Incentive program for a peer-to-peer network
OwnerJohn Hobartinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The system and method are used to reward users in a peer-to-peer network for actively or passively contributing to resources of the network. The contributions of the peers are monitored at the local level and point values are determined in correlation with at least one monitored attribute. Peers are rewarded later based on the number of points earned. The system and method are designed to encourage peers to support the efficiency and the quality of a peer-to-peer network. Also disclosed is a method and a system for financing a peer-to-peer client software provider. In this system and method, peers pay a fee to be part of the incentive program and then become eligible for obtaining rewards.
Claims39
A method for assigning points to a peer in a peer-to-peer network, based on contributions of the peer to the network, the method comprising:
- monitoring at least one attribute indicative of the contribution of the peer to the network;
- determining a point value in correlation with the monitored attribute;
- and
- making the point value available to the peer for review.
A method for dispensing rewards to a peer in a peer-to-peer network, based on contribution of the peer to the network, such method comprising:
- collecting statistics concerning at least one attribute indicative of the contribution of the peer to the network;
- transmitting the collected statistics to a rewards server;
- processing the collected statistics to determine a new point value;
- and
- adding the new point value to obtain a new total number of points for that peer.
A system for dispensing rewards to a peer in a peer-to-peer network, based on contribution of the peer to the network, such system comprising:
- means for monitoring at least one attribute indicative of the contribution of the peer to the network;
- means for determining a point value in correlation with the monitored attribute;
- and
- means for allowing the peer to be rewarded based on the number of points earned.
A system for dispensing rewards to a peer in a peer-to-peer network, based on contribution of the peer to the network, such method comprising:
- means for collecting statistics concerning at least one attribute indicative of the contribution of the peer to the network;
- means for transmitting the collected statistics to a rewards server;
- means for processing the collected statistics to determine a new point value;
- means for adding the new point value to a total point value of the peer;
- means for monitoring the total point value;
- means for sending a reward to the peer once the total point value has reached a minimum value, such reward having a rewards point value;
- and
- means for subtracting the rewards point value from the total point value.
A method of financing activities of a peer-to-peer client software provider through an incentive program rewarding peers for their contribution to resources to a peer-to-peer network, such method comprising:
- registering peers in the incentive program;
- receiving registration fees from the peers participating in the incentive program;
- monitoring at least one attribute indicative of the contribution of each registered peer to the network;
- determining a point value in correlation with the monitored attribute;
- and
- allowing the registered peers to be rewarded based on their respective number of points earned in the incentive program.
A system for financing activities of a peer-to-peer client software provider through an incentive program rewarding peers for their contribution of resources to a peer-to-peer network, such system comprising:
- means for registering peers in the incentive program;
- means for receiving registration fees from the peers participating in the incentive program;
- means for monitoring at least one attribute indicative of the contribution of each registered peer to the network;
- means for determining a point value in correlation with the monitored attribute;
- and
- means for allowing the registered peers to be rewarded based on their respective number of points earned in the incentive program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.