System and method for monitizing network connected user bases utilizing distributed processing systems

Abstract

A distributed computing system architecture and an associated method are disclosed for allowing the monitization of third-party network user bases. The distributed computing system includes a plurality of network connected distributed devices providing computing resources that can be utilized to process customer project tasks. Third-party network service providers can monitize their respective user bases by providing user identification information to the distributed processing system and by facilitating the inclusion of the computing resources related to their user bases within the distributed processing system. In this way, revenue generated from customer payments for project processing can be shared with the third party in relation to the resources made available to the distributed computing system. For example, an Internet-based free or low cost service provider, such as a provider offering free Internet access, e-mail, file sharing services or any other Internet-based service, can monitize its user base by offering services to its users at least in part in return for an agreement by the users to allow computing resources related to the users to be utilized by the distributed processing system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of operating a distributed processing system to allow third-party user bases to be monitized, comprising: 
 providing a server system;    coupling the server system to a network, the network being configured to be coupled to a plurality of distributed devices;    utilizing the plurality of distributed devices to accomplish data processing tasks for a customer project, wherein a portion of the utilized distributed devices comprise devices associated with users from a third-party user base; and    sharing revenue from the customer paid project with the third-party in relation to the resources of the user base.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the third party comprises a network service provider.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein the network comprises the Internet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein the service being provided by the third party to its user base comprises free services to the users.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein the service comprises a service provided to the users at least in part in return for an agreement to allow computing resources related to the users to be utilized by the distributed processing system.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5   , wherein the service comprises Internet access, Internet e-mail or file sharing services.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 5   , further comprising providing a client agent to the plurality of distributed devices, the client agent operating on the devices to accomplish the project tasks, and displaying a user interface to the users of the devices.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 7   , wherein the user interface comprises a user interface related to the service provided by the third-party.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising providing a client agent to the plurality of distributed devices, the client agent operating on the devices to accomplish the project tasks and comprising a project component, a core agent component and a user interface component.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 9   , wherein the project component and the user interface component are independent software code modules that hook into the core agent component through APIs (application programming interface).  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10   , wherein the project component is owned by the customer, the core agent component is owned by the owner of the distributed processing system, and the user interface component is owned by the third party.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , wherein the network comprises the Internet and the third party comprises a network service provider.  
     
     
         13 . A distributed processing system allowing the monitization of third-party user bases, comprising: 
 a server system coupled to a network, the network being configured to be coupled to a plurality of distributed devices, a portion of the plurality of distributed devices comprising devices associated with users from a third-party user base; and    a client agent installed on the plurality of distributed devices, the client agent configured to receive customer project workloads through the network from the server system, to process the customer project workloads, and to return results to the server system through the network;    wherein project revenue from the customer for project processing is shared with the third-party in relation to resources of the user base.    
     
     
         14 . The distributed processing system of    claim 13   , wherein the third party comprises a network service provider and the network comprises the Internet.  
     
     
         15 . The distributed processing system of    claim 14   , wherein the service being provided by the third party to its user base comprises a service provided at least in part in return for an agreement to allow computing resources related to the users to be utilized by the distributed processing system.  
     
     
         16 . The distributed processing system of    claim 13   , wherein the client agent comprises a user interface related to the service provided by the third-party.  
     
     
         17 . The distributed processing system of    claim 13   , wherein the client agent comprises a project component, a core agent component and a user interface component.  
     
     
         18 . The distributed processing system of    claim 17   , wherein the project component and the user interface component are independent software code modules that hook into the core agent component through APIs (application programming interface).  
     
     
         19 . The distributed processing system of    claim 18   , wherein the project component is owned by the customer, the core agent component is owned by the owner of the distributed processing system, and the user interface component is owned by the third party.  
     
     
         20 . The distributed processing system of    claim 13   , wherein the network comprises the Internet and the third party comprises a network service provider.