Method for improving local descriptors in peer-to-peer file sharing

A method for improving searches in a peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing system including a plurality of server computers, the method comprising:

• one of the server computers automatically selecting a first content file of the one of the server computers, wherein the first content file includes a first descriptor comprising at least one metadata term and a key that uniquely identifies the content file;
• the one of the server computers automatically searching at least one other of the server computers to find a second content file having a second descriptor including a key matching the key of the first content file;
• one of the at least one other of the server computers returning the second descriptor to the one of the server computers;
• the one of the server computers automatically expanding the first descriptor to obtain an expanded first descriptor by adding a second metadata term of the second descriptor that is different from each of the at least one metadata term of the first descriptor;
• and
• the one of the server computers storing the content file with the expanded first descriptor.

A method for improving searches in a peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing system including a plurality of server computers, the method comprising:

• a first server computer automatically selecting a first content file of the first server computer, wherein the first content file includes a first descriptor comprising at least one metadata term and a key that uniquely identifies the content file;
• the first server computer automatically routing the key to a second server computer to search for a second content file having a second key matching the key of the first content file;
• the second server computer returning a second descriptor of the second content file to the first server computer, the second descriptor including a second descriptor metadata term that is different from each of the at least one metadata term of the first descriptor;
• the first server computer automatically adding the second descriptor metadata term to the first descriptor to obtain an expanded first descriptor;
• and
• the first server computer storing the first content file with the expanded first descriptor.