203, 709/229, 709/208, 709/209, 709/210, 705/1
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• 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 method of charging for use of a computer network comprising:

measuring an amount of processing power of a computer that is being made available to said computer network;

measuring an amount of network resources being used by said computer;

determining a charge for access to said computer network by said computer based on a difference between said measured amount of processing power of said computer being made available to said computer network and said measured amount of network resources being used by said computer;

coupling the computer via the network to one or more other computers of the computer network using a wireless network connection;

controlling, based on input received from a user of the computer, one or more processing units of a microprocessor of a microchip of the computer; and

selectively permitting access through the computer network to one or more of the processing units using a firewall of the microchip, the firewall being configured to permit access through the computer network to execute all or a portion of a shared computer processing operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer is a personal computer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said measuring of said amount of processing power of said computer made available to said computer network is based on an amount of time said personal computer is made available to said computer network.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said personal computer is based on an amount of time said personal computer uses said computer network.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein:

said measuring of said amount of processing power of said computer made available to said computer network is based on an amount of time said computer is made available to said computer network;

said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said computer is based on an amount of time said computer uses said computer network; and

said determining said charge for access comprises comparing said amount of time said computer is made available to said computer network with said amount of time said computer uses said computer network to arrive at a net cost.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said computer includes time spent downloading data from a site connected to said computer network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said computer includes a measure of parallel processing resources allocated to said computer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

making available a standard number of personal computers, connected to said computer network, for shared processing by said computer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said computer network includes an Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing power involves peer-to-peer processing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said network includes a peer-to-peer architecture.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said network resources include shared file resources.

13. A method of allocating use of a computer in a network of computers, including an Internet which is utilized to provide shared computer processing resources, comprising:

coupling the computer via the network to one or more other computers of the computer network using a wireless network connection;

controlling, based on input received from a user of the computer, one or more processing units of a microprocessor of a microchip of the computer;

selectively permitting access through the computer network to one or more of the processing units using a firewall of the microchip, the firewall being configured to permit access through the computer network to execute all or a portion of a shared computer processing operation;

estimating an amount of computer network resources, including said shared computer processing resources, required to fulfill a processing request from a personal computer to said computer network, the estimating being based on input from a meter;

approving said processing request; and

allocating said computer network resources to said personal computer, wherein said allocating controls, on a default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis, a number of personal computers to be made available to said personal computer for the shared computer processing services and an extent of use of said personal computer.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a real-time readout of a cost of fulfilling said processing request, said readout being visible to a user of said personal computer.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

alerting a user of said personal computer that said processing request falls outside of predetermined parameters when said processing request falls outside of said predetermined parameters.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

alerting a user of said personal computer that said processing request falls outside of predetermined parameters when said processing request falls outside of said predetermined parameters.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

setting of said predetermined parameters by said user.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said default-to-standard-of-class usage basis comprises allowing said computer to expend an amount of resources of said computer network based on a total credit limit of a user of said computer.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said network includes a World Wide Web.

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

a monitoring mechanism to monitor on a net basis a provision of network services both to and by one of at least two personal computers within said network, said network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by said at least two personal computers, wherein said one personal computer includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network; and

a charge determining mechanism to determine a net charge for network services for said one personal computer based on a difference between the monitored provision to said network of said shared computing processing by said one computer and the monitored use of said network services by said one personal computer;

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.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said network is connected to a World Wide Web, which is utilized to provide said shared computer processing services.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said connection functions include providing access by said one personal computer to said network.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said charge includes a charge for access to said network by said one personal computer.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein when said one personal computer is used by a personal user, said one personal computer uses said shared computer processing provided by said network, instead of providing said shared computer processing to said network.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein said charge for said one computer is for a time period based on a difference between the monitored provision to said network of said shared computing processing by said one personal computer for said time period and use of said network services by said one personal computer during said time period.

26. The system according to claim 21, wherein said charge for said one computer is based on a difference between the monitored provision to said network of said shared computing processing by said one computer as measured by data throughput and use of said network services by said one personal computer also as measured by the data throughput.

27. The system according to claim 21, wherein said network services include browsing functions.

28. The system according to claim 21, wherein said net charge is to a network services provider.

29. The system according to claim 21, wherein said charge is between an Internet service provider and an owner of said one personal computer.

