Methods and Systems for Indexing Content

Abstract

Various embodiments enable a distributed processing system to index network content. In at least one embodiment, a method of indexing content comprises distributing indexing workloads to various distributed devices over a network, receiving organized indexed workloads from the various distributed devices, and creating a master summary index to receive the organized indexed workloads. In a further embodiment, a content indexing system comprises a server system, a workload database, and a master summary index. The server system can be coupled to a network which is coupled to various distributed devices. The workload database can be coupled to the server system and distributes indexing workloads to the various distributed devices. Finally, the master summary index can receive completed indexing workloads from the various distributed devices.

1 . A method of indexing content comprising:
 distributing, from a server system coupled to a network, indexing workloads to one or more distributed devices connected via the network;   receiving from the one or more distributed devices indexed workloads; and   creating a master summary index on the server system to receive the indexed workloads from the one or more distributed devices.   
     
     
         2 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the indexing workloads comprise at least music, video, application files, data files, images, audio streams, or video streams. 
     
     
         3 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more distributed devices comprise a personal computer, an internet appliance, a notebook computer, a server, a storage device, a wireless device, and/or a hand-held device. 
     
     
         4 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising identifying at least one capability for at least one distributed device and utilizing the at least one capability to schedule at least one indexing workload for the at least one distributed device. 
     
     
         5 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising identifying at least one capability for at least one distributed device and utilizing the at least one capability to schedule at least one testing workload for the at least one distributed device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising offering an incentive to couple the one or more distributed devices to the server system through the network. 
     
     
         7 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the incentive comprises at least one sweepstakes entry. 
     
     
         8 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the incentive is based in part on at least one capability of the one or more distributed devices. 
     
     
         9 . A method of indexing content comprising:
 distributing indexing workloads from a server system to one or more distributed devices;   receiving indexed workloads from the one or more distributed devices; and   indexing the indexed workloads, wherein the indexed workloads comprise at least one of music, video, application files, data files, images, audio streams, or video streams.   
     
     
         10 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 9 , wherein indexing the indexed workloads comprises forming an index on the server system. 
     
     
         11 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 9 , wherein indexing the indexed workloads comprises causing an index to be formed on the one or more distributed devices. 
     
     
         12 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising offering an incentive to couple the one or more distributed devices to the server system. 
     
     
         13 . A method of indexing content as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the incentive comprises at least one sweepstakes entry. 
     
     
         14 . A content indexing system comprising:
 a server system configured to be coupled to a network, the network being configured to be coupled to one or more distributed devices;   a workload database configured to be coupled to the server system, the workload database being configured to store and distribute indexing workloads to the one or more distributed devices; and   a master summary index configured to be stored on the server system, the master summary index being configured to receive completed indexing workloads from the one or more of the distributed devices.   
     
     
         15 . A content indexing system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the indexing workloads comprise at least one of music, video, application files, data files, images, audio streams, or video streams. 
     
     
         16 . A content indexing system as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a capabilities database configured to store at least one capability for at least one distributed device, wherein the server system is configured to use at least one capability to schedule at least one indexing workload for at least one distributed device. 
     
     
         17 . A content indexing system as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising an incentive database configured to store at least one incentive value for at least one distributed device, wherein at least one incentive value can be offered to at least one distributed devices to couple to the server system. 
     
     
         18 . A content indexing system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the incentive value corresponds to at least one sweepstakes entry. 
     
     
         19 . A content indexing system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the incentive value corresponds to at least one capability of at least one distributed device. 
     
     
         20 . A content indexing system as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising an agent configured to be transferred by the server system to the one or more distributed devices, the agent being configured to manage the one or more distributed devices indexing workloads.