Cloud computing system and method based on distributed consumer electronic devices

• US 9,451,322 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeoNovus USA, Inc. (LeoNovus, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LeoNovus USA, Inc. (LeoNovus, Inc.)
• Inventors: Willis, Daniel, Campbell, Gordon, O'Hagan, Sean, Noble, Derek, Master, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Randy
• Application Number:
  US14/260,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20140325545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 725/14, 725/25, 725/36, 725/37, 709/219, 709/226, 709/236
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• 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: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6175 involving transmission via Internet broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

In accordance with a method a plurality of subscriber systems are provided, the systems being coupled via a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising a first subscriber system. The first subscriber system has processing and non-volatile storage and is suitably programmed for providing a subscriber service to a first subscriber. The first system is disposed in an unsecured location, which is associated with the first subscriber. Subsequently, the subscriber service is provided to the first subscriber. Separately, a task is provided to the first subscriber system via the WAN and is executed on the first subscriber system. An activity record for the execution of the task is logged, based on an amount of at least one of the processing and the non-volatile storage consumed on the first subscriber system during execution of the task.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

registering a plurality of subscribers to a content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each of the subscriber systems coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

delivering content to a first subscriber system in accordance with the content delivery service, thereby consuming a portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system;

receiving a task that is other than in accordance with the content delivery service;

providing the task to the first subscriber system, the first subscriber system having an available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to execute the task;

executing the task on the first subscriber system; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task,

wherein the content delivery service is provided by a content delivery service provider, and wherein a cloud-computing broker other than the content delivery service provider performs the following;

receiving the task from a requestor;

providing the task to the first subscriber system; and

logging the activity record for the execution of the task based on the amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein delivering content to the first subscriber system via the WAN is performed in response to a request received from a first subscriber associated with the first subscriber system.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein logging the activity record comprises invoicing to other than the first subscriber.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein invoicing to other than the first subscriber comprises invoicing to other than any subscriber of the plurality of subscribers.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the content delivery service is an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service, and wherein each of the subscriber systems is a set top box (STB).

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the content delivery service is a web browser HTML and HTML5 service.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein delivering content to the first subscriber system via the WAN is performed during a first period of time and wherein executing the task on the first subscriber system is performed during a second period of time that at least partially overlaps with the first period of time.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein delivering content to the first subscriber system via the WAN is performed during a first period of time and wherein executing the task on the first subscriber system is performed during a second period of time that other than overlaps with the first period of time.

9. The method according to claim 2 wherein the task comprises storage of user data other than data associated with the content delivery service and other than data associated with the first subscriber.

10. The method according to claim 9 comprising storing at least a portion of the user data in the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the task comprises processing of user data other than data associated with the content delivery service.

12. A method comprising:

registering a plurality of subscribers to a content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each of the subscriber systems coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

delivering content to a first subscriber system in accordance with the content delivery service, thereby consuming a portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system;

receiving a task that is other than in accordance with the content delivery service;

providing the task to the first subscriber system, the first subscriber system having an available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to execute the task;

executing the task on the first subscriber system; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task,

wherein delivering content to the first subscriber system via the WAN is performed in response to a request received from a first subscriber associated with the first subscriber system,

wherein the task comprises storage of user data other than data associated with the content delivery service and other than data associated with the first subscriber, and comprising storing at least a portion of the user data in the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system,

wherein data associated with the content delivery service is stored in the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system in accordance with a first security protocol and wherein the at least a portion of the user data is stored in the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system in accordance with a second security protocol.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the content delivery service is provided by a content delivery service provider, the content delivery service provider performing the following:

receiving the task from a requestor;

providing the task to the first subscriber system; and

logging the activity record for the execution of the task based on the amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the content delivery service is provided by a service provider, the service provider also for coordinating receipt of the task from a requestor and for providing the task to the first subscriber system.

15. A method comprising:

registering a plurality of subscribers to a content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each of the subscriber systems coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

delivering content to a first subscriber system in accordance with the content delivery service, thereby consuming a portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system;

receiving a task that is other than in accordance with the content delivery service;

providing the task to the first subscriber system, the first subscriber system having an available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to execute the task;

executing the task on the first subscriber system; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task,

wherein delivering content to the first subscriber system via the WAN is performed in response to a request received from a first subscriber associated with the first subscriber system,

wherein the task comprises storage of user data other than data associated with the content delivery service and other than data associated with the first subscriber,

wherein the amount of user data exceeds a storage capacity of the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system, and wherein providing the task to the first subscriber system comprises;

determining a set of subscriber systems having, in aggregate, an available amount of non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to store the user data; and

storing the user data in the non-volatile storage resources of the subscriber systems of the set of subscriber systems, comprising storing in each of the non-volatile storage resource a portion of the user data.

16. A method comprising:

registering a plurality of subscribers to a content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each of the subscriber systems coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

delivering content to a first subscriber system in accordance with the content delivery service, thereby consuming a portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource of the first subscriber system;

receiving a task that is other than in accordance with the content delivery service;

providing the task to the first subscriber system, the first subscriber system having an available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to execute the task;

executing the task on the first subscriber system; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task,

wherein delivering content to the first subscriber system via the WAN is performed in response to a request received from a first subscriber associated with the first subscriber system,

wherein the task comprises processing of user data other than data associated with the content delivery service and other than data associated with the first subscriber,

wherein processing of the user data requires an amount of processing resources exceeding the available amount of the processing resource of the first subscriber system, and wherein providing the task to the first subscriber system comprises;

determining a set of subscriber systems having, in aggregate, an available amount of processing resource that is sufficient to process the user data; and

processing the user data using the aggregated processing resources of the subscriber systems of the set of subscriber systems.

