METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING

• US 20110300851A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Dilip, Yallapragada, Subbarao V., Nanda, Sanjiv, Das, Soumya, Soliman, Samir Salib, Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Narayanan, Vidya
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/08 Load balancing or load distribution transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributed computing between communication devices. A femto node is treated as a trusted extension of a user equipment and performs processing tasks on behalf of the user equipment. The femto node is also treated as a trusted extension of network servers and performs services on behalf of the network servers. Tasks are thus distributed between the network servers, the femto node and one or more user equipments. The tasks include processing data, filtering incoming messages, and caching network service information.

Claims

1. A method of communication, the method comprising:

receiving, by a femto node, a first communication from a first apparatus, the first communication comprising an indication of one or more processing tasks to perform;

performing the one or more processing tasks; and

selectively transmitting a second communication to a second apparatus, the second communication comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication is received by the femto node in response to a request sent from the femto node to the first apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus comprises a first user equipment.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more processing tasks comprise processing sensor data received from the first user equipment.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second apparatus comprises a first server.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second apparatus comprises a second user equipment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third communication from a third apparatus comprising an indication of one or more additional processing tasks to perform; and

performing the one or more additional processing tasks.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting a fourth communication to a fourth apparatus comprising an indication of a result of the one or more additional processing tasks.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus comprises a server.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second apparatus comprises a user equipment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication further comprises data associated with the one or more processing tasks.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second communication further comprises data associated with the result of the processing task.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising waiting for a period of time between performing the one or more processing tasks and selectively transmitting the second communication.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

gathering information for performing the one or more processing tasks; and

waiting for a period of time between gathering the information and performing the one or more processing tasks.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising aggregating results for a plurality of the one or more processing tasks and wherein the indication of the result comprises the aggregated results.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises a request from the first apparatus to perform the one or more processing tasks.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus and second apparatus are the same apparatus.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the one or more processing tasks comprises performing a portion of the one or more processing tasks, and wherein the method further comprises transferring a remaining portion of the one or more tasks back to the first apparatus.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing tasks comprise gathering information based on at least one user preference and transmitting at least a portion of the gathered information to the second apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting the second communication is performed at a future time relative to a time when the information is gathered.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the future time is based on a prior configuration and/or handshaking between the femto node and the first and/or the second apparatus.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the future time is based on a determination of a relevance of the gathered information, wherein the relevance is a function of a location and a time associated with the first apparatus and/or the second apparatus.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing tasks further comprise filtering said gathered information to generate said at least a portion of the gathered information based on the at least one user preference.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a database for storage and retrieval of information for the first apparatus.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising enabling remote retrieval of the information by the first apparatus, wherein the first apparatus is in communication with another node.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of silos for processing the one or more tasks, wherein each silo is associated with a different apparatus.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of silos for storage and retrieval of information, wherein each silo is associated with different apparatus.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein either the first apparatus or the second apparatus is a user equipment configured to enable remote processing of tasks when not in proximity of the femto node.

29. A femto node comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first communication from a first apparatus, the first communication comprising an indication of one or more processing tasks to perform;

a processor configured to perform the one or more processing tasks; and

a transmitter configured to selectively transmit a second communication to a second apparatus, the second communication comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

30. The femto node of claim 29, wherein the transmitter is further configured to wait for a period of time after the one or more processing tasks are performed before selectively transmitting the second communication.

31. The femto node of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to:

gather information for performing the one or more processing tasks; and

wait for a period of time between gathering the information and performing the one or more processing tasks.

32. The femto node of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to aggregate results for a plurality of the one or more processing tasks and wherein the indication of the result comprises the aggregated results.

33. The femto node of claim 29, wherein performing the one or more processing tasks comprises performing a portion of the one or more processing tasks, and wherein the processor is configured to transfer a remaining portion of the one or more tasks back to the first apparatus.

34. The femto node of claim 29, wherein the one or more processing tasks comprise gathering information based on at least one user preference and transmitting at least a portion of the gathered information to the second apparatus.

35. The femto node of claim 34, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the second communication at a future time relative to a time when the information is gathered.

36. The femto node of claim 35, wherein the future time is based on a prior configuration and/or handshaking between the femto node and the first and/or the second apparatus.

37. The femto node of claim 35, wherein the future time is based on a determination of a relevance of the gathered information, wherein the relevance is a function of a location and a time associated with the first apparatus and/or the second apparatus.

