Self-scaling method for exploiting cached resources across organizational boundaries to enhance user response time and to reduce server and network load

A system reducing congestion in a data transfer network, comprising:

• (a) a first computer having access to data files;
• and
• (b) a second computer having network and data storage resources;
• (c) wherein said first computer includes programming for carrying out the operations of giving said second computer faster access to requested data files available to said first computer in exchange for said second computer allocating to said first computer an amount of said network and storage resources available to said second computer;
• (d) wherein the amount of said resources allocated to said first computer by said second computer is zero under “low-demand” conditions and wherein under said conditions said first computer functions as a concurrent server and said second computer functions as a client;
• and
• (e) wherein the amount of said resources allocated to said first computer by said second computer is non-zero under “high-demand” conditions and wherein under said conditions said first computer gives said second computer a list of referrals to where the requested data files may be obtained.

A method for cooperatively sharing the resource serving burden incumbent on a super-server within a network wherein resource requests are routed to said super-server through a pseudo-server, comprising the steps of:

• (a) said pseudo-server making a request for a resource from a said super-server;
• said pseudo-server bidding its services in exchange for one or more resource access concessions by said super-server;
• (b) said super-server granting access concessions in response to a bid from said pseudo-server, wherein a contract is formed as a function of said bid and said granted access concession;
• (c) said pseudo-server receiving access to said resources substantially according to said access concessions;
• and
• (d) said pseudo-server substantially complying with said services bid.

A bandwidth allocation system for use between computers connected on a network that supports intemet protocol, comprising:

• (a) one of said computers comprising a super-server from which resources can be requested, wherein serving said request requires network bandwidth;
• (b) one of said computers comprising a pseudo-server;
• (c) request processing programming associated with said super-server for carrying out the operations of receiving a bid from a pseudo-server requesting said resources and granting of the access request if said bid provides sufficient services in relation to the current level of super-server demand in relation to the policy as set forth by the administrator of the super-server;
• (d) bidding programming associated with said pseudo-server for carrying out the operations of offering an amount of pseudo-server services to said super-server in exchange for an access concession to a requested resource;
• and
• (e) service rendering programming associated with said pseudo-server for carrying out the operations of providing services as per said bid to other pseudo-servers;
• whereby the super-server provides resources to requesters in exchange for their acceptance of a portion of the bandwidth required to fulfill super-server resource requests which thereby reduces congestion on the network.