System and method for establishment of a client/server type relationship in a peer-to-peer network
AssigneeFrance Telecom
InventorsErwan Le Merrer, Didier Neveux, Thierry Houdoin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for establishing a client/server type relationship in a hybrid peer to peer network connects a first peer (20a) to a second peer (20d) implementing a predetermined function (F) in that peer to peer network. To this end, the first peer (20a) has a superpeer (10a) capable of establishing a list (LF) of the active peers (20d, 20e) implementing the function (F) in the service of the peers of the network and of sending that list (LF) to its peer (20a). The first peer (20a) can then establish a client/server type relationship with a second peer (20d) selected in that list (LF).
Claims15
A device for use as a superpeer that manages at least one peer in a hybrid peer-to-peer network that includes at least two active, initially non-implementing peers that do not implement a predetermined function, the device comprising:
- means for receiving a service request for the predetermined function from at least one of the at least two active non-implementing peers;
- means for identifying active implementing peers in the hybrid peer-to-peer network that implement the predetermined function;
- means for determining a number corresponding to how many of said active implementing peers are in the hybrid peer-to-peer network;
- means for sending, to at least one other of the at least two active non-implementing peers, a request for said at least one other of the at least two active non-implementing peers to obtain and implement the predetermined function if said number is less than a predetermined minimum threshold;
- means for establishing a list of said active implementing peers;
- and
- means for sending said list to said at least one of the at least two active non-implementing peers that sent said service request for the predetermined function.
A device for use as an active, initially non-implementing peer that does not implement a predetermined function in a hybrid peer-to-peer network that includes at least one other active non-implementing peer, the device comprising:
- means for receiving, from a superpeer in the hybrid peer-to-peer network, a request to obtain and implement the predetermined function, wherein the request is sent from the superpeer after the superpeer receives a service request for the predetermined function from the at least one other active non-implementing peer and determines that a number of active implementing peers in the hybrid peer-to-peer network that implement the predetermined function is less than a predetermined minimum threshold;
- means for obtaining the predetermined function upon receiving the request from the superpeer;
- and
- means for implementing the predetermined function.
A connection method for a superpeer in a hybrid peer-to-peer network that includes at least two active, initially non-implementing peers that do not implement a predetermined function, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the superpeer, a service request for the predetermined function from at least one of the at least two active non-implementing peers;
- identifying, at the superpeer, active implementing peers in the hybrid peer-to-peer network that implement the predetermined function;
- determining, at the superpeer, a number corresponding to how many of said active implementing peers are in the hybrid peer-to-peer network;
- sending, from the superpeer, to at least one other of the at least two active non-implementing peers, a request for said at least one other of the at least two active non-implementing peers to obtain and implement the predetermined function if said number is less than a predetermined minimum threshold;
- establishing, at the superpeer, a list of said active implementing peers;
- and
- sending said list to said at least one of the at least two active non-implementing peers that sent said service request for the predetermined function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.