Peer-to-peer file sharing

A method in a first computer system for sharing a file stored at second computer system, the method comprising:

• receiving from the second computer system a notification that the file is to be shared with the first computer system, the notification including metadata of the file;
• creating a virtual file using a file system of the first computer system;
• storing the metadata of the file in association with the virtual file;
• after the file is changed at the second computer system, receiving from the second computer system metadata for the file and updating the metadata stored in associated with the virtual file based on the received metadata;
• and
• when the virtual file is accessed, retrieving the file stored at the second computer system using the metadata associated with the virtual file.

A first computer system for sharing a file stored at second computer system, comprising:

• means for receiving from the second computer system a notification that the file is to be shared with the first computer system, the notification including metadata of the file;
• means for creating a virtual file using a file system of the first computer system;
• means for storing the metadata of the file in association with the virtual file;
• means for, after the file is changed at the second computer system, receiving from the second computer system metadata for the file and updating the metadata
• stored in association with the virtual file based on the received metadata;
• and
• means for retrieving the file stored at the second computer system using the metadata associated with the virtual file.

A system for sharing files among a group of computer systems, comprising:

• a group owner component that creates a group, that invites computer systems to join the group as members, and that distributes status messages to the members;
• and
• a member component of a first member that includes
• a file owner component that controls the sharing of an actual file having content stored at the first member with second members;
• and
• a virtual file component that creates a virtual file that identifies a shared file stored at a second member, the virtual file having metadata and not including the content of a shared file, and that retrieves from the second member the content of the actual file when the virtual file is accessed at the first member and updates the metadata associated with the virtual file when a status message indicating a change to the shared file is received from a second member at the first member.