Systems and methods are used to provide distributed processing on a
service provider network that includes a plurality of remotely located
consumer devices. Each of the remotely located consumer devices includes
a processing device. A service is provided from the service provider
network to the remotely located consumer devices. Distributed processing
of a task on the processing devices of the remotely located consumer
devices occurs, the distributed processing being unrelated to the service
provided to the consumers. The distributed processing occurs even when
the processing devices are in use by corresponding remotely located
consumer devices.