Dynamically configurable clusters of apparatuses

A system comprising:

• a server computer including:
• a communication module to receive, via a network, from an apparatus of a plurality of apparatuses, a list of identified resources available to the plurality of apparatuses;
• a provisioning module to provide to the apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses a list of functionalities including functionalities performable by at least some apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses, based on the list of identified resources;
• the communication module to receive from the apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses a selection from the list of functionalities;
• and
• the provisioning module to provide one or more of the apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses with additional resources based on the selection.

A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, perform a method comprising:

• receiving from an apparatus of a plurality of apparatuses, via a network, a list of identified resources available to the plurality of apparatuses;
• providing to the apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses a list of functionalities including functionalities performable by at least some apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses, based on the list of identified resources;
• receiving from the apparatus of the plurality of apparatuses a selection from the list of functionalities;
• and
• providing one or more of the apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses with additional resources based on the selection.

A system comprising:

• a local cluster including a plurality of apparatuses forming a local area network (LAN), the LAN to be coupled via a wide area network (WAN) to a server computer;
• at least some of the apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses to comprise,
• an identification module to dynamically identify a list of resources available to the at least some of the apparatuses;
• a network interface device to communicate to the server computer the list of resources;
• the network interface device to receive from the server computer a list of functionalities performable by the at least some of the apparatuses, based on the list of resources;
• a user interface device to receive a selection from the list of functionalities;
• the network interface device to receive from the server computer additional resources based on the selection;
• and
• a configuration module to configure the at least some of the apparatuses to perform selected functionalities by using the additional resources.

A method comprising:

• forming a local cluster including a plurality of apparatuses linked through a local area network (LAN), the LAN to be coupled via a wide area network (WAN) to a server computer;
• performing by at least some of the apparatuses of the plurality of apparatuses following acts:
• dynamically identifying a list of resources available to the at least some of the apparatuses;
• communicating to the server computer the list of resources;
• receiving from the server computer a list of functionalities performable by the at least some of the apparatuses, based on the list of resources;
• receiving a selection from the list of functionalities;
• receiving from the server computer additional resources based on the selection;
• and
• configuring the at least some of the apparatuses to perform selected functionalities by using the additional resources.