Acquiring and transmitting tasks and subtasks to interface devices

1 . A computationally-implemented method, comprising:

acquiring one or more subtasks that correspond to portions of a task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices;

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data; and

receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said acquiring one or more subtasks that correspond to portions of a task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

receiving one or more subtasks that correspond to one or more tasks of acquiring data, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices.

4 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein said receiving one or more subtasks that correspond to one or more tasks of acquiring data, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

receiving, from a subtask creator, one or more subtasks that correspond to one or more tasks of acquiring data, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices.

5 . (canceled)

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said acquiring one or more subtasks that correspond to portions of a task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

retrieving one or more subtasks that correspond to one or more tasks of acquiring data, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices.

10 . (canceled)

11 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said acquiring one or more subtasks that correspond to portions of a task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

generating one or more subtasks that correspond to portions of a task of acquiring data, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out with incomplete information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data.

14 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out with less information than would be present on a device carrying out the task of acquiring data.

15 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out with insufficient information to carry out the task of acquiring data.

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the at least one task and/or without knowledge of an identity of the task requestor.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding a purpose of the at least one task.

21 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices via a communication network.

22 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 21 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices via a communication network comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to two or more discrete interface devices that are communicating via a communication network having a particular property.

23 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 22 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to two or more discrete interface devices that are communicating via a communication network having a particular average connection speed.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . (canceled)

27 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to a particular two or more discrete interface devices of the two or more discrete interface devices.

28 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 27 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to a particular two or more discrete interface devices of the two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to two or more discrete interface devices having at least one of a particular characteristic and a particular status of the two or more discrete interface devices.

29 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 28 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to two or more discrete interface devices having at least one of a particular characteristic and a particular status of the two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to two or more discrete interface devices having at least a particular characteristic, of the two or more interface devices.

30 . (canceled)

31 . (canceled)

32 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 28 , wherein said transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to two or more discrete interface devices having at least one of a particular characteristic and a particular status of the two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to two or more discrete interface devices having at least one particular status, of the two or more interface devices.

33 . (canceled)

34 . (canceled)

35 . (canceled)

36 . (canceled)

37 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices.

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . (canceled)

41 . (canceled)

42 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

assembling the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices.

43 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 42 , wherein said assembling the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

assembling the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices into a result of the task of acquiring data.

44 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 42 , wherein said assembling the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

assembling the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices into a partial result of the task of acquiring data.

45 . (canceled)

46 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

comparing the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices.

47 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 46 , wherein said comparing the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

comparing the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices against at least one expected value of result data.

48 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 46 , wherein said comparing the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices comprises:

comparing the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices against each other.

49 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 48 , wherein said comparing the received result data from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices against each other comprises:

comparing the received result data from at least three of the two or more discrete interface devices and removing at least one of the at least three received results from the result data.

50 . (canceled)

51 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks from at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices; and

generating a result of the task of acquiring data from the result data.

52 . (canceled)

53 . (canceled)

54 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

identifying the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks is transmitted; and

determining when result data from the identified two or more interface devices corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks is received.

55 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 54 , wherein said identifying the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks is transmitted comprises:

identifying a type of the two or more interface devices to which the at least one or more subtasks is transmitted.

56 . (canceled)

57 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

waiting for receipt of result data from at least two of the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted.

58 . (canceled)

59 . (canceled)

60 . (canceled)

61 . (canceled)

62 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices.

63 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 62 , wherein said assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices comprises:

assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices based on a property of the interface devices.

64 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 63 , wherein said assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices based on a property of the interface devices comprises

assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices based on a particular status of the interface devices.

65 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 63 , wherein said assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices based on a property of the interface devices comprises

assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices based on a particular characteristic of the interface devices.

66 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 62 , wherein said assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices comprises

assigning a weighted value to result data received from each of the interface devices based on a communication network used to transmit the result data.

67 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 62 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks further comprises:

combining the weighted values of each of the received result data to obtain a result score; and

generating a result of the task of acquiring data when the result score exceeds a particular threshold value.

68 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data.

69 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 68 , wherein said polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data comprises:

polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data, at predetermined time intervals.

70 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 68 , wherein said polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data comprises:

polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data, each time a result data is received.

71 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 68 , wherein said polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data comprises:

polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data, at time intervals based on previously received result data.

72 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 68 , wherein said polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data comprises:

polling the two or more interface devices to which the at least one of the one or more subtasks are transmitted for result data, at time intervals based on a performance of a communication network.

73 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

broadcasting a signal requesting that discrete interface devices transmit result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks.

74 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 73 , wherein said broadcasting a signal requesting that discrete interface devices transmit result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

broadcasting a signal requesting that discrete interface devices transmit result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks to a predetermined location.

75 . (canceled)

76 . The computationally-implemented method of claim 73 , wherein said broadcasting a signal requesting that discrete interface devices transmit result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks comprises:

broadcasting a signal configured to be recognized by particular interface devices of the two or more discrete interface devices, requesting that the particular interface devices transmit result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks.

77 . (canceled)

78 . A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

means for acquiring one or more subtasks that correspond to portions of a task of acquiring data requested by a task requestor, wherein the task of acquiring data is configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices;

means for transmitting at least one of the one or more subtasks to at least two of the two or more discrete interface devices, wherein the one or more subtasks are configured to be carried out in an absence of information regarding the task requestor and/or the task of acquiring data; and

means for receiving result data corresponding to a result of an executed one or more subtasks.

79 - 156 . (canceled)