Scalable resource discovery and reconfiguration for distributed computer networks

A machine-readable medium encoded with a program for discovering resources in a network of user nodes, said program containing instructions for performing the steps of:

• receiving a resource request to be published at a first user node of the network;
• determining whether or not to send the resource request to a server node;
• forwarding the resource request to a second user node of the network through a direct connection, when it is determined not to send the resource request to the server node;
• and
• sending the resource request to the server node for publication, when it is determined to send the resource request to the server node.

A user node for use in a computer network of the type that includes a plurality of user nodes and at least one server node, with each of the user nodes being connected to at least one other user node through a direct connection, said user node comprising:

• a receiving interface for receiving a resource request to be published;
• control means for deciding whether or not to send the resource request to the server node;
• and
• at least one transmitting interface for selectively forwarding the resource request to a second user node of the network through a direct connection or sending the resource request to the server node for publication,
• wherein the transmitting interface forwards the resource request to the second user node when the control means decides not to send the resource request to the server node, and sends the resource request to the server node for publication when the control means decides to send the resource request to the server node.