Patent ID: 7729992
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of measuring the extent of resources provided by a second computing device to a first computing device in a distributed network, said first computing device being in data communication with a first trusted entity, and said second computing device being in data communication with a second trusted entity, wherein the first computing device is operated by a first user and wherein the second computing device is operated by a second user, said method comprising the steps of: (A) receiving at a resource usage verification authority (RUVA) server, from the first trusted entity, information about an intended resource use, wherein said intended resource usage relates to a transaction for downloading a file to said first computing device; (B) responsive to receiving said information at said RUVA server, the RUVA server conducting a redundancy check for said transaction and determining whether (a) said file has already been downloaded, in whole or in part, to said first computing device, or (b) said file has been previously requested by said first computing device, or (c) a resource usage ticket has already been issued for downloading the same file to the first computing device; and, (C) based at least in part on said redundancy check, said RUVA server setting a weighting factor for said transaction, said weighting factor indicating to what extent value should be awarded for the transaction, and wherein, when said transaction is determined by said redundancy check to be redundant, the weighting factor is set to a value that indicates that any compensation or reward associated with the transaction should be given less than full weight; (D) providing a ticket, from said RUVA server to the first trusted entity, said ticket including at least portion of said information, and said ticket including an indication of said weighting factor for said transaction; (E) transmitting said ticket from the first trusted entity to the second trusted entity; (F) the second trusted entity modifying the ticket to produce a modified ticket, said modified ticket being based at least in part upon actual resources provided by said second computing device to said first computing device related to said transaction; (G) said second trusted entity transmitting said modified ticket to the first trusted entity; (H) said first trusted entity transmitting the modified ticket to the RUVA server; and (I) said RUVA server utilizing said ticket and said modified ticket to determine the extent of resources provided by the second computing device to the first computing device related to said transaction; and (J) allocating compensation or rewards related to the transaction to said second user based at least in part on (a) said indication of said weighting factor for the transaction, and (b) the determined extent of resources provided by the second computing device related to said transaction.