Method and apparatus for providing a reward for the use of a processor in a parallel processing environment

Abstract

A parallel data processing system in which a plurality of data processing devices are coupled to a data network. Each of the data processing devices has a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. A reward is provided for use of the processors. A job includes a plurality of tasks. Responsive to a request signal from one of the data processing devices, one of the tasks is sent to the one data processing device over the data network. The one task is stored in the memory of the one data processing device. The processor of the one data processing device retrieves the one task from the memory. The processor of the one data processing device performs the one task to define a result. After defining the result, the reward is provided to a recipient associated with the one data processing device.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A method for providing a reward for use of a plurality of data processing devices coupled to a network in a parallel data processing system, the method comprising: 
 sending a task through the network from an originating module to at least two of the plurality of data processing devices, the task including both an algorithm portion and a data portion, without the at least two of the plurality of data processing devices fetching the algorithm portion or the data portion, the at least two of the plurality of data processing devices executing the algorithm portion on the data portion; and    sending the reward by an initiator of the task associated with the originating module to one or more recipients associated with the at least two of the plurality of data processing devices upon reception by the initiator of the task of a result of the executing of the algorithm portion on the data portion.    
     
     
         26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the originating module comprises two or more computer servers.  
     
     
         27 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the reward is a payment.  
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the payment is a flat fee.  
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the payment is a recurring flat fee.  
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the payment is a one-time fee.  
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the payment is a fee computed based on CPU time that at least one of the plurality of data processing devices used to execute the algorithm portion on the data portion.  
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the payment is a revenue-sharing fee.  
     
     
         33 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the payment is a recurring service-sharing fee.  
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising storing the algorithm portion and the data portion.  
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the sending of the reward comprises sending the reward to a result collation module.  
     
     
         36 . The method as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the result collation module analyzes and organizes the result.  
     
     
         37 . The method as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the result collation module monitors a progress of the executing of the task by each of the at least two of the plurality of processing devices.  
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the result collation module comprises one or more computer servers.  
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the result collation module and the originating module reside on a same computer server.  
     
     
         40 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising receiving a request signal from one or more of the plurality of data processing devices to send the task.  
     
     
         41 . A parallel data processing system comprising: 
 an originating module coupled to a network, the originating module being configured to:    send a task through the network to at least two of a plurality of data processing devices, the task including both an algorithm portion and a data portion, without the at least two of the plurality of data processing devices fetching the algorithm portion or the data portion, the at least two of the plurality of data processing devices executing the algorithm portion on the data portion; and    send a reward by an initiator of the task associated with the originating module to one or more recipients associated with the at least two of the plurality of data processing devices upon reception by the initiator of the task of a result of the executing of the algorithm portion on the data portion.    
     
     
         42 . The system as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the reward is a payment.  
     
     
         43 . The system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the payment is a flat fee.  
     
     
         44 . The system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the payment is a recurring flat fee.  
     
     
         45 . The system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the payment is a one-time fee.  
     
     
         46 . The system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the payment is a fee computed based on CPU time that at least one of the plurality of data processing devices used to execute the algorithm portion on the data portion.  
     
     
         47 . The system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the payment is a revenue-sharing fee.  
     
     
         48 . The system as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the payment is a recurring service-sharing fee.  
     
     
         49 . The system as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of data processing devices are selected based on availability.  
     
     
         50 . The system as recited in  claim 41 , wherein a processing device in the plurality of processing devices sends a signal over the data network to the originating module to signal availability to process a task.  
     
     
         51 . The system as recited in  claim 41 , wherein the originating module comprises two or more computer servers.  
     
     
         52 . The system as recited in  claim 41 , further comprising a result collation module in communication with the originating module and with the at least two of the plurality of processing devices.  
     
     
         53 . The system as recited in  claim 52 , wherein the result collation module is configured to analyze and organize the result.  
     
     
         54 . The system as recited in  claim 52 , wherein the result collation module is configured to monitor a progress of the executing of the task by each of the at least two of the plurality of processing devices.  
     
     
         55 . The system as recited in  claim 52 , wherein the result collation module comprises one or more computer servers.  
     
     
         56 . The system as recited in  claim 52 , wherein the result collation module and the originating module reside on a same computer server.  
     
     
         57 . A method of offering for use a data processing device for a reward, in a parallel data processing system including a plurality of data processing devices coupled to a network, the method comprising: 
 receiving a task through the network from an originating module, the task including both an algorithm portion and a data portion, without the data processing device fetching the algorithm portion or the data portion;    executing the algorithm portion on the data portion;    obtaining a result upon completion of the executing of the algorithm portion on the data portion; and    receiving the reward by a recipient associated with the data processing device from an initiator of the task.    
     
