US6098091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system including a central computer that assigns tasks to idle workstations using availability schedules and computational capabilities
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-30
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2016-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for assigning tasks to peer-to-peer computers connected via a wide area network. The system includes a central computer and one or more remote computers. The central computer and the remote computers operate in one of a pluralility of relationships, including a subscriber relationship and a contractor relationship. In the subscriber relationship, the central computer determines whether a remote computer still subscribes to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and bills the remote computer accordingly. In the contractor relationship, the central computer polls each remote computer to inquire about the available times when the remote computer is idle and the computational capabilities of the remote computer. The central computer then executes an assignment or scheduling program to assign tasks to idle remote computers for processing. After the idle remote computers finish processing the assigned tasks, the central computer credits a payment to the remote computer. In one embodiment, the remote computer disconnects from the network while processing the assigned task and periodically reconnects to transmit status reports to the central computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Greg Kisor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5061; G06F9/5072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for peer-to-peer wide area network computing comprising: a communications link; a plurality of computers coupled to said communications link in communication with each other, said plurality of computers including a central computer and a remote computer, where said central computer and said remote computer operate in one of a plurality of relationships comprising a subscriber relationship and a contractor relationship; a polling program that executes on said central computer, said polling program transmitting via said communication link a query to inquire about available times when said remote computer can operate in the contractor relationship and computational capabilities of said remote computer, said remote computer responding to said query by sending a reply to said central computer, said reply indicating said abailable times and computational capabilities of said remote computer; and an assignment program that executes on said central computer to assign tasks to be completed by said remote computer based on said available times and said computational capabilities of said remote computer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A system for peer-to-peer wide area network computing comprising: a communications link; a plurality of computers coupled to said communications link in communication with each other, said plurality of computers including a central computer and a remote computer, where said central computer and said remote computer operate in one of a plurality of relationships comprising a subscriber relationship and a contractor relationship; a polling program that executes on said central computer, said polling program transmitting via said communication link a query to inquire about available times when said remote computer can operate in the contractor relationship and computational capabilities of said remote computer, said remote computer responding to said query by sending a reply to said central computer, said reply indicating said abailable times and computational capabilities of said remote computer; and an assignment program that executes on said central computer to assign tasks to be completed by said remote computer based on said available times and said computational capabilities of said remote computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein: said tasks are assigned task priorities indicating the importance of completion of each of said tasks to the overall system; and said assignment program assigns tasks to be completed by said remote computer based on said tasks priorities.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said communications link between said central computer and said remote computer includes a telephone line connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said communication link between said central computer and said remote computer includes a satellite connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said communications link is an integrated services digital line, said line including an Always On/dynamic Integrated services digital line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said central computer communicates with said remote computers using a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said central computer communicates with said remote computer using a packet-based protocol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said computational capabilities of said remote computer include: type of processor used in said remote computer; benchmark rating of computing power of said remote computer; amount of random-access-memory (RAM) available in said remote computer; number of hops between an Internet backbone and said remote computer; and transmission bandwidth of said remote computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 2 wherein each of said tasks further associated with a corresponding benchmark rating and a time to complete each said task using the corresponding benchmark rating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said remote computers and said central computer are personal computers including a microprocessor, random access memory and a display device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said assignment program is transferred from said central computer to said remote computer such that at a particular period in time within a period in time when said remote computer is available to operate in the contractor relationship, said remote computer handles a scheduling and task tracking routine of said central computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a billing program executed by said central computer which tracks an amount of work done by said remote computer and credits a corresponding account the payment according to work done.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the remote computer receives data and computing services from the central computer in exchange for a charge when operating in the subscriber relationship, and the remote computer provides data and computing services to the central computer in exchange for a payment when operating in the contractor relationship.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
153 words
A management apparatus on a central computer for performing peer-to-peer computing tasks on a wide area network, said management apparatus comprising: a polling apparatus for querying remote computers coupled to said central computer, where said central computer and said remote computer operate in one of a plurality of relationships comprising a subscriber relationship and a contractor relationship, and generating a resource availability list including available times when said remote computers can operate in the contractor relationship and computational capabilities of said remote computers; and a scheduling apparatus for assigning each task in a plurality of tasks to a remote computer in a plurality of remote computers, said assigning of each task being based on said available times when said remote computer can operate in the contractor relationship and also on said computational capabitilities of said remote computer, said scheduling apparatus subsequently transferring each task to said remote computer via the wide area network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
153 words
A management apparatus on a central computer for performing peer-to-peer computing tasks on a wide area network, said management apparatus comprising: a polling apparatus for querying remote computers coupled to said central computer, where said central computer and said remote computer operate in one of a plurality of relationships comprising a subscriber relationship and a contractor relationship, and generating a resource availability list including available times when said remote computers can operate in the contractor relationship and computational capabilities of said remote computers; and a scheduling apparatus for assigning each task in a plurality of tasks to a remote computer in a plurality of remote computers, said assigning of each task being based on said available times when said remote computer can operate in the contractor relationship and also on said computational capabitilities of said remote computer, said scheduling apparatus subsequently transferring each task to said remote computer via the wide area network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The management apparatus of claim 14 wherein said computational capabilities of said remote computer include: type of processor used in said remote computer; benchmark rating of computing power of said remote computer; amount of random-access-memory (RAM) available in said remote computer; number of hops between an Internet backbone and said remote computer; and transmission bandwidth of said remote computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The management apparatus of claim 14 wherein said management apparatus assigns priorities to said plurality of tasks, and arranges to complete high priority tasks before low priority tasks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The management apparatus of claim 14 wherein said management apparatus negotiates with said remote computer, said remote computer providing computational power in exchange for resources.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The management apparatus of claim 14 wherein said resource availability list records computational power using an ICOMP rating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The management apparatus of claim 14 wherein said resource availability list records computational power using a task specific benchmark.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The management apparatus of claim 14, wherein status reports are received periodically from said remote computer to determine progress in completing the task.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The management apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: an error control system to periodically monitor the remote computer to determine progress towards completion of the task; and, a bill tracking system to track and credit a payment to the remote computer for completed tasks according to work done.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of distributing tasks among a plurality of remote computers connected via a wide area network and coordinated by a central computer to operate in one of a plurality of relationships including a subscriber relationship and a contractor relationship, the method comprising: polling a remote computer of said plurality of remote computers to obtain computational capabilities of said remote computer and available times when said remote computer can operate in the contractor relationship; assigning tasks to said remote computer based on said computational capabilities and said available times of said remote computer; transmitting a task to said remote computer; disconnecting said remote computer from said central computer; periodically reconnecting and transmitting status reports from said remote computer to said central computer; and notifying said central computer of completion of said task.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of distributing tasks among a plurality of remote computers connected via a wide area network and coordinated by a central computer to operate in one of a plurality of relationships including a subscriber relationship and a contractor relationship, the method comprising: polling a remote computer of said plurality of remote computers to obtain computational capabilities of said remote computer and available times when said remote computer can operate in the contractor relationship; assigning tasks to said remote computer based on said computational capabilities and said available times of said remote computer; transmitting a task to said remote computer; disconnecting said remote computer from said central computer; periodically reconnecting and transmitting status reports from said remote computer to said central computer; and notifying said central computer of completion of said task.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22 further comprising storing a result of said task by said remote computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said central computer credits a payment to a billing account corresponding to said remote computer according to work done.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said task performed by said remote computer is a Moving Picture Experts Group compression of an image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said task performed by said remote computer is acting as a hypertext transmission protocol server.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said task performed by said remote computer is a Joint Photographic Experts Group compression.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |