Idle Smart Device Compute Utilization via Management Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart devices such as autonomous drones and self-driving vehicles often remain idle for extended periods, leading to underutilization and increased costs due to their high processing power requirements, which results in significant electrical power consumption without providing material benefits.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that harnesses remnant compute cycles from idle smart devices by utilizing a management server to distribute viable compute tasks, such as blockchain proof of work processing or image processing, based on location, power usage, and reward potential, thereby increasing their utility and potentially offsetting the cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smart devices are kept in idle power mode to be ready for use, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases without providing material benefit
Solution Approach 1:
The smart device performs compute tasks during idle periods to generate cryptocurrency rewards that offset its operational costs. The device serves itself by utilizing its own idle computing resources to earn value, transforming wasted energy into economic benefit that subsidizes its readiness maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste of idle computing power into a beneficial resource by directing it to perform cryptocurrency mining or other compute tasks. The previously useless remnant cycles now generate economic value that offsets the device's operational expenses
2Adaptability or versatility
If significant processing power is built into smart devices to enable advanced features, then functionality is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart device uses its own high-performance computing resources to generate cryptocurrency rewards during idle periods. These rewards offset the high acquisition and operational costs of the device, enabling advanced features without proportionally increasing the burden on the user
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the economic parameters of device ownership by introducing a revenue stream from idle computing. The device transitions from being a pure cost center to a self-sustaining system that generates value to offset its high initial and operational costs
3Reliability
If smart devices remain idle for extended periods to be ready for use, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by directing idle computing resources to perform cryptocurrency mining or other compute tasks during periods when the device is not being used for its primary function. This eliminates idle time and ensures the computing power is continuously productive
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs self-service computing tasks during idle periods, utilizing its own resources to generate economic value without requiring external tasks or user intervention. This maintains productivity while preserving availability
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for utilizing the processing power of computing devices such as smart devices are provided. The system includes one or more distributed smart devices and a management server that communicates with the smart devices in order to determine whether they are idle and whether viable compute tasks are present that can be performed on the smart devices based on the smart device's status, configuration, utility and network parameters, and availability. Some tasks may be performed in low power mode to save energy.