Dynamic coordination and control of network connected devices for large-scale network site testing and associated architectures
First Claim
1. A method of providing dynamic coordination of distributed client systems in a distributed computing platform, comprising:
- providing at least one server system coupled to a network;
providing a plurality of network-connected distributed client systems, the client systems having under-utilized capabilities and running a client agent program to provide workload processing for at least one project of a distributed computing platform;
utilizing the server system to distribute workloads for at least one project to the client systems and to distribute initial project and poll parameters to the client systems;
receiving poll communications from the client systems during processing of project workloads by the client systems, wherein a dynamic snapshot information of current project status is provided based at least in part upon the poll communications;
analyzing the poll communications to determine whether or not to make one or more modification to the project and poll parameters, wherein the modifications to the project and poll parameters utilize the dynamic snapshot information to determine whether to change how many client systems are active in the project, and if a fewer number is desired, including within a polling response communications a reduction in the number of actively participating clients, and if a greater number is desired, adding client systems to active participation in the project;
sending the poll response communications to the client systems to modify the project and poll parameters depending upon one or more decisions reached in the analyzing step; and
repeating the receiving, analyzing and sending steps to dynamically coordinate project activities of the plurality of client systems during project operations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Dynamic coordination and control of network connected devices within a distributed processing platform is disclosed for large-scale network site testing, or for other distributed projects. For network site testing, the distributed processing system utilizes a plurality of client devices which are running a client agent program associated with the distributed computing platform and which are running potentially distinct project modules for the testing of network sites or other projects. The participating client devices can be selected based upon their attributes and can receive test workloads from the distributed processing server systems. In addition, the client devices can send and receive poll communications that may be used during processing of the project to control, manage and coordinate the project activities of the distributed devices. If desired, a separate poll server system can be dedicated to handling the poll communication and coordination and control operations with the participating distributed devices during test operations, thereby allowing other server tasks to be handled by other distributed processing server systems. Once the tests are complete, the results can be communicated from the client devices to the server systems and can be reported, as desired. Additionally, the distributed processing system can identify the attributes, including device capabilities, of distributed devices connected together through a wide variety of communication systems and networks and utilize those attributes to organize, manage and distribute project workloads to the distributed devices.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of providing dynamic coordination of distributed client systems in a distributed computing platform, comprising:
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providing at least one server system coupled to a network; providing a plurality of network-connected distributed client systems, the client systems having under-utilized capabilities and running a client agent program to provide workload processing for at least one project of a distributed computing platform; utilizing the server system to distribute workloads for at least one project to the client systems and to distribute initial project and poll parameters to the client systems; receiving poll communications from the client systems during processing of project workloads by the client systems, wherein a dynamic snapshot information of current project status is provided based at least in part upon the poll communications; analyzing the poll communications to determine whether or not to make one or more modification to the project and poll parameters, wherein the modifications to the project and poll parameters utilize the dynamic snapshot information to determine whether to change how many client systems are active in the project, and if a fewer number is desired, including within a polling response communications a reduction in the number of actively participating clients, and if a greater number is desired, adding client systems to active participation in the project; sending the poll response communications to the client systems to modify the project and poll parameters depending upon one or more decisions reached in the analyzing step; and repeating the receiving, analyzing and sending steps to dynamically coordinate project activities of the plurality of client systems during project operations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A distributed computing platform having dynamic coordination capabilities for distributed client systems processing project workloads, comprising:
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a plurality of network-connected distributed client systems, the client systems having under-utilized capabilities; a client agent program configured to run on the client systems and to provide workload processing for at least one project of a distributed computing platform; at least one server system configured to communicate with the plurality of client systems through a network to provide the client agent program to the client systems, to send initial project and poll parameters to the client systems, to receive poll communications from the client systems during processing of the project workloads, wherein a dynamic snapshot information of current project status is provided based at least in part upon the poll communications from the client systems, to analyze the poll communications utilizing the dynamic snapshot information to determine whether to change how many client systems are active in the project, wherein if a fewer number is desired including within a poll response communications a reduction in the number of actively participating clients, and if a greater number is desired, adding client systems to active participation in the project within a poll response communications, the server system repeatedly utilizing the poll communications and the poll response communications to coordinate project activities of the client systems during project operations. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification