System and method for dynamic cooperative distributed execution of computer tasks without a centralized controller

Abstract

A system and method is provided for cooperative execution of distributed tasks by networked computers without the use of a centralized controller to coordinate the task execution. Each computer has an execution agent that cooperates with the execution agents of the other computers to carry out the execution of a given sequence of tasks. The execution instructions for the task sequence are provided to a first computer in the selected set of computers for task execution. The first computer processes the instructions and forwards them to its peer computers so that each of them knows the tasks it is to perform in connection with the tasks of the other computers. The computers then executes the tasks assigned to them and use peer-to-peer communications to provide status update to their peer computers to synchronize and coordinate the task execution.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for coordinated execution of distributed tasks comprising: 
 receiving by a peer computer in a group of at least one peer computers a set of execution instructions for the peer computer, the set of execution instructions identifying a sequence of tasks to be performed by the peer computer;    executing by the peer computer the tasks identified by the set of execution instructions in connection with execution of any tasks assigned to other peer computers in the group of at least one peer computers;    transmitting by the peer computer to any other peer computers in the group of at least one peer computer communication messages containing task execution status to synchronize and coordinate the execution of the tasks.    
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22  wherein the sequence of tasks to be performed constitutes a test run of interactive computer operations.  
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22  wherein the instructions include a job for executing a predefined set of tasks.  
   
   
       25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22  further comprising execution instructions provided in an input XML document.  
   
   
       26 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 22  having further computer-executable instructions for the peer computer to report results of execution of the tasks to a database.  
   
   
       27 . A method of performing coordinated execution of distributed tasks by a group of peer computers, comprising: 
 receiving by a peer computer in a group of at least one peer computer, a set of execution instructions for the peer computer, the set of execution instructions identifying a sequence of tasks to be performed by the peer computer;    executing by the peer computer the tasks identified by the set of execution instructions in connection with execution of any tasks assigned to other peer computers in the group of at least one peer computers;    transmitting by the peer computer to any other peer computers in the group of at least one peer computer communication messages containing task execution status to synchronize and coordinate the execution of the tasks.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the sequence of tasks to be performed constitutes a test run of interactive computer operations.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the execution instructions include a job that executes a predefined set of tasks.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the execution instructions are provided to the peer computer in an input XML document.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising reporting results of execution of the tasks by the group of at least one peer computer to a database.  
   
   
       32 . A computing device for performing automated execution of distributed tasks, the computing device comprising, 
 a peer computer, the peer computer connected by a communication link to at least one other peer computer;    at least one execution agent residing on the peer computer, the execution agent being programmed for receiving a set of execution instructions for the peer computer, the set of execution instructions identifying a sequence of tasks to be performed;    the execution agent capable of executing tasks assigned to the peer computer and the peer computer transmitting to the other peer computers communication messages containing task execution status to synchronize and coordinate the execution of the sequence of tasks.    
   
   
       33 . The computing device of  claim 32  wherein the sequence of tasks to be performed constitutes a test run of interactive computer operations.  
   
   
       34 . The computing device of  claim 32  wherein the execution instructions include a job for executing a predefined set of tasks.  
   
   
       35 . The computing device of  claim 32  wherein the execution instructions are in an input XML document.  
   
   
       36 . The computing device of  claim 35  wherein the execution agent of the peer computer is further programmed to process the input XML document to derive the execution instructions for sending to other peer computers.  
   
   
       37 . The computing device of  claim 36  wherein the execution agent of the peer computer is further programmed to format the execution instructions as a second XML document.  
   
   
       38 . The computing device of  claim 32  further including a test result database, and wherein the execution agent of the peer computer is further programmed for reporting results of the execution of tasks to the test result database.