17. The method according to claim 16 comprising processing at least a portion of the user data using the processing resource of the first subscriber system.

18. A method comprising:

providing a plurality of subscriber systems coupled via a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising a first subscriber system, the first subscriber system comprising processing and non-volatile storage and being suitably programmed for providing a subscriber service to a first subscriber;

disposing the first system in an unsecured location, the unsecured location associated with the first subscriber;

providing the subscriber service to the first subscriber;

providing a task to the first subscriber system via the WAN, wherein the task comprises storage of user data other than data associated with the subscriber service and other than data associated with the first subscriber;

executing the task on the first subscriber system; and

,

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of at least one of the processing and the non-volatile storage consumed on the first subscriber system during execution of the task,

wherein the amount of user data exceeds a storage capacity of the non-volatile storage of the first subscriber system, and wherein providing the task to the first subscriber system comprises;

determining a set of subscriber systems having, in aggregate, an available amount of non-volatile storage that is sufficient to store the user data; and

storing the user data in the non-volatile storage of the subscriber systems of the set of subscriber systems, comprising storing in each of the non-volatile storages a portion of the user data.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein logging the activity record comprises invoicing to other than the first subscriber.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein invoicing to other than the first subscriber comprises invoicing to other than any other subscriber to the subscriber service.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein the subscriber service is provided by a service provider, the service provider performing the following:

receiving the task from a requestor;

providing the task to the first subscriber system; and

logging the activity record for the execution of the task based on the amount of at least one of the processing and the non-volatile storage consumed on the first subscriber system during execution of the task.

22. The method according to claim 18 wherein the subscriber service is provided by a service provider, the service provider also for coordinating receipt of the task from a requestor and for providing the task to the first subscriber system.

23. The method according to claim 18 wherein the subscriber service is an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service, and wherein each of the plurality of subscriber systems is a set top box (STB).

24. The method according to claim 18 wherein providing the subscriber service to the first subscriber is performed during a first period of time and wherein executing the task on the first subscriber system is performed during a second period of time that at least partially overlaps with the first period of time.

25. The method according to claim 18 wherein providing the subscriber service to the first subscriber is performed during a first period of time and wherein executing the task on the first subscriber system is performed during a second period of time that other than overlaps with the first period of time.

26. The method according to claim 18 comprising storing at least a portion of the user data in the non-volatile storage of the first subscriber system.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein data associated with the subscriber service is stored in the non-volatile storage of the first subscriber system in accordance with a first security protocol and wherein the at least a portion of the user data is stored in the non-volatile storage of the first subscriber system in accordance with a second security protocol.

28. The method according to claim 18 wherein the task further comprises processing the stored user data.

29. A method comprising:

registering a first plurality of subscribers to a first content delivery service;

registering a second plurality of subscribers to a second content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber of the plurality of first subscribers and of the plurality of second subscribers, providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each of the provided subscriber systems coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

receiving by a broker system a task that is other than in accordance with the first content delivery service or the second content delivery service;

providing the task to at least one of the subscriber systems, the at least one of the subscriber systems having an available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to execute the task;

executing the task on the at least one of the subscriber systems; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task,

wherein providing the task to at least one of the subscriber systems comprises providing a first portion of the task to a subscriber system associated with a subscriber of the first plurality of subscribers and providing a second portion of the task to a subscriber system associated with a subscriber of the second plurality of subscribers.

30. A method comprising:

registering a first plurality of subscribers to a first content delivery service;

registering a second plurality of subscribers to a second content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber of the plurality of first subscribers and of the plurality of second subscribers, providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each of the provided subscriber systems coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

receiving by a broker system a task that is other than in accordance with the first content delivery service or the second content delivery service;

providing the task to at least one of the subscriber systems, the at least one of the subscriber systems having an available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to execute the task;

executing the task on the at least one of the subscriber systems; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task,

wherein the first content delivery service is provided by a first content delivery service provider and the second content delivery service is provided by a second content delivery service provider that is other than the first content delivery service provider.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein one of the first content delivery service provider and the second content delivery service provider is also the broker.

32. A method comprising:

registering a first plurality of subscribers to a first content delivery service;

registering a second plurality of subscribers to a second content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber of the plurality of first subscribers and of the plurality of second subscribers, providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each of the provided subscriber systems coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

receiving by a broker system a task that is other than in accordance with the first content delivery service or the second content delivery service;

providing the task to at least one of the subscriber systems, the at least one of the subscriber systems having an available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is sufficient to execute the task;

executing the task on the at least one of the subscriber systems; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an amount of the available portion of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource consumed during execution of the task,

wherein both the first content delivery service and the second content delivery service are provided by a same content delivery service provider, and

wherein the content delivery service provider is also the broker.

33. A method comprising:

registering a plurality of subscribers to a content delivery service;

for each registered subscriber providing at a location associated therewith a subscriber system, each subscriber system coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) and comprising at least one of a processing resource and a non-volatile storage resource;

delivering content to each subscriber system in accordance with the content delivery service, comprising providing data relating to the content delivery service to each subscriber system according to a first security protocol;

providing a task to at least one of the subscriber systems, comprising;

determining a subset of the subscriber systems having in aggregate a sufficient amount of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource available to execute the task; and

delivering data associated with the task to each subscriber system of the determined subset of subscriber systems, comprising providing the data via the WAN and according to a second security protocol, wherein the data provided to any one subscriber system of the determined subset of subscriber systems is insufficient to complete the task; and

logging an activity record for the execution of the task based on an aggregated amount of the at least one of the processing resource and the non-volatile storage resource that is consumed during execution of the task.