Abstract: A parallel processing system performs an application function by a plurality of processing unit contained within a single network. The parallel processing system includes at least one slave unit connected to a common network and capable of processing a specified amount of data at a particular processing speed. At least one master unit, which may include a local slave unit, is connected to the common network and initiates an application function to be processed by the slave units. The slave units are polled to determine the processing power of each slave unit, the resources available to each slave unit and the availability of each slave unit. One or more slave units are engaged in processing the application function. If a plurality of slave units are selected, the application function is divided into a plurality of portions of data and each portion is assigned and communicated to a specific slave unit for processing. Predetermined calculations are performed on each portion of data by each slave unit.