Patent · US Active

Monitoring of computer-related resources and associated methods and systems for disbursing compensation

US7729992B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
57References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 24, 2003
Grant dateJun 1, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06Q30/0208
  • WIPO fieldIT methods for management
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for monitoring resource usage in an architecture where neither the resource buyer nor the resource seller can be trusted, and for rewarding benefits, compensation, or rewards based upon such monitored resource usage data. The system rewards users who offer to share the memory, storage, or bandwidth of their computing resource to third parties within a distributed network. In an exemplary embodiment, users share processing, storage, bandwidth or memory resources with third parties by permitting such third parties to access files stored in the memory of the users' computing devices. Users that offer files for upload are encouraged to register with a central authority, and receive value each time a third party accesses a resource from their computing devices. The value awarded to each such user is tracked by the central authority. They can use the value in exchange for products or services.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.