Method and apparatus for searching data in a peer to peer network
OwnerMarc Peters, Wilhelmus Henrica Van Den Boomeninventors
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for more efficient searching peer to peer networks for data. Large peer to peer networks comprise millions of peer clients, or just briefly peers, having enormous amounts of data objects available. Searching all peers takes a lot of time, therefore a small group—private network—is formed within the peer to peer network. Peers for this private network are selected when they satisfy at least on criterion. This criterion relates to for example subscriptions of the peer to data delivery services or to the search query. The private network or networks may be formed upon start-up of the apparatus according to the invention or even right after submitting a search query.
Claims14
Method of searching data in a peer to peer network connecting peers, wherein peers are enabled to store data objects received from a data source, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) Submitting a search query from the first peer;
- (b) Forming a private network with at least one further peer connected to the peer to peer network, the further peer satisfying at least one criterion determined by the first peer;
- (c) Searching for data objects stored by peers connected by the private network, the data matching the search query;
- and
- (d) Returning the result of the search executed in the previous step to the first peer.
Apparatus for searching data in a peer to peer network connecting peers, comprising a receiver unit for receiving data objects from a data source, a storage device to store the data objects and a central processing unit being programmed to:
- (a) Form a private network with at least one further peer connected by the peer to peer network, the further peer satisfying at least one criterion determined by the apparatus;
- (b) Submit a search query to the private network;
- (c) Receive results from the further peer, the results matching the query.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.