38. The femto node of claim 34, wherein the one or more processing tasks further comprise filtering said gathered information to generate said at least a portion of the gathered information based on the at least one user preference.

39. The femto node of claim 29, further comprising a database for storage and retrieval of information for the first apparatus.

40. The femto node of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to enable remote retrieval of the information by the first apparatus, wherein the first apparatus is in communication with another node.

41. The femto node of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of silos for processing the one or more tasks, wherein each silo is associated with a different apparatus.

42. A femto node comprising:

means for receiving a first communication from a first apparatus, the first communication comprising an indication of one or more processing tasks to perform;

means for performing the one or more processing tasks; and

means for transmitting a second communication to a second apparatus, the second communication comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

43. The femto node of claim 42, further comprising the means for transmitting waiting for a period of time after the one or more processing tasks are performed before selectively transmitting the second communication.

44. The femto node of claim 42, wherein performing the one or more processing tasks comprises performing a portion of the one or more processing tasks, and further comprising means for transferring a remaining portion of the one or more tasks back to the first apparatus.

45. The femto node of claim 42, wherein the one or more processing tasks comprise gathering information based on at least one user preference and transmitting at least a portion of the gathered information to the second apparatus.

46. The femto node of claim 45, wherein the one or more processing tasks further comprise filtering said gathered information to generate said at least a portion of the gathered information based on the at least one user preference.

47. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to receive, by a femto node, a first communication from a first apparatus, the first communication comprising an indication of one or more processing tasks to perform;

code for causing a computer to perform the one or more processing tasks; and

code for causing a computer to selectively transmit a second communication to a second apparatus, the second communication comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

48. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing a computer to wait for a period of time between performing the one or more processing tasks and selectively transmitting the second communication.

49. The computer program product of claim 47, wherein the code for performing the one or more processing tasks comprises code for performing a portion of the one or more processing tasks, and wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing a computer to transfer a remaining portion of the one or more tasks back to the first apparatus.

50. A method of communication, the method comprising:

determining, by an apparatus, one or more processing tasks to be offloaded to a femto node;

generating a first communication comprising an indication of the one or more processing tasks;

transmitting the first communication to the femto node; and

receiving a second communication from the femto node comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the apparatus comprises a user equipment.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the user equipment is located remotely from the femto node.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the one or more processing tasks comprises processing sensor data generated by the user equipment.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the apparatus comprises a server.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein determining the one or more processing tasks to be offloaded further comprises determining a resource savings value associated with offloading the one or more processing tasks.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein determining the one or more processing tasks to be offloaded further comprises comparing the resource savings value to a threshold and wherein generating the first communication is performed responsive to the comparison.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the resource savings value comprises an amount of processing capacity saved by offloading the one or more processing tasks.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein the resource savings value comprises an amount of communication energy saved by offloading the one or more processing tasks.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein the resource savings value comprises a cost of communication saved by offloading the one or more processing tasks.

60. An apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine one or more processing tasks to be offloaded to a femto node;

generate a first communication comprising an indication of the one or more processing tasks;

a transmitter configured to transmit the first communication to the femto node; and

a receiving configured to receive a second communication from the femto node comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein determining the one or more processing tasks to be offloaded further comprises determining a resource savings value associated with offloading the one or more processing tasks.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the resource savings value to a threshold and wherein generating the first communication is performed responsive to the comparison.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the resource savings value comprises an amount of processing capacity saved by offloading the one or more processing tasks.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the resource savings value comprises an amount of communication energy saved by offloading the one or more processing tasks.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the resource savings value comprises an amount of communication bandwidth saved by offloading the one or more processing tasks.

66. An apparatus for communication, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining one or more processing tasks to be offloaded to a femto node;

means for generating a first communication comprising an indication of the one or more processing tasks;

means for transmitting the first communication to the femto node; and

means for receiving a second communication from the femto node comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, further comprising means for determining a resource savings value associated with offloading the one or more processing tasks.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, further comprising means for comparing the resource savings value to a threshold and wherein generating the first communication is performed responsive to the comparison.

69. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing a computer to determine, by an apparatus, one or more processing tasks to be offloaded to a femto node;

code for causing a computer to generate a first communication comprising an indication of the one or more processing tasks;

code for causing a computer to transmit the first communication to the femto node; and

code for causing a computer to receive a second communication from the femto node comprising an indication of a result of the one or more processing tasks.

70. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein code for determining the one or more processing tasks to be offloaded further comprises code for determining a resource savings value associated with offloading the one or more processing tasks.