NortonLifeLock Inc.
Facilitating third party utilization of personal computing resources in exchange for software usage

Abstract:

A method for facilitating utilization of processing resources of a plurality of user electronic devices for mining of cryptocurrency. A user application on each user device includes code for a cryptocurrency mining module and code for functionality different from cryptocurrency mining. Various mining activity data indicative of an extent to which each of the plurality of user electronic devices is utilized by a cryptocurrency mining pool to perform cryptocurrency mining operations is received. The method further includes receiving, from at least one of the cryptocurrency mining pool and a cryptocurrency server separate from the cryptocurrency mining pool, an aggregate amount of cryptocurrency. The aggregate amount cryptocurrency may be exchanged, by communicating with a cryptocurrency exchange server, for an aggregate amount of currency other than cryptocurrency. The method further includes allocating the aggregate amount of currency among user accounts respectively associated with the user electronic devices.