Abstract: Dynamic coordination and control of network connected devices within a distributed processing platform is disclosed for large-scale network site testing, or for other distributed projects. For network site testing, the distributed processing system utilizes a plurality of client devices which are running a client agent program associated with the distributed computing platform and which are running potentially distinct project modules for the testing of network sites or other projects. The participating client devices can be selected based upon their attributes and can receive test workloads from the distributed processing server systems. In addition, the client devices can send and receive poll communications that may be used during processing of the project to control, manage and coordinate the project activities of the distributed devices.

Abstract: A security architecture and an associated method are disclosed for providing secure transmissions within distributed processing systems. More particularly, a server system is coupled to a network that is configured to be coupled to a plurality of distributed devices. The server system utilizes a security measure that is partitioned and distributed to multiple distributed devices. The distributed device receiving electronic information reconstructs the security measure by obtaining the various partitioned portions from the multiple distributed devices. In addition, the security measure may be generation of a hash value for the electronic information to be transmitted.

Abstract: Software-based network attached storage (NAS) services hosted on a massively distributed computing system are disclosed. More particularly, a client agent program is configured to run on the network-connected client devices that are part of the distributed computing system to provide what appears to user devices as dedicated NAS functionality, for example, through the Internet or an intranet. This NAS functionality takes advantage of unused or under-utilized resources of these distributed devices to advantageously provide NAS capabilities. In addition, storage priority controls may be utilized to facilitate the full use of available storage resources, such as user specified constraints, standard bit, block or file priority levels and direct bit, block or file priority markings.

Abstract: A distributed computing system architecture and an associated method are disclosed for allowing the monitization of third-party network user bases. The distributed computing system includes a plurality of network connected distributed devices providing computing resources that can be utilized to process customer project tasks. Third-party network service providers can monitize their respective user bases by providing user identification information to the distributed processing system and by facilitating the inclusion of the computing resources related to their user bases within the distributed processing system. In this way, revenue generated from customer payments for project processing can be shared with the third party in relation to the resources made available to the distributed computing system.

Abstract: A massively distributed database system and associated method are disclosed that utilize a multitude of widely distributed devices and advantageously provides increased storage capacity, availability, and throughput, and decreased latency, compared to existing distributed database architectures.

Abstract: A low cost, high bandwidth "smart skin" impact sensor is developed for application to vehicle side impact detection and diagnostics. The sensor is based on a piezo polymer smart skin technology and can sense impact location and impact energy in real time (i.e., fractions of a millisecond) along a vehicle side panel. The sensor is simple to manufacture, is low cost in production quantities, and can be used in concert with other devices in a sensor suite to provide, reliable, efficient, energy managed airbag development. With proper spatial shading techniques it is shown that the sensor can be designed also to report impact angle and the velocity of the impacting body.