Global network computers

• US 7,024,449 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• 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:
  US09/315,026
• Time in Patent Office: 2,511 Days
• Field of Search: 709208-211, 709200-203, 712/10, 712/11, 712/13, 712/15, 712/16, 712/17, 712/20, 712/28, 712/30, 712/31, 712/1, 712/32, 712/34, 712/35, 713189-191, 713200-202, 713/300, 713/323
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/76 Architectures of general purpose stored program computers with program plugboard G06F15/08; multicomputers G06F15/16
• 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: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• 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 said personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling said one personal computer to at least one of said other personal computers via said network;

at least one of said personal computers including a firewall configured to permit access through said network to at least one of said at least two computers to execute all or a portion of shared computer processing;

at least one of said personal computers including a microprocessor on a chip, said microprocessor chip including;

a nonvolatile memory;

at least one control unit and at least two processing units, said at least one control unit allowing at least one user of said personal computer to control said at least two processing units; and

a power management function component for managing power on said microprocessor chip,

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

communication connections allowing at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

communication connections allowing 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 computer processing shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

communication connections allowing said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of shared computer processing controlled by said master personal computer; and

communication connections allowing 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;

wherein each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

communication connections allowing said master personal computer to subdivide said shared computer processing into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises a random access memory (RAM) with a non-cache memory.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an encryption component.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an electromechanical (MEMS) component.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising 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.

7. 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, 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;

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 a 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, 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 operation;

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,

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

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for said master personal computer to subdivide said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

9. A system for a network of personal computers, including at least one personal computer with at least two microprocessors, comprising:

said at least two microprocessors on a single chip, said microprocessor chip;

utilizing a wireless network connection capable of coupling said microprocessor chip to at least one other personal computer via said network;

utilizing a firewall to limit access by said network to only a portion of hardware, software, firmware, and other components associated with said at least two microprocessors; and

including a nonvolatile memory,

at least one processor for providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to said at least two microprocessors within said network;

communication connections allowing at least one of said at least two microprocessors, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

communication connections allowing at least one of said at least, two microprocessors, when directed, to function temporarily as a master microprocessor to initiate and control execution of a computer processing shared with at least one other of said at least two microprocessors in said network;

communication connections allowing said at least one other of said at least two microprocessors, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave microprocessor to participate in an execution of shared computer processing operation controlled by said master microprocessor; and

communication connections allowing said at least two microprocessors to alternate as directed between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing;

wherein each of said at least one slave microprocessor consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave microprocessor at a lower processing level.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

communication connections allowing said master microprocessor to subdivide said shared computer processing into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave microprocessors.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises a random access memory (RAM) with a non-cache memory.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an encryption component.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an electro- mechanical (MEMS) component.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said chip further comprises at least one control unit and at least two processing units, said at least one control unit allowing at least one user of said personal computer to control said at least one processing unit.

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

at least two personal computers, wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers comprises a PC microprocessor with a slave microprocessor;

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, 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;

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 a 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, 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 operation;

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,

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

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for said master personal computer to subdivide said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and to send said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said firewall is implemented by non-configurable hardware at a microchip level.

18. A system for a network of at least two personal computers, comprising:

said at least two personal computers,

at least one of said personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling said one personal computer to at least one of the said other personal computers via said network,

at least one of said personal computers including a firewall configured to permit access through said network to at least one of said at least two computers to execute shared computer processing;

at least one of said personal computers including a microprocessor on a chip, said microprocessor chip comprising;

a nonvolatile memory;

at least one control unit and at least two processing units, said at least one control unit controlling said at least two processing units; and

a power management function component for managing power on said microprocessor chip;

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

communication connections allowing at least one of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

communication connections allowing at least one of said at least two personal computers, when directed, 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;

communication connections allowing said at least one other of said at least two personal computers, when idled, to be made available to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of shared computer processing controlled by said master personal computer; and

communication connections allowing 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;

wherein at least one of said at least two personal computers is physically integrated in onboard equipment of an automobile and is connected to said network.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an electromechanical (MEMS) component.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises a random access memory (RAM) with a non-cache memory.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an encryption component.

