Distributed parallel processing system having capability-based incentives and associated method

• US 7,003,547 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Byteweavr, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: United Devices, Inc. (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hubbard, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/538,543
• Time in Patent Office: 2,154 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/205, 709/202, 707/102, 718/102, 718/104
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5066 Algorithms for mapping a plurality of inter-dependent sub-tasks onto a plurality of physical CPUs mappping at compile time, see G06F8/451

Abstract

A distributed parallel processing system having capability-based incentives and associated method are disclosed that identify the capabilities of distributed devices connected together through a wide variety of communication systems and networks and aggregate these distributed device capabilities to accomplish desired distributed workload objectives.

Claims

1. A distributed parallel processing system, comprising:

a server system coupled to a network configured to connect to distributed devices;

selected distributed devices of the distributed devices coupled through the network, wherein the selected distributed devices are enabled by the server system to perform workloads for the distributed parallel processing system;

capability storage coupled to the server system for storing workload capability factors quantifying a workload processing capability for each of the selected of the distributed devices; and

incentive storage coupled to the server system for storing incentive values to be offered to the selected distributed devices as compensation for participating in performing workloads for the distributed parallel processing system, wherein the server system manages the selected distributed devices participation in the distributed parallel processing system utilizing the workload capability factors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an incentive value for a selected distributed device is determined in response to a completed workload.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein an incentive value for a selected distributed device is determined in response to a workload capability factor generated for the selected distributed device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the workload capability factor is generated in response to a performance in completing a benchmark workload.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the server system schedules and allocates workloads to the selected distributed devices based upon the workload capability factor generated in response to the performance in completing the benchmark workload.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the workload capability factor is generated in response to a workload completed by one of the selected distributed devices for the configured distributed parallel processing system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the workload capability factor is utilized to determine an entry value to a sweepstakes.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sweepstakes entry value increases for an increased workload capability factor of the selected distributed device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a software agent transferred from the server system to the selected distributed devices, wherein the software agent manages a workload performed by the selected distributed devices.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the software agent further provides information to a user about an increase in an incentive value offered for an increase in the workload capability factor of the selected distributed device.

11. A method of configuring a distributed parallel processing system, comprising:

providing a server system;

coupling the server system to a network, the network being connectable to distributed devices;

providing a notice to the distributed devices of a desire by the server system to configure the distributed parallel processing system through coupling selected ones of the distributed devices through the network, wherein the selected distributed devices are enabled by the server system to perform workloads for the configured distributed parallel processing system;

providing an incentive to the distributed devices communicating with the server system through the network in response to the notice to participate in the configured distributed parallel processing system;

generating a workload capability factor quantifying a workload processing capability for each of the selected distributed devices; and

managing the selected distributed devices participation in the configured distributed parallel processing system by the server system utilizing the workload capability factor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an incentive value for a distributed device in response to a completed workload.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating an incentive value for a distributed device in response to a workload capability factor generated for the distributed device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the workload capability factor is generated in response to a performance in completing a benchmark workload.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the server system schedules and allocates workloads to the selected distributed devices based upon the workload capability factor generated in response to the performance in completing the benchmark workload.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the workload capability factor is generated in response to a workload completed by one of the selected distributed devices for the configured distributed parallel processing system.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the workload capability factor is utilized to determine an entry value to a sweepstakes.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sweepstakes entry value increases for an increased workload capability factor of the selected distributed device.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transferring a software agent from the server system to the selected distributed devices, wherein the software agent manages a workload performed by the selected distributed devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the software agent further provides information to a user about an increase in an incentive value offered for an increase in the workload capability factor of the selected distributed device.

21. A method of configuring a distributed parallel processing system from a server system coupled to distributed devices with a network comprising the method steps of:

providing a notice to the distributed devices of a desire by the server system to configure the distributed parallel processing system through coupling selected ones of the distributed devices through the network, wherein the selected distributed devices are enabled by the server system to perform workloads for the configured distributed parallel processing system;

providing an incentive to the distributed devices communicating with the server system through the network in response to the notice to participate in the configured distributed parallel processing system;

generating a workload capability factor quantifying a workload processing capability for each of the selected distributed devices; and

managing the selected distributed devices participation in the configured distributed parallel processing system by the server system utilizing the workload capability factor.