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US6732141B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Commercial distributed processing by personal computers over the internet

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-11-26
•
Granted: 2004-05-04
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Expires: 2017-11-26
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Abstract

Abstract This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. More particularly, this invention relates to one or more large networks composed of smaller networks and large numbers of computers connected, like the Internet, wherein more than one separate parallel processing operation involving more than one different set of computers occurs simultaneously and wherein ongoing processing linkages can be established between virtually any microprocessors of separate computers connected to the network. Still more particularly, this invention relates to business arrangements enabling the shared used of network microprocessors for parallel and other processing, wherein personal computer owners provide microprocessor processing power to a network, preferably for parallel processing, in exchange for network linkage to other personal and other computers supplied by network providers, including linkage to other microprocessors for parallel or other processing; the basis of the exchange between owners and providers being whatever terms to which the parties agree, subject to governing laws, regulations, or rules, including payment from either party to the other based on periodic measurement of net use or provision of processing power.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frampton Erroll Ellis

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 06:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L43/00; G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/50; G06F9/5061; G06F9/5072; H04L63/00; H04L63/02; H04L63/0209; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L43/08; H04L43/0852; H04L69/00; H04L69/14; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 82
Claim 1
Independent Claim 176 words
A method of charging for use of a computer network comprising: measuring an amount of processing power of a computer that is being made available to said computer network; measuring an amount of network resources being used by said computer; determining a charge for access to said computer network by said computer based on a difference between said measured amount of processing power of said computer being made available to said computer network and said measured amount of network resources being used by said computer; coupling the computer via the network to one or more other computers of the computer network using a wireless network connection; controlling, based on input received from a user of the computer, one or more processing units of a microprocessor of a microchip of the computer; and selectively permitting access through the computer network to one or more of the processing units using a firewall of the microchip, the firewall being configured to permit access through the computer network to execute all or a portion of a shared computer processing operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 176 words
A method of charging for use of a computer network comprising: measuring an amount of processing power of a computer that is being made available to said computer network; measuring an amount of network resources being used by said computer; determining a charge for access to said computer network by said computer based on a difference between said measured amount of processing power of said computer being made available to said computer network and said measured amount of network resources being used by said computer; coupling the computer via the network to one or more other computers of the computer network using a wireless network connection; controlling, based on input received from a user of the computer, one or more processing units of a microprocessor of a microchip of the computer; and selectively permitting access through the computer network to one or more of the processing units using a firewall of the microchip, the firewall being configured to permit access through the computer network to execute all or a portion of a shared computer processing operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said computer is a personal computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said measuring of said amount of processing power of said computer made available to said computer network is based on an amount of time said personal computer is made available to said computer network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said personal computer is based on an amount of time said personal computer uses said computer network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 106 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein: said measuring of said amount of processing power of said computer made available to said computer network is based on an amount of time said computer is made available to said computer network; said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said computer is based on an amount of time said computer uses said computer network; and said determining said charge for access comprises comparing said amount of time said computer is made available to said computer network with said amount of time said computer uses said computer network to arrive at a net cost.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said computer includes time spent downloading data from a site connected to said computer network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein said measuring of said amount of said network resources being used by said computer includes a measure of parallel processing resources allocated to said computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: making available a standard number of personal computers, connected to said computer network, for shared processing by said computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said computer network includes an Internet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said processing power involves peer-to-peer processing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said network includes a peer-to-peer architecture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said network resources include shared file resources.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 202 words
A method of allocating use of a computer in a network of computers, including an Internet which is utilized to provide shared computer processing resources, comprising: coupling the computer via the network to one or more other computers of the computer network using a wireless network connection; controlling, based on input received from a user of the computer, one or more processing units of a microprocessor of a microchip of the computer; selectively permitting access through the computer network to one or more of the processing units using a firewall of the microchip, the firewall being configured to permit access through the computer network to execute all or a portion of a shared computer processing operation; estimating an amount of computer network resources, including said shared computer processing resources, required to fulfill a processing request from a personal computer to said computer network, the estimating being based on input from a meter; approving said processing request; and allocating said computer network resources to said personal computer, wherein said allocating controls, on a default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis, a number of personal computers to be made available to said personal computer for the shared computer processing services and an extent of use of said personal computer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 202 words