     
         58 . The method as recited in  claim 57 , wherein the originating module comprises two or more computer servers.  
     
     
         59 . The method as recited in  claim 57 , wherein the reward is a payment.  
     
     
         60 . The method as recited in  claim 59 , wherein the payment is a flat fee.  
     
     
         61 . The method as recited in  claim 59 , wherein the payment is a recurring flat fee.  
     
     
         62 . The method as recited in  claim 59 , wherein the payment is a one-time fee.  
     
     
         63 . The method as recited in  claim 59 , wherein the payment is a fee computed based on CPU time that the data processing device used to execute the algorithm portion on the data portion.  
     
     
         64 . The method as recited in  claim 59 , wherein the payment is a revenue-sharing fee.  
     
     
         65 . The method as recited in  claim 59 , wherein the payment is a recurring service-sharing fee.  
     
     
         66 . The method as recited in  claim 57 , further comprising: 
 storing the algorithm portion and the data portion.    
     
     
         67 . The method as recited in  claim 57 , wherein the originating module comprises one or more computer servers.  
     
     
         68 . The method as recited in  claim 57 , further comprising sending the reward to a result collation module.  
     
     
         69 . The method as recited in  claim 68 , wherein the result collation module analyzes and organizes the result.  
     
     
         70 . The method as recited in  claim 68 , wherein the result collation module monitors a progress of the executing of the algorithm on the data portion by each of the plurality of processing devices.  
     
     
         71 . The method as recited in  claim 68 , wherein the result collation module comprises one or more computer servers.  
     
     
         72 . The method as recited in  claim 68 , wherein the result collation module and the originating module reside on a same computer server.  
     
     
         73 . The method as recited in  claim 57 , further comprising sending a request signal to the originating module to indicate availability of the data processing device to process the task.  
     
     
         74 . A parallel data processing system comprising: 
 a plurality of processing devices, coupled to a network, at least one of the plurality of processing devices being configured to: 
 (i) receive a task through the network from an originating module, the task including both an algorithm portion and a data portion, without the at least one of the plurality of processing devices fetching the algorithm portion or the data portion;  
 (ii) execute the algorithm portion on the data portion;  
 (iii) obtain a result upon completion of the executing of the algorithm portion on the data portion;  
   wherein a recipient associated with the at least one of the processing devices receives a reward from an initiator of the task associated with the originating module.    
     
     
         75 . The system as recited in  claim 74 , wherein the reward is a payment.  
     
     
         76 . The system as recited in  claim 75 , wherein the payment is a flat fee.  
     
     
         77 . The system as recited in  claim 75 , wherein the payment is a recurring flat fee.  
     
     
         78 . The system as recited in  claim 75 , wherein the payment is a one-time fee.  
     
     
         79 . The system as recited in  claim 75 , wherein the payment is a fee computed based on CPU time that the data processing device used to execute the algorithm portion on the data portion.  
     
     
         80 . The system as recited in  claim 75 , wherein the payment is a revenue-sharing fee.  
     
     
         81 . The system as recited in  claim 75 , wherein the payment is a recurring service-sharing fee.  
     
     
         82 . The system as recited in  claim 74 , wherein at least some of the plurality of data processing devices are selected based on availability.  
     
     
         83 . The system as recited in  claim 74 , wherein a processing device in the plurality of processing devices sends a request signal over the data network when the processing device is available to process the task.  
     
     
         84 . The system as recited in  claim 74 , wherein the processing device comprises a storage unit for storing the algorithm portion and the data portion.  
     
     
         85 . The system as recited in  claim 74 , wherein the originating module comprises one or more computer servers.  
     
     
         86 . The system as recited in  claim 74 , further comprising a result collation module in communication with the originating module and with the least one of the plurality of processing devices.  
     
     
         87 . The system as recited in  claim 86 , wherein the result collation module is configured to analyze and organize the result.  
     
     
         88 . The system as recited in  claim 86 , wherein the result collation module is configured to monitor a progress of the executing of the algorithm portion on the data portion by at least one of the plurality of processing devices.  
     
     
         89 . The system as recited in  claim 86 , wherein the result collation module comprises two or more computer servers.  
     
     
         90 . The system as recited in  claim 86 , wherein the result collation module and the originating module reside on a same computer server.