Distributed service provider
First Claim
1. A station for a network apparatus, said network apparatus comprising said station and a plurality of other stations, all interconnected in a network by a communication link, said station comprising:
- a network connection;
a self assessment module operable to determine a current status of said station,wherein said current status is a measure of available hardware resources of said station, andwherein said current status includes a determination of a dynamic status for said station based on current usage of said hardware resources of said station;
a trust list that includes a station identifier for each other station of said plurality of other stations which is designated as trusted to perform tasks for said station;
a broadcast unit operable to transmit service requests to said network connection and via said network, said service requests being directed to said each other station identified in said trust list and constituting a request to said each other station to perform a task for said station;
an answer unit operable to receive service requests via network through said network connection and, in response thereto, to transmit via network through said network connection an acceptance or refusal message in respect of said service request, said acceptance or refusal being decided based on said current status of said station, as determined by said self assessment module; and
a service requirement analysis module and a software resource repository in which a plurality of software modules are stored, said service requirement analysis module being operable to maintain said software resource repository by importing and exporting software modules to and from other stations having regard to demand in said station for such software modules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A station for a network apparatus, which includes interconnected by a communication link, includes a network connection; a self assessment module operable to determine a current status of the station including a measure of the stations available resources; a trust list that includes a station identifier for each other station which is designated as trusted to perform tasks for the station; and a broadcast unit operable to transmit service requests to the network. The service requests are directed to each other station in the trust list and request each other station to perform a task. The station also includes an answer unit operable to receive service requests from the network and transmit an acceptance or refusal message in response to the service request. The acceptance or refusal is decided based on the current status of the station as determined by the self assessment module.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A station for a network apparatus, said network apparatus comprising said station and a plurality of other stations, all interconnected in a network by a communication link, said station comprising:
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a network connection; a self assessment module operable to determine a current status of said station, wherein said current status is a measure of available hardware resources of said station, and wherein said current status includes a determination of a dynamic status for said station based on current usage of said hardware resources of said station; a trust list that includes a station identifier for each other station of said plurality of other stations which is designated as trusted to perform tasks for said station; a broadcast unit operable to transmit service requests to said network connection and via said network, said service requests being directed to said each other station identified in said trust list and constituting a request to said each other station to perform a task for said station; an answer unit operable to receive service requests via network through said network connection and, in response thereto, to transmit via network through said network connection an acceptance or refusal message in respect of said service request, said acceptance or refusal being decided based on said current status of said station, as determined by said self assessment module; and a service requirement analysis module and a software resource repository in which a plurality of software modules are stored, said service requirement analysis module being operable to maintain said software resource repository by importing and exporting software modules to and from other stations having regard to demand in said station for such software modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of distributing tasks in a network comprising a plurality of stations, all interconnected by respective network connections to a communication link, said method comprising:
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transmitting a service request by a first station to its network connection and via said network, said service request being directed to a trusted sub-group of said stations identified by a trust list and specifying a task to be performed for said first station; and receiving said service request by a second station, that is one of said trusted sub-group of stations, through its network connection and, in response thereto, transmitting via said network through its network connection an acceptance or refusal message in respect of said service request, said acceptance or refusal being decided having regard to said current status of said second station, as determined by a self assessment of said second stations, wherein said self assessment is operable to determine available hardware resources of said second station and a dynamic status for said second station based on current usage of hardware resources of said second station; carrying out said task specified in said service request by said second station and returning a service result to said first station; and maintaining a software resource repository by importing and exporting software modules to and from other stations having regard to demand in said second station for such software modules. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification