Global Patent Index - EP 1078320 A2

EP 1078320 A2 20010228 - DISTRIBUTED EXECUTION OF A TASK USING THE PROCESSING POWER OF IDLE WORKSTATIONS

Title (en)

DISTRIBUTED EXECUTION OF A TASK USING THE PROCESSING POWER OF IDLE WORKSTATIONS

Title (de)

VERTEILTE AUSFÜHRUNG EINER AUFGABE DURCH VERWENDUNG DER VERARBEITUNGSLEISTUNG VON INAKTIVEN RECHNERN

Title (fr)

ORDINATEURS DE RESEAU A COUVERTURE MONDIALE

Publication

EP 1078320 A2 20010228 (EN)

Application

EP 99925711 A 19990521

Priority

  • US 9911206 W 19990521
  • US 8651698 P 19980522
  • US 8658898 P 19980522
  • US 8575598 A 19980527
  • US 8694898 P 19980527
  • US 8758798 P 19980601
  • US 8845998 P 19980608
  • US 21387598 A 19981217
  • US 9827058 W 19981217
  • US 13455299 P 19990517

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO9961998A2] This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involves at least two computers in the network. More particularly, this invention relates to one or more large networks composed of smaller networks and large numbers of computers connected, like the Internet, wherein more than one separate parallel processing operation involving more than one different set of computers occur simultaneously and wherein ongoing processing linkages can be established between virtually any microprocessors of separate computers connected to the network. Still more particularly, this invention relates to business arrangements enabling the shared use of network microprocessors for parallel and other processing, wherein personal computer owners provide microprocessor processing power to a network, preferably for parallel processing, in exchange for network linkage to other personal and other computers supplied by network providers, including linkage to other microprocessors for parallel or other processing; the basis of the exchange between owners and providers being whatever terms to which the parties agree, subject to governing laws, regulations, or rules, including payment from either party to the other based on periodic measurement of net use or provision of processing power.

[origin: WO9961998A2] Advantage is taken of the processing power of idle PCs (slaves) to process a complex and time consuming task. A master PC subdivides the task into a plurality of parts and sends the parts to the appropriate slaves. The PCs can alternate between functioning as a master and as a slave. The master is protected by a firewall. Every PC has a signalling device to indicate the PCs availability for using its processing power. The flow of computing power between the slaves and the network is monitored, so as to arrive at a net cost basis for every PC.

IPC 1-7

G06F 15/80

IPC 8 full level

A01N 25/30 (2006.01); C11D 1/825 (2006.01); C11D 3/48 (2006.01); G06F 9/50 (2006.01); G06F 15/16 (2006.01); H04L 29/06 (2006.01); H04L 29/08 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

G06F 9/5072 (2013.01); H04L 63/0209 (2013.01); H04L 67/10 (2013.01); G06F 2209/5017 (2013.01); H04L 63/02 (2013.01); H04L 69/14 (2013.01); H04L 69/329 (2013.01)

Citation (search report)

See references of WO 9961998A2

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 9961998 A2 19991202; WO 9961998 A3 20000210; WO 9961998 A9 20000622; AU 4194499 A 19991213; CA 2330952 A1 19991202; EP 1078320 A2 20010228; JP 2003524808 A 20030819

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 9911206 W 19990521; AU 4194499 A 19990521; CA 2330952 A 19990521; EP 99925711 A 19990521; JP 2000551330 A 19990521