22. A method comprising:

providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to at least two personal computers within a network, at least one of said at least two personal computers comprising a microprocessor on a chip;

coupling, using a wireless network connection of at least one of said personal computers, said one computer to at least one of said other personal computers via said network;

controlling at least two processing units of said microprocessor chip utilizing at least one control unit;

managing power on said microprocessor chip;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

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

making said at least one other of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in executing said shared computer processing controlled by said master personal computer; and

alternating said at least two personal computers, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing, wherein each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising storing information on said microprocessor chip in a random access memory (RAM) with a non-cache memory.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising encrypting information utilizing said microprocessor chip.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

subdividing said shared computer processing into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an electromechanical (MEMS) component.

27. The method according to claim 22, further comprising adding 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.

28. A method comprising:

providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to at least two personal computers within a network wherein at least one of the personal computers comprises at least two microprocessors;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

monitoring, on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers;

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

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, 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;

making said at least one other of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to function 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

alternating said at least two personal computers, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation;

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

said limiting will not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors, said limiting permitting access by said network to at least one other of said microprocessors, and each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising:

said master personal computer subdividing said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

30. A method comprising:

providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to at least two microprocessors within a network of personal computers, including at least one personal computer with said at least two microprocessors, at least one of said two microprocessors being a microprocessor on a chip with a nonvolatile memory;

coupling, using a wireless network connection of at least one of said personal computers, said one personal computer to at least one of said other personal computers via said network;

controlling at least two processing units of said microprocessor chip utilizing at least one control unit;

managing power on said microprocessor chip;

making at least one of said at least two microprocessors available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

making at least one of said at least two microprocessors available, when directed, to function temporarily as a master microprocessor to initiate and control execution of computer processing shared with at least one other of said at least two microprocessors in said network;

making said at least one other of said at least two microprocessors available, when idled, to function temporarily as at least one slave microprocessor to participate in an execution of shared computer processing controlled by said master microprocessor; and

alternating said at least two microprocessors, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing, wherein each of said at least one slave microprocessors consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave microprocessor at a lower processing level.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising storing information in a random access memory (RAM) with a non-cache memory on said microprocessor chip.

32. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

said master microprocessor subdividing said shared computer processing into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave microprocessors.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein said microprocessor chip further comprises an electromechanical (MEMS) component.

34. The method according to claim 30, further comprising encrypting information utilizing said microprocessor chip.

35. A method comprising:

providing network services including browsing functions and shared computer processing including parallel processing, to at least two personal computers within a network, at least one of said at least two personal computers comprising a PC microprocessor with a slave microprocessor;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

monitoring, on a net basis, a provision of said network services to each of said at least two personal computers;

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

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, 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;

making said at least one other of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, 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

alternating said at least two personal computers, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing operation;

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

said limiting will not permit access by said network to at least one of said microprocessors,

said limiting permitting access by said network to said slave microprocessor, and

each of said at least one slave personal computer consolidates or passes through results sent from another slave personal computer at a lower processing level.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising:

said master personal computer subdividing said shared computer processing operation into a plurality of parts and sending said plurality of parts to slave personal computers.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein said limiting is performed by non-configurable hardware at a microchip level.

38. A method comprising:

providing network services and shared computer processing, including parallel processing, to at least two microprocessors within a network of personal computers, such that at least one of said two microprocessors is a microprocessor on a chip with a nonvolatile memory;

coupling, using a wireless network connection of at least one of said two personal computers, said one personal computer to at least one of said other personal computers via said network;

controlling at least two processing units of said microprocessor chip utilizing at least one control unit;

providing a power management function to said microprocessor chip;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to provide said shared computer processing to said network;

making at least one of said at least two personal computers available, when directed, to function temporarily as a master personal computer to initiate and control execution of computer processing shared with at least one other of said at least two personal computers in said network;

making said at least one other of said at least two personal computers available, when idled, to function temporarily as at least one slave personal computer to participate in an execution of a shared computer processing controlled by said master personal computer; and

alternating said at least two personal computers, as directed, between functioning as a master and functioning as a slave in said shared computer processing, wherein

at least one of said at least two personal computers is physically integrated in onboard equipment of an automobile and is connected to said network.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising storing information in a random access memory (RAM) with a non-cache memory on said microprocessor chip.

40. The method according to claim 38, further comprising encrypting information utilizing said microprocessor chip.