Capability based distributed processing

• US 8,249,940 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Byteweavr, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Niration Network Group LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hubbard, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US12/435,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20090216649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0264 based upon schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3239 involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

Various embodiments enable a server system to identify a workload capability factor for a distributed device and use the workload capability factor to determine an incentive for the distributed device. In one embodiment, a distributed processing system includes a server configured to be coupled to one or more distributed devices. The server may include a workload database configured to store at least one workload project, a capability database configured to store one or more workload capability factors associated with one or more distributed devices, and a control system configured to use the one or more workload capability factors from the capability database to perform at least one workload project from the workload database. The least one workload capability factor may also be used to determine an incentive for the one or more distributed devices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying, by a server system, a workload capability factor for a distributed device; and

utilizing, by the server system, the workload capability factor to determine an incentive for the distributed device.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the workload capability factor comprises one or more of:

a processor capability, a storage capacity, a graphics capability, a communications capability, or a software configuration.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the workload capability is identified responsive to a customer request.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the workload capability is identified responsive to a workload performed by the distributed device.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

receiving, by the server system, an indication that the distributed device is available to process a workload; and

incentivizing, by the server system, the distributed device responsive to the indication.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, wherein the indication comprises at least one of:

a distributed device joining a distributed processing system, a distributed device processing a workload, or a distributed device transmitting results associated with a workload.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the incentive comprises at least one of:

a sweepstakes entry, a monetary prize, Internet access, domain name hosting, an E-mail account, data storage, or file sharing.

8. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing, by the sever system, the work load capability factor in a capability database.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising distributing, by the server system, a workload to the distributed device responsive to the workload capability factor.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising scheduling, by the server system, processing of a workload by the distributed device responsive to the workload capability factor.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the server system, a customer selection identifying the workload capability factor; and

distributing, by the server system, a workload to the distributed device responsive to the workload capability factor identified by the customer.