System using peer discovery and peer membership protocols for accessing peer-to-peer platform resources on a network

A peer node, comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface configured to couple the peer node to a network;
• a memory operable to store program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to:
• receive a request from a device on the network, wherein the request specifies one or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources for use by the device in participating in a peer-to-peer environment;
• provide two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources to the device on the network in response to the request;
• and
• wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes.

A peer computing system, comprising:

• a plurality of peer nodes operable to couple to a network, wherein the plurality of peer nodes are configure to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network in accordance with one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of peer nodes to discovery each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources in the peer-to-peer environment;
• one of the plurality of peer nodes operable to maintain two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources on the network, wherein the two or more mechanisms are obtainable by devices on the network to enable the devices to participate in the peer-to-peer environment, wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes on the network;
• and
• a device operable to:
• couple to the network;
• obtain the two or more mechanisms from the peer node on the network;
• and
• access the set of resources using the two or more mechanisms to participate as a peer node in the peer-to-peer environment.

A peer computing system, comprising:

• means for a plurality of peer nodes on a network to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network in accordance with one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of peer nodes to discovery each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources in the peer-to-peer environment;
• means for maintaining two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources on the network, wherein the two or more mechanisms are obtainable by devices on the network to enable the devices to participate in the peer-to-peer environment, wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes on the network;
• and
• means for obtaining the two or more mechanisms on the network;
• and
• means for accessing the two or more mechanisms to participate as a peer node in the peer-to-peer environment.

A method comprising:

• a device obtaining two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources from one or more peer nodes on the network, wherein the one or more peer nodes participate in a peer-to-peer environment on the network to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content, and wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes;
• and
• the device accessing the set of peer-to-peer platform resources using the two or more mechanisms to participate as a peer node in the peer-to-peer environment.

A method comprising:

• a peer node on a network receiving a request from a device on the network, wherein the request specifies two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources for use by the device in participating in a peer-to-peer environment;
• the peer node providing the two or more mechanisms to the device in response to the request;
• and
• wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes.

A method, comprising:

• a plurality of peer nodes on a network, implementing a peer-to-peer environment on the network in accordance with one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of peer nodes to discovery each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources in the peer-to-peer environment;
• one of the plurality of peer nodes maintaining two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources on the network, wherein the two or more mechanisms are obtainable by devices on the network to enable the devices to participate in the peer-to-peer environment, wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes on the network;
• and
• a device on the network obtaining the two or more mechanisms from the peer node on the network;
• and
• the device accessing the set of resources using the two or more mechanisms to participate as a peer node in the peer-to-peer environment.

A tangible, computer-readable medium configured to store program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

• a device obtaining two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources from one or more peer nodes on the network, wherein the one or more peer nodes participate in a peer-to-peer environment on the network to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share content, and wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes;
• and
• the device accessing the set of peer-to-peer platform resources using the two or more mechanisms to participate as a peer node in the peer-to-peer environment.

A tangible, computer-readable medium configured to store program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

• a peer node on a network receiving a request from a device on the network, wherein the request specifies two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources for use by the device in participating in a peer-to-peer environment;
• the peer node providing the two or more mechanisms to the device in response to the request;
• and
• wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes.

A tangible, computer-readable medium configured to store program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

• a plurality of peer nodes on a network, implementing a peer-to-peer environment on the network in accordance with one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of peer nodes to discovery each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources in the peer-to-peer environment;
• one of the plurality of peer nodes maintaining two or more mechanisms for accessing a set of peer-to-peer platform resources on the network, wherein the two or more mechanisms are obtainable by devices on the network to enable the devices to participate in the peer-to-peer environment, wherein the two or more mechanisms include:
• a mechanism for accessing a discovery service for discovering resources in the peer-to-peer environment in accordance with a peer discovery protocol;
• and
• a mechanism for accessing a membership service for applying for membership in accordance with a peer membership protocol in one or more peer groups each comprising a set of cooperating peer nodes on the network;
• and
• a device on the network obtaining the two or more mechanisms from the peer node on the network;
• and
• the device accessing the set of resources using the two or more mechanisms to participate as a peer node in the peer-to-peer environment.