Patent ID: 7809646

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of allocating compensation or rewards based on resources provided to a first computing device by a second 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, said first trusted entity and said second trusted entity being in data communication with a resource usage verification authority, said method comprising the steps of: (A) said resource usage verification authority receiving, from the first trusted entity, information about an intended resource use on behalf of said first computing device, wherein said intended resource usage relates to a transaction for downloading a file to said first computing device; (B) said resource usage verification authority conducting a redundancy check for said transaction to determine whether said transaction has previously been performed or requested, in whole or in part, on behalf of said first computing device; (C) based at least in part on said redundancy check, said resource usage verification authority setting a weighting factor for said transaction, said weighting factor indicating an extent value should be awarded for the transaction, 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) said resource usage verification authority issuing a ticket, the ticket including an indication of said weighting factor for said transaction; (E) said 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, said modified ticket including details regarding resources shared by the second computing device in connection with said transaction; (F) said resource usage verification authority 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 (G) 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.