A method of allocating use of a computer in a network of computers, including an Internet which is utilized to provide shared computer processing resources, comprising: coupling the computer via the network to one or more other computers of the computer network using a wireless network connection; controlling, based on input received from a user of the computer, one or more processing units of a microprocessor of a microchip of the computer; selectively permitting access through the computer network to one or more of the processing units using a firewall of the microchip, the firewall being configured to permit access through the computer network to execute all or a portion of a shared computer processing operation; estimating an amount of computer network resources, including said shared computer processing resources, required to fulfill a processing request from a personal computer to said computer network, the estimating being based on input from a meter; approving said processing request; and allocating said computer network resources to said personal computer, wherein said allocating controls, on a default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis, a number of personal computers to be made available to said personal computer for the shared computer processing services and an extent of use of said personal computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: providing a real-time readout of a cost of fulfilling said processing request, said readout being visible to a user of said personal computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising: alerting a user of said personal computer that said processing request falls outside of predetermined parameters when said processing request falls outside of said predetermined parameters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising: alerting a user of said personal computer that said processing request falls outside of predetermined parameters when said processing request falls outside of said predetermined parameters.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising: setting of said predetermined parameters by said user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said default-to-standard-of-class usage basis comprises allowing said computer to expend an amount of resources of said computer network based on a total credit limit of a user of said computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said network includes a World Wide Web.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 261 words
A system for a network of computers, comprising: a monitoring mechanism to monitor on a net basis a provision of network services both to and by one of at least two personal computers within said network, said network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by said at least two personal computers, wherein said one personal computer includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network; and a charge determining mechanism to determine a net charge for network services for said one personal computer based on a difference between the monitored provision to said network of said shared computing processing by said one computer and the monitored use of said network services by said one personal computer; at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units; wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer Processing operation.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 261 words
A system for a network of computers, comprising: a monitoring mechanism to monitor on a net basis a provision of network services both to and by one of at least two personal computers within said network, said network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by said at least two personal computers, wherein said one personal computer includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network; and a charge determining mechanism to determine a net charge for network services for said one personal computer based on a difference between the monitored provision to said network of said shared computing processing by said one computer and the monitored use of said network services by said one personal computer; at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units; wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer Processing operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein said network is connected to a World Wide Web, which is utilized to provide said shared computer processing services.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said connection functions include providing access by said one personal computer to said network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said charge includes a charge for access to said network by said one personal computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 42 words
The system according to claim 23 , wherein when said one personal computer is used by a personal user, said one personal computer uses said shared computer processing provided by said network, instead of providing said shared computer processing to said network.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 59 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said charge for said one computer is for a time period based on a difference between the monitored provision to said network of said shared computing processing by said one personal computer for said time period and use of said network services by said one personal computer during said time period.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 58 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said charge for said one computer is based on a difference between the monitored provision to said network of said shared computing processing by said one computer as measured by data throughput and use of said network services by said one personal computer also as measured by the data throughput.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said network services include browsing functions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said net charge is to a network services provider.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said charge is between an Internet service provider and an owner of said one personal computer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system according to claim 21 , wherein said net charge is one of a debit or a credit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 44 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in multiple, separate, non-related shared computer processing operations is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in a single shared computer processing operation is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 54 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said monitoring mechanism includes a meter device to measure a flow of computing power between said one personal computer and said network services provider to calculate a financial value as a basis for payment between an owner of said one personal computer and said network services provider.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 47 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said monitoring mechanism provides a personal user of said one personal computer with a prospective estimate of cost for said network to execute a shared operation requested by said personal user prior to execution of said operation by said network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said system has a control mechanism by which to permit and to deny access to said personal computers by said network for shared computer processing.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein access to said personal computers by said network is limited to times when said personal computers are idled by respective personal users.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 49 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said at least two personal computers have at least one microprocessor and are configured to communicate with said network through a connection having a minimum speed of data transmission that is greater than a peak data processing speed of said personal computers.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said net charge includes a financial charge.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of claim 21 , therein said at least two personal computers are configured to communicate with said network through a connection including a direct connection to said at least two personal computers by an optical fiber connection.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip having a direct optical fiber connection with said network.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 37 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip and having more than one microprocessor and a direct optical fiber connection with said network.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein said provision and said use by said one personal computer occur substantially simultaneously in a multitasking mode.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein said availability mechanism includes software downloaded from said network.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein said one personal computer exists at a center of a cluster of personal computers.
Claim 50
Independent Claim 273 words
A system for a network of computers, comprising: network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by at least two personal computers within said network, wherein at least one of said personal computers includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network; a cost control mechanism to maintain a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services both to and from one personal computer and both to and from a network services provider in order to control a compensation between said one personal computer and said network services provider, wherein said cost control mechanism controls, on a default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis, both use of network services by said one personal computer and use of said one personal computer by said network services provider for said shared computer processing services; at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units; wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer processing operation.
