Dynamic coordination and control of network connected devices for large-scale network site testing and associated architectures

A distributed computing platform having dynamic coordination capabilities for distributed client systems processing project workloads, comprising:

• a plurality of network-connected distributed client systems, the client systems having under-utilized capabilities;
• a client agent program configured to run on the client systems and to provide workload processing for at least one project of a distributed computing platform;
• and
• at least one server system configured to communicate with the plurality of client systems through a network to provide the client agent program to the client systems, to send initial project and poll parameters to the client systems, to receive poll communications from the client systems during processing of the project workloads, wherein a dynamic snapshot information of current project status is provided based at least in part upon the poll communications from the client systems, to analyze the poll communications utilizing the dynamic snapshot information to determine whether to change how many client systems are active in the at least one project, wherein if a fewer number is desired, including within a poll response communications a reduction in the number of actively participating clients, and if a greater number is desired, adding client systems to active participation in the at least one project within a poll response communications, the server system repeatedly utilizing the poll communications and the poll response communications to coordinate project activities of the client systems during project operations.

In a server system communicatively coupled to a network via a communication interface, a method of providing dynamic coordination of distributed client systems, the method comprising:

• distributing via the communication interface workloads for at least one project, and initial project and poll parameters, to each of a plurality of client systems that is communicatively connected to the network, each of the plurality of client systems running a client agent program to provide workload processing for the at least one project;
• receiving via the communication interface poll communications from the plurality of client systems during processing of project workloads by the plurality of client systems, the poll communications providing at least part of a dynamic snapshot information of current project status;
• analyzing the poll communications to determine whether or not to make one or more modifications to the initial project and poll parameters, wherein the modifications to the initial project and poll parameters utilize the dynamic snapshot information to determine whether to change how many client systems are active in the at least one project, and if a fewer number is desired, including within a polling response communications a reduction in the number of actively participating clients, and if a greater number is desired, adding client systems to active participation in the at least one project;
• transmitting via the communication interface the poll response communications to the plurality of client systems to modify the initial project and poll parameters depending upon one or more decisions reached in the analyzing step;
• and
• repeating the receiving, analyzing and transmitting steps to dynamically coordinate project activities of the plurality of client systems during project operations.

A server system comprising a network interface, the server configured to:

• distribute to each of a plurality of client systems via the network interface workloads for a project that is configured to be carried out by a client agent program executing on each of the plurality of client systems;
• transmit to each of the plurality of client systems via the network interface initial project and poll parameters applicable to workload processing of the project by the client agent program;
• receive via the network interface poll communications indicative of ongoing workload processing of the project by the client agent program executing the each of the plurality client systems, wherein the poll communications provides at least a partial basis for a dynamic snapshot information of current project status;
• analyze the poll communications utilizing the dynamic snapshot information to make a determination of whether to change a current number of client systems that are active in the project;
• transmit via the network interface a poll response communications, wherein the poll response communications include a reduction in the current number if the determination is to reduce the current number of client systems that are active in the project, and the poll response communications include an increase in the current number if the determination is to increase the current number of client systems that are active in the project;
• repeatedly utilize the poll communications and the poll response communications to coordinate project activities of the client systems during project operations.

A tangible computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, if executed by a server system, cause the server system to perform a method comprising:

• distributing workloads for at least one project, and initial project and poll parameters, to each of a plurality of client systems, each of the plurality of client systems running a client agent program to provide workload processing for the at least one project;
• receiving poll communications from the plurality of client systems during processing of project workloads by the plurality of client systems, the poll communications providing at least part of a dynamic snapshot information of current project status;
• analyzing the poll communications to determine whether or not to make one or more modifications to the initial project and poll parameters, wherein the modifications to the initial project and poll parameters utilize the dynamic snapshot information to determine whether to change how many client systems are active in the at least one project, and if a fewer number is desired, including within a polling response communications a reduction in the number of actively participating clients, and if a greater number is desired, adding client systems to active participation in the at least one project;
• transmitting the poll response communications to the plurality of client systems to modify the initial project and poll parameters depending upon one or more decisions reached in the analyzing step;
• and
• repeating the receiving, analyzing and transmitting steps to dynamically coordinate project activities of the plurality of client systems during project operations.