Method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing a smooth transition between peer-to-peer node types

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one processor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
• identify resources of the apparatus;
• communicate, from the apparatus, information to at least one node, the information comprising a request to change a mode of operation of the apparatus from a peer mode of operation to a client mode of operation based on the identified resources;
• maintain a connection to one or more neighbor nodes after changing from the peer mode to the client mode;
• and
• receive, in response to the communicated information, data specifying whether a distributed hash table is in a transition state,
• wherein the peer mode of operation includes a maintenance of a peer-to-peer overlay network, and wherein the client mode of operation inhibits at least the maintenance of the peer-to-peer overlay network.

A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform at least the following:

• identifying resources of an originating node;
• communicating, from the originating node, information to at least one node, the information comprising a request to change a mode of operation of the originating node from a peer mode of operation to a client mode of operation based on the identified resources;
• maintaining a connection to one or more neighbor nodes after changing from the peer mode to the client mode;
• and
• receiving, in response to communicated information, data specifying whether a distributed hash table is in a transition state,
• wherein the peer mode of operation includes a maintenance of a peer-to-peer overlay network, and wherein the client mode of operation inhibits at least the maintenance of the peer-to-peer overlay network.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one processor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to at least:
• receive a request from an originating node to change a mode of operation of the originating node from a peer mode of operation to a client mode of operation based on identified resources of the originating node;
• determine whether a distributed hash table is in a transition state;
• and
• send, in response the request, the originating node information indicating whether the originating node is allowed to change from the peer mode to the client mode based on the determined transition state, the originating node maintaining a connection to one or more neighbor nodes after changing from the peer mode to the client mode,
• wherein the peer mode of operation includes a maintenance of a peer-to-peer overlay network, and wherein the client mode of operation inhibits at least the maintenance of the peer-to-peer overlay network.