Claim 51
Independent Claim 273 words
A system for a network of computers, comprising: network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by at least two personal computers within said network, wherein at least one of said personal computers includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network; a cost control mechanism to maintain a standard cost basis for a provision of said network services both to and from one personal computer and both to and from a network services provider in order to control a compensation between said one personal computer and said network services provider, wherein said cost control mechanism controls, on a default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis, both use of network services by said one personal computer and use of said one personal computer by said network services provider for said shared computer processing services; at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units; wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer processing operation.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system according to claim 47 , wherein said connection functions include providing access by said one personal computer to said network.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 42 words
The system according to claim 47 , wherein when said one personal computer is used by a personal user, said one personal computer uses said shared computer processing provided by said network, instead of providing said shared computer processing to said network.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system according to claim 47 , wherein a network services provider is an Internet service provider.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system according to claim 47 , wherein said network services include browsing functions.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 44 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in multiple, separate, non-related shared computer processing operations is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained in a respective single microchip.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim 42 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said system is scalar in that a number of said personal computers participating in single shared computer processing operation is limited only by a number of said personal computers that are connected to the network.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim 27 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained in a single respective microchip having more than one microprocessor.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein the standard cost basis uses a fixed standard cost.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein the fixed standard cost is zero.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim 37 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said cost control mechanism includes making available to a user of one of said at least two personal computers a predetermined number of said personal computers for said shared processing.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein a user of one of said at least two personal computers can override said cost control mechanism that maintains a standard cost basis so that said user can obtain additional network services.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said system has a control mechanism by which to permit and to deny access to said personal computers by said network for shared computer processing.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim 48 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said personal computers have at least one microprocessor and are configured to communicate with said network through a connection having a minimum speed of data transmission that is at least greater than a peak data processing speed of said personal computers.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said compensation includes financial compensation.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said at least two personal computers are configured to communicate with said network through a connection including a direct connection to said at least two personal computers by an optical fiber connection.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on said respective single microchip and has a direct optical fiber connection with said network.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim 37 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on said respective single microchip and has more than one microprocessor and a direct optical fiber connection with said network.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 47 , wherein said default-to-standard-of-class-usage basis comprises allowing said computer to expend an amount of resources of said computer network based on a total credit limit of a user of said computer.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said compensation includes financial compensation.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said at least two personal computers are configured to communicate with said network through a connection including a direct connection to said at least two personal computers by an optical fiber connection.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip and has a direct optical fiber connection with said network.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim 36 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one of said personal computers is substantially contained on a respective single microchip having more than one microprocessor and a direct optical fiber connection with said network.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim 43 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said network includes at least one network services provider being configured to provide said network services to said at least two personal computers, including at least one network server that participates in said shared computer processing.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said provision and said use by said one personal computer occur substantially simultaneously in a multitasking mode.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said one personal computer includes multiple microprocessors.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim 21 words
The system of claim 47 , wherein said one personal computer exists at a center of a cluster of personal computers.
Claim 80
Independent Claim 216 words
A system for a network of computers, comprising: a monitoring mechanism to monitor on a net basis a provision of network services both to and by one of at least two personal computers within said network, said network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by said at least two personal computers, wherein said one personal computer includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network, wherein said network includes an Internet; at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units; wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer processing operation.
Claim 81
Independent Claim 216 words
A system for a network of computers, comprising: a monitoring mechanism to monitor on a net basis a provision of network services both to and by one of at least two personal computers within said network, said network services including connection functions, as well as shared computer processing, including at least one of parallel and multitasking processing, to be provided both to and by said at least two personal computers, wherein said one personal computer includes an availability mechanism configured to make said one personal computer, when idled, available temporarily to provide said shared computer processing services to said network, wherein said network includes an Internet; at least one of the personal computers including a wireless network connection capable of coupling the personal computers to one or more of the other personal computers via the network; and at least one of the personal computers including a microchip having a microprocessor with at least a control unit and one or more processing units, the control unit including means for a user of the personal computer to control the one or more processing units; wherein the microchip further includes a firewall configured to permit access through the network to one or more of the processing units to execute all or a portion of the shared computer processing operation.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 76 , further comprising a cost basis mechanism to maintain a standard cost basis for said provision of said network services.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-05-04 2007-11-03 2008-05-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-05-04 2011-11-03 2012-05-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-05-04 2015-11-03 2016-05-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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