Methods and systems for distributed processing on consumer devices

• US 9,059,996 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neill, Richard W., Rivkin, Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): Rashid, Harunur
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLMES, ANGELA R
• Application Number:
  US14/164,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3, 713/189, 380/270, 709/201, 709/219, 709224-226, 709/229
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/5017 Task decomposition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5072 Grid computing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores
• 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: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Systems and methods are used to provide distributed processing on a service provider network that includes a plurality of remotely located consumer devices. Each of the remotely located consumer devices includes a processing device. A service is provided from the service provider network to the remotely located consumer devices. Distributed processing of a task on the processing devices of the remotely located consumer devices occurs, the distributed processing being unrelated to the service provided to the consumers. The distributed processing occurs even when the processing devices are in use by corresponding remotely located consumer devices.

Claims

1. A system for providing consumer device users with a consumer service from a consumer service provider and for facilitating distributed processing of a task, the task of the distributed processing being unrelated to the consumer service, the system comprising:

at least one network distribution system that is structured and arranged to provide communication between the consumer service provider and a plurality of consumer devices, each consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices having a processor that is adapted to receive the consumer service from the consumer service provider and to perform distributed processing even when the processor is receiving and processing the consumer service; and

a device management system that is adapted to;

receive a processing task;

subdivide the processing task into a plurality of subtasks;

assign each subtask of the plurality of subtasks to at least one consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices, wherein at least one consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices includes assigning a first subtask to a first group of consumer devices and assigning a second subtask to a second group of consumer devices;

receive completed subtasks from each consumer device; and

aggregate the completed subtasks to complete the processing task.

2. A consumer device for use in the system of claim 1, that is integrated into a service provider network that comprises a plurality of consumer devices for providing consumer device users with a consumer service and for facilitating distributed processing of at least one of a task and a subtask, the at least one of a task and a subtask of the distributed processing being unrelated to the consumer service, the consumer device comprising a processor that is adapted to receive the consumer service from the service provider and to perform distributed processing.

3. The consumer device of claim 2, wherein the consumer device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a computer, a portable computing device, a set top box, a cable television set top box, a satellite television set top box, a camera, and a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the device management system is adapted to assign each subtask to a plurality of consumer devices, to provide increased quality of service and fault tolerance.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a service management system that is adapted to provide the consumer service.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the device management system includes a network aggregation system that is adapted to aggregate a plurality of network distribution systems.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the network aggregation system is in communication with a plurality of regional distribution systems, each regional distribution system of the plurality of regional distribution systems being connected to a plurality of consumer devices, to provide an interface between the plurality of consumer devices and the network aggregation system.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each regional distribution system is in communication with at least one consumer service provider.

9. A method for providing consumer device users with a consumer service from a consumer service provider and for facilitating distributed processing of a task, the task of the distributed processing being unrelated to the consumer service, the method comprising:

providing communication between the consumer service provider and a plurality of consumer devices, each consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices having a processor that is adapted to receive the consumer service from the consumer service provider and to perform distributed processing even when the processor is receiving and processing the consumer service, using at least one network distribution system; and

adapting a device management system to;

receive a processing task;

subdivide the processing task into a plurality of subtasks;

assign each subtask of the plurality of subtasks to at least one consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices, wherein assigning each subtask of the plurality of subtasks to at least one consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices includes assigning a first subtask to a first group of consumer devices and assigning a second subtask to a second group of consumer devices;

receive completed subtasks from each consumer device; and

aggregate the completed subtasks to complete the processing task.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising adapting the device management system to assign each subtask to a plurality of consumer devices, to provide increased quality of service and fault tolerance.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein adapting the device management system includes adapting a network aggregation system to aggregate a plurality of network distribution systems.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the method includes concurrently providing consumer device users with a consumer service from a consumer service provider and for facilitating distributed processing of a task.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the network aggregation system is in communication with a plurality of regional distribution systems, and the method includes connecting each regional distribution system of the plurality of regional distribution systems to a plurality of consumer devices, to provide an interface between the plurality of consumer devices and the network aggregation system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each regional distribution system is in communication with at least one consumer service provider.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein assigning each subtask of the plurality of subtasks to at least one consumer device of the plurality of consumer devices includes assigning a first subtask to a first group of consumer devices and assigning a second subtask to a second group of consumer devices.