Method and apparatus for building commercial distributed computing networks via computer cost subsidization

Abstract

A method and apparatus for distributed computing in a network data processing system. A task is accepted for distributed computing. Work units are sent to a plurality of data processing systems on a network, wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units. Results are received from the plurality of data processing systems. These data processing systems may be individually owned by consumers in which the systems are provided at no cost or some lower cost in return for making available processing resources for processing work units.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method in a network data processing system for distributed computing, the method comprising: 
 accepting a task for distributed computing;    sending work units to a plurality of data processing systems on a network, wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units; and    receiving results from the plurality of data processing systems.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 assigning each of the plurality of data processing systems to a different user.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems is in a different location.  
     
     
         4 . A method in a data processing system for distributed computing, the method comprising: 
 executing a worker application for a selected period of time, wherein the worker application accepts a request and processes the request to form a result, and returns the result; and    monitoring the data processing system for compliance with a policy requiring execution of the worker application for a selected period of time and a presence of a connection to a network.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 preventing use of the data processing system if the policy is unmet.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the power supply to a processor in the data processing system is cut off to prevent use of the data processing system.  
     
     
         7 . A method in a data processing system for distributed computing, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: 
 receiving a request for a computer from a user; and    initiating shipping of the computer to the user, wherein the computer includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 adding the user to a database, wherein the database identifies all users with computers containing the software.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 receiving a task;  
 assigning work units for the task to users in the database to form a set of assigned users;  
 sending the work units to the set of assigned users.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 billing the user a reduced price for the computer.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the initiating step includes sending an electronic message to a shipping company to deliver the computer to the user.  
     
     
         12 . A data processing system comprising: 
 a bus system;    a communications unit connected to the bus system;    a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and    a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to accept a task for distributed computing; send work units to a plurality of data processing systems on a network, wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units; and receive results from the plurality of data processing systems.    
     
     
         13 . A data processing system comprising: 
 a bus system;    a communications unit connected to the bus system;    a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and    a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to execute a worker application for a selected period of time, wherein the worker application accepts a request and processes the request to form a result, and returns the result; and monitor the data processing system for compliance with a policy requiring execution of the worker application for a selected period of time and a presence of a connection to a network.    
     
     
         14 . A data processing system comprising: 
 a bus system;    a communications unit connected to the bus system;    a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes as set of instructions; and    a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a request for a computer from a user; and initiate shipping of the computer to the user, wherein the computer includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units.    
     
     
         15 . A data processing system for distributed computing, the data processing system comprising: 
 accepting means for accepting a task for distributed computing;    sending means for sending work units to a plurality of data processing systems on a network, wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units; and    receiving means for receiving results from the plurality of data processing systems.    
     
     
         16 . The data processing system of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 assigning means for assigning each of the plurality of data processing systems to a different user.  
 
     
     
         17 . The data processing system of  claim 15 , wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems is in a different location.  
     
     
         18 . A data processing system for distributed computing, the data processing system comprising: 
 executing means for executing a worker application for a selected period of time, wherein the worker application accepts a request and processes the request to form a result, and returns the result; and    monitoring means for monitoring the data processing system for compliance with a policy requiring execution of the worker application for a selected period of time and a presence of a connection to a network.    
     
     
         19 . The data processing system of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 preventing means for preventing use of the data processing system if the policy is unmet.  
 
     
     
         20 . The data processing system of  claim 19 , wherein the power supply to a processor in the data processing system is cut off to prevent use of the data processing system.  
     
     
         21 . A data processing system for distributed computing, the data processing system comprising: 
 receiving means for receiving a request for a computer from a user; and    initiating means for initiating shipping of the computer to the user, wherein the computer includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units.    
     
     
         22 . The data processing system of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 adding means for adding the user to a database, wherein the database identifies all users with computers containing the software.  
 
     
     
         23 . The data processing system of  claim 22 , wherein the receiving means is a first receiving means and further comprising: 
 second receiving means for receiving a task;    assigning means for assigning work units for the task to users in the database to form a set of assigned users;    sending means for sending the work units to the set of assigned users.    
     
     
         24 . The data processing system of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 billing means for billing the user a reduced price for the computer.  
 
     
     
         25 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for distributed computing, the computer program product comprising: 
 first instructions for accepting a task for distributed computing;    second instructions for sending work units to a plurality of data processing systems on a network, wherein each data processing system within the plurality of data processing systems includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units; and    third instructions for receiving results from the plurality of data processing systems.    
     
     
         26 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for distributed computing, the computer program product comprising: 
 first instructions for executing a worker application for a selected period of time, wherein the worker application accepts a request and processes the request to form a result, and returns the result; and    second instructions for monitoring the data processing system for compliance with a policy requiring execution of the worker application for a selected period of time and a presence of a connection to a network.    
     
     
         27 . A computer program product in a computer readable medium for distributed computing, the computer program product comprising: 
 first instructions for receiving a request for a computer from a user; and    second instructions for initiating shipping of the computer to the user, wherein the computer includes a software for accepting a work unit, processing the work unit to generate a result, and returning the result, wherein the software is monitored for compliance with an operation policy requiring a connection to the network and allocating a period of time for processing work units.