Software distribution via peer-to-peer networks

A method, comprising:

• coupling a first device to an ad hoc peer-to-peer network;
• discovering, via the first device, a peer-to-peer software distribution service using a service discovery protocol of the ad hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer-to-peer software distribution service is offered by a peer device and wherein the peer-to-peer software distribution service facilitates access to a plurality of programs;
• sending, from the first device to the peer device, at least one query for a description of the peer-to-peer software distribution service in response to discovering the peer-to-peer software distribution service, wherein the at least one query includes a description of a computer platform of the first device;
• filtering a result returned in response to the query based on the description of the computer platform, wherein the result includes a list of programs selected from the plurality of programs that are capable of operating on a processor of the first device;
• selecting, via the first device in response to the description of the peer-to-peer software distribution service received from the peer device, a program from the list of programs;
• and
• downloading the program to the first device, wherein the downloading is facilitated by the software distribution service of the peer device.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a network interface capable of communicating via an ad hoc peer-to-peer network;
• a processor coupled to the network interface;
• and
• a memory storage device coupled to the processor, the memory storage device including instructions operable by the processor to cause the apparatus to,
• discover a peer-to-peer software distribution service using a service discovery protocol of the ad hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer-to-peer software distribution service is offered by a peer device and wherein the peer-to-peer software distribution service facilitates access to a plurality of programs;
• send, to the peer device, at least one query for a description of the peer-to-peer software distribution service in response to discovering the peer-to-peer software distribution service, wherein the at least one query includes a description of a computer platform of the apparatus;
• filtering a result returned in response to the query based on the description of computer platform, wherein the result includes a list of programs selected from the plurality of programs that are capable of operating on the processor of the apparatus;
• select a program from the list of programs in response to the description of the peer-to-peer software distribution service received from the peer device;
• and
• download the program to the apparatus, wherein the downloading is facilitated by the software distribution service of the peer device.

A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by an apparatus capable of being coupled to an ad hoc peer-to-peer network for performing:

• discovering a peer-to-peer software distribution service using a service discovery protocol of the ad hoc peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer-to-peer software distribution service is offered by a peer device and wherein the peer-to-peer software distribution service facilitates access to a plurality of programs;
• sending, to the peer device, at least one query for a description of the peer-to-peer software distribution service in response to discovering the peer-to-peer software distribution service, wherein the at least one query includes a description of a computer platform of the apparatus;
• filtering a result returned in response to the query based on the description of the computer platform, wherein the result includes a list of programs selected from the plurality of programs that are capable of operating on a processor of the apparatus;
• selecting a program from the list of programs in response to the description of the peer-to-peer software distribution service received from the peer device;
• and
• downloading the program to the apparatus, wherein the downloading is facilitated by the software distribution service of the peer device.