System and method for creating a preferential ad-hoc network

A method for establishing an ad-hoc network comprising:

• receiving a request for participants for the ad-hoc network at a receiving peer node from an initiating peer node via a peer-to-peer network comprising the receiving peer node and the initiating peer node, the request including content information describing content stored by the initiating peer node;
• deciding whether to join the ad-hoc network based on the content information;
• and
• providing a response to the initiating peer node if the receiving peer node decides to join the ad-hoc network.

A network node for establishing an ad-hoc network comprising:

• a) a communication interface;
• and
• b) a control system communicatively coupled to a core network via the communication interface and adapted to:
• i) establish communication with a peer-to-peer network via the core network;
• ii) identify at least one participating node for the ad-hoc network from a plurality of peer nodes in the peer-to-peer network using the peer-to-peer network;
• iii) provide a request for participants for the ad-hoc network to the plurality of peer nodes using the peer-to-peer network, the request including content information describing content stored on the network node;
• and
• iv) establish the ad-hoc network with the at least one participating node, the ad-hoc network being logically separate from the peer-to-peer network, wherein the at least one participating node decides whether to join the ad-hoc network based on the content information.