30. The system according to claim 21, wherein said net charge is one of a debit or a credit.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in multiple, separate, non-related shared computer processing operations is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in a single shared computer processing operation is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said monitoring mechanism includes a meter device to measure a flow of computing power between said one personal computer and said network services provider to calculate a financial value as a basis for payment between an owner of said one personal computer and said network services provider.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein said monitoring mechanism provides a personal user of said one personal computer with a prospective estimate of cost for said network to execute a shared operation requested by said personal user prior to execution of said operation by said network.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein said system has a control mechanism by which to permit and to deny access to said personal computers by said network for shared computer processing.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein access to said personal computers by said network is limited to times when said personal computers are idled by respective personal users.

37. The system of claim 21, wherein said at least two personal computers have at least one microprocessor and are configured to communicate with said network through a connection having a minimum speed of data transmission that is greater than a peak data processing speed of said personal computers.

38. The system of claim 21, wherein said net charge includes a financial charge.

39. The system of claim 21, therein said at least two personal computers are configured to communicate with said network through a connection including a direct connection to said at least two personal computers by an optical fiber connection.

40. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip having a direct optical fiber connection with said network.

41. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip and having more than one microprocessor and a direct optical fiber connection with said network.

42. The system of claim 21, wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.

43. The system of claim 21, wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.

44. The system of claim 20, wherein said provision and said use by said one personal computer occur substantially simultaneously in a multitasking mode.

45. The system of claim 20, wherein said availability mechanism includes software downloaded from said network.

46. The system of claim 20, wherein said one personal computer exists at a center of a cluster of personal computers.

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

network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by at least two personal computers within said network, wherein at least one of said personal computers includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network;

a cost control mechanism to maintain a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services both to and from one personal computer and both to and from a network services provider in order to control a compensation between said one personal computer and said network services provider, wherein

said cost control mechanism controls, on a default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis, both use of network services by said one personal computer and use of said one personal computer by said network services provider for said shared computer processing services;

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.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein said connection functions include providing access by said one personal computer to said network.

49. The system according to claim 47, wherein when said one personal computer is used by a personal user, said one personal computer uses said shared computer processing provided by said network, instead of providing said shared computer processing to said network.

50. The system according to claim 47, wherein a network services provider is an Internet service provider.

51. The system according to claim 47, wherein said network services include browsing functions.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in multiple, separate, non-related shared computer processing operations is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.

53. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained in a respective single microchip.

54. The system of claim 47, wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in single shared computer processing operation is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.

55. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained in a single respective microchip having more than one microprocessor.

56. The system of claim 47, wherein the standard cost basis uses a fixed standard cost.

57. The system of claim 47, wherein the fixed standard cost is zero.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein said cost control mechanism includes making available to a user of one of said at least two personal computers a predetermined number of said personal computers for said shared processing.

59. The system of claim 47, wherein a user of one of said at least two personal computers can override said cost control mechanism that maintains a standard cost basis so that said user can obtain additional network services.

60. The system of claim 47, wherein said system has a control mechanism by which to permit and to deny access to said personal computers by said network for shared computer processing.

61. The system of claim 47, wherein said personal computers have at least one microprocessor and are configured to communicate with said network through a connection having a minimum speed of data transmission that is at least greater than a peak data processing speed of said personal computers.

62. The system of claim 47, wherein said compensation includes financial compensation.

63. The system of claim 47, wherein said at least two personal computers are configured to communicate with said network through a connection including a direct connection to said at least two personal computers by an optical fiber connection.

64. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on said respective single microchip and has a direct optical fiber connection with said network.

65. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on said respective single microchip and has more than one microprocessor and a direct optical fiber connection with said network.

66. The system of claim 47, wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.

67. The method of claim 47, wherein said default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis comprises allowing said computer to expend an amount of resources of said computer network based on a total credit limit of a user of said computer.

68. The system of claim 47, wherein said compensation includes financial compensation.

69. The system of claim 47, wherein said at least two personal computers are configured to communicate with said network through a connection including a direct connection to said at least two personal computers by an optical fiber connection.

70. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip and has a direct optical fiber connection with said network.

71. The system of claim 47, wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip having more than one microprocessor and a direct optical fiber connection with said network.

72. The system of claim 47, wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.

73. The system of claim 47, wherein said provision and said use by said one personal computer occur substantially simultaneously in a multitasking mode.

74. The system of claim 47, wherein said one personal computer includes multiple microprocessors.

75. The system of claim 47, wherein said one personal computer exists at a center of a cluster of personal computers.

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

a monitoring mechanism to monitor on a net basis a provision of network services both to and by one of at least two personal computers within said network, said network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by said at least two personal computers, wherein said one personal computer includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network,

wherein said network includes an Internet;

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.

77. The system of claim 76, further comprising a cost basis mechanism to maintain a standard cost basis for said provision of said network services.