Assigning tasks in a distributed system

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for assigning tasks in a distributed system. The method comprises indicating to one or more remote systems in the distributed system that a task is available for processing based on a list identifying the one or more remote systems. The method further comprises receiving at least one response from the one or more remote systems capable of performing the task based on the indication. The method comprises allowing at least one of the remote systems to perform the task based on the at least one received response.

1 . A method, comprising:
 indicating to one or more remote systems in a distributed system that a task is available for processing based on a distribution list;   receiving at least one response from the one or more remote systems capable of performing the task responsive to the indication; and   assigning at least one of the remote systems to perform the task based on the at least one received response, wherein assigning the task is performed without comparing operational capabilities of the one or more remote systems to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution list comprises destination addresses associated with the one or more remote systems, wherein indicating to the one or more remote systems comprises providing a message to a router that, responsive to the message, transmits at least a portion of the message to a plurality of the remote systems based on the distribution list. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the task is at least one of a compilation task, video processing task, audio processing task, image processing task, encryption task, and decryption task, and wherein indicating to the one or more remote systems comprises indicating a threshold criterion that the one or more remote systems should satisfy, and wherein receiving the at least one response comprises receiving the at least one response from the one or more remote systems that satisfy the threshold criterion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein indicating the threshold criterion comprises indicating at least one of a preselected processing speed, memory size, and network speed that is desired for the one or more remote systems. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein receiving the at least one response comprises receiving configuration information associated with the one or more remote systems. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein receiving the configuration information comprises receiving information including at least one of a processing speed, memory size, network speed, and load level associated with the one or more remote systems. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of indicating comprises indicating that the compilation task is available for processing, and wherein the act of receiving comprises receiving the at least one response from a remote system that has reserved at least a portion of its resources for performing the task. 
     
     
         10 . An article comprising one or more machine-readable storage media containing instructions that when executed enable a processor to:
 indicate to a plurality of remote systems in a distributed system that a task is available for processing based on a list identifying the remote systems; and   assign at least one of the plurality of remote systems to perform the task, wherein assigning the task is performed without comparing operational capabilities of the remote systems of the plurality of remote systems to each other.   
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the task is a compilation task, and wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to allow at least one of the plurality of remote systems based on a selection scheme. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to allow that remote system which responds first to perform the task. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to allow the remote system having a desirable performance characteristic, wherein the performance characteristic is determined based on past performance. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to allow a plurality of remote systems to perform the task in response to determining that a number of responding remote systems exceed a number of available tasks. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to receive responses from at least one of the plurality of the remote systems, wherein the response includes configuration information associated with the one or more remote systems. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to multicast a request to the plurality of remote systems coupled to a network that the task is available for processing. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions when executed enable the processor to receive results from the at least one remote system that is allowed to perform the task. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an interface adapted to communicate with one or more remote systems; and   a control unit communicatively coupled to the interface, the control unit adapted to:
 indicate to the one or more remote systems in a distributed compilation system that a task is available for processing based on a list identifying the one or more remote systems; 
 receive at least one response from the one or more remote systems capable of performing the task based on the indication; and 
   
       assign at least one of the remote systems to perform the task based on the at least one received response, wherein assigning the task is performed without comparing operational capabilities of the remote systems of the plurality of remote systems to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the task is a compilation task, and wherein the control unit is adapted to multicast a message to a plurality of the remote systems on a network that a compilation task is available and is adapted to indicate a threshold criterion that the one or more remote systems should satisfy and further adapted to receive the at least one response from the one or more remote systems that satisfy the threshold criterion. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the control unit is adapted to indicate at least one of a minimum processing speed, memory amount, and network speed that is desired for the one or more remote systems and is adapted to receive configuration information associated with the one or more remote systems. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the control unit is adapted to allow at least one of the remote systems to perform the task based on a selection scheme. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the selection scheme comprises at least one of allowing a remote system that responds first to perform the compilation task or allowing a remote system with a desirable past performance characteristic to perform the compilation task. 
     
     
         27 .- 36 . (canceled)