Method of Managing Workloads and Associated Distributed Processing System

Abstract

Various embodiments enable a server system to convert data for client devices by identifying capabilities associated with various distributed devices, and utilizing those capabilities to select distributed devices to convert data. In one embodiment, a tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising: instructions to receive a request from a requesting device to convert a data set from a first format to a second format, instructions to communicate with one or more distributed devices, wherein the one or more distributed devices are capable of converting data from the first format to the second format, instructions to access a database which stores capability vectors associated with one or more distributed devices, the capability vectors identifying a characteristic of the one or more distributed devices, and instructions to use at least one capability vector to select at least one distributed device to convert the data set from the first format to the second format.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a request to convert a data set from a first format to a second format, the request comprising an identity of a requesting device, and a type of conversion being requested;   partitioning the data set into N data conversion workloads;   distributing the N data conversion workloads to N distributed devices selected from M distributed devices, wherein the N data conversion workloads are less than or equal to the M distributed devices; and   assembling conversion results associated with the N data conversion workloads to create a converted data set.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising sending the converted data set to the requesting device. 
     
     
         3 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising sending a software agent to at least one distributed device to convert at least one data conversion workload. 
     
     
         4 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the requesting device is a wireless device and the data set is converted to a protocol compatible with the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the type of conversion being requested comprises one or more of a language conversion, a text translation, a media translation, or a format conversion. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a size of at least one data conversion workload is determined based on at least one workload capability factor associated with a distributed device. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the at least one workload capability factor associated with a distributed device comprises one or more of a processing power, a storage capacity, or a communications capability. 
     
     
         8 . A server, comprising:
 one or more computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, if executed by the server, are configured to:
 couple to M distributed devices, wherein the M distributed devices are capable of converting data from a first format to a second format; 
 receive a request from a requesting device to convert a data set from the first format to the second format, the request comprising an identity of the requesting device and a type of conversion being requested; 
 partition the data set into N data conversion workloads, wherein the N data conversion workloads are less than or equal to the M distributed devices; and 
 distribute the N data conversion workloads to N distributed devices selected from the M distributed devices. 
   
     
     
         9 . A server as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 assemble conversion results associated with the N data conversion workloads to create a converted data set; and   send the converted data set to the requesting device.   
     
     
         10 . A server as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the type of conversion being requested comprises one or more of a language conversion, a text translation, a media translation, or a format conversion. 
     
     
         11 . A server as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the requesting device is a wireless device and the data set is converted to a protocol compatible with the wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . A server as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a size of at least one data conversion workload is determined based on at least one workload capability factor associated with a distributed device. 
     
     
         13 . A server as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one workload capability factor associated with a distributed device comprises one or more of a processing power, a storage capacity, or a communications capability. 
     
     
         14 . A server as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the server is further configured to send a software agent to at least one distributed device to convert at least one data conversion workload. 
     
     
         15 . A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to receive a request from a requesting device to convert a data set from a first format to a second format;   instructions to communicate with one or more distributed devices, wherein the one or more distributed devices are capable of converting data from the first format to the second format;   instructions to access a database which stores capability vectors associated with one or more distributed devices, the capability vectors identifying a characteristic of the one or more distributed devices; and   instructions to use at least one capability vector to select at least one distributed device to convert the data set from the first format to the second format.   
     
     
         16 . A tangible computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 instructions to assemble conversion results associated with the data set to create a converted data set; and   instructions to send the converted data set to the requesting device.   
     
     
         17 . A tangible computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising instructions to incentivize at least one distributed device to convert data from the first format to the second format. 
     
     
         18 . A tangible computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising instructions to send a software agent to at least one distributed device to convert data from the first format to the second format. 
     
     
         19 . A tangible computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the capability vectors associated with one or more distributed devices comprise one or more of a processing power, a storage capacity, and a communications capability. 
     
     
         20 . A tangible computer-readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the requesting device is a wireless device and the data set is converted to a protocol compatible with the wireless device.