Peer-to-peer network computing platform

• US 20020184311A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Slaughter, Gregory L., Pouyoul, Eric, Abdelaziz, Mohamed M., Saulpaugh, Thomas E., Yeager, William J., Clary, Michael J., Gong, Li, Traversat, Bernard A., Joy, William N., Hugly, Jean-Christophe, Duigou, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,176,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4416 Network booting; Remote initial program loading [RIPL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/544 Buffers; Shared memory; Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2546 Arrangements for avoiding unnecessary translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 : Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 : received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 : the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/164 : at the network layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 : at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 : Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 : Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 : Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1048 : Departure or maintenance mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1057 : involving pre-assessment of levels of reputation of peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1059 : Inter-group management mechanisms, e.g. splitting, merging or interconnection of groups
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1061 : using node-based peer discovery mechanisms static access to replicated servers H04L67/1006; service discovery H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 : Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 : Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/107 : with limitation or expansion of the discovery scope
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 : Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 : Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 : Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access

Abstract

A peer-to-peer platform that may provide mechanisms through which peers may discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups is described. The peer-to-peer platform may comprise several layers including a peer-to-peer platform layer, a peer-to-peer services layer, and a peer-to-peer applications layer. At the highest abstraction level, the peer-to-peer platform may be viewed as a set of protocols. Each protocol may be defined by one or more messages exchanged among participants of the protocol. In one embodiment, the peer-to-peer platform may include, but is not limited to, one or more of a peer discovery protocol, a peer resolver protocol, a peer information protocol, a peer membership protocol, a pipe binding protocol, and an endpoint routing protocol. To underpin this set of protocols, the peer-to-peer platform may define a number of concepts including peer, peer group, advertisement, message, pipe, and endpoint.

Claims

1. A peer computing system comprising:

a plurality of peer nodes;

wherein at least a subset of the peer nodes are configured to participate in a peer discovery protocol to discover other peer nodes; and

wherein at least a subset of the peer nodes are configured to participate in a peer membership protocol for joining or forming a peer group with other peer nodes.

2. The peer computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the member peer nodes in said peer group are configured to find and exchange content in said peer group.

3. The peer computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said peer group is a collection of cooperating peer nodes that provide a common set of services in the peer computing system.

4. The peer computing system as recited in claim 3, wherein the common set of services include one or more core services.

5. The peer computing system as recited in claim 4, wherein the core services include:

a discovery service configured for use by member peer nodes in said peer group to discover advertised resources in the peer computing system, wherein the resources include peers and peer groups, and wherein the discovery service uses the discovery protocol; and

a membership service configured for use by member peer nodes in said peer group to reject or accept group membership applications, wherein the membership service uses the membership protocol.

6. The peer computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more peer nodes in said peer group are configured to participate in a peer resolver protocol configured for use in sending search queries from one peer group member to another peer group member.

7. The peer computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more peer nodes in said peer group are configured to participate in a pipe binding protocol configured for use in finding the physical location of a pipe endpoint and binding to the pipe endpoint.

8. The peer computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more peer nodes in said peer group are configured to participate in an endpoint routing protocol for enabling the peer nodes to request peer routing information to reach other peer nodes.

9. The peer computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the peer nodes are configured to participate in a peer information protocol for enabling the peer nodes to learn about other peer nodes'"'"' capabilities and status.

10. The peer computing system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of peer nodes is further configured to use an advertisement format for describing and publishing advertisements for resources in a peer-to-peer environment.

11. The peer computing system as recited in claim 10, wherein the resources include one or more of the peer nodes, peer groups, content, services, applications, pipes, and pipe endpoints, wherein the pipes are communications channels between one or more of the peer nodes, the services, and the applications in the peer-to-peer environment, and wherein the pipe endpoints are network interfaces on the peer nodes that are configured to be bound to the pipes to establish the communications channels.

13. The peer computing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for member peer nodes in said peer group to reject or accept peer group membership applications.

14. The peer computing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for member peer nodes in said peer group to send search queries from one peer group member to another peer group member.

15. The peer computing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for member peer nodes in said peer group to bind to a pipe endpoint.

16. The peer computing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for member peer nodes in said peer group to request peer routing information to reach other peer nodes.

17. The peer computing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for the plurality of peer nodes to request information about other peer nodes'"'"' capabilities and status.

19. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises:

a peer resolver protocol configured for use in sending search queries from one peer group member to another peer group member;

a peer information protocol for enabling the peers to learn about other peers'"'"' capabilities and status;

a pipe binding protocol configured for use in finding the physical location of a pipe endpoint and binding the pipe endpoint to a peer; and

an endpoint routing protocol for enabling the peers to request peer routing information to reach other peers.

20. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 19, wherein each of the protocols defines one or more message formats configured for use in exchanging messages between the peers in accordance with the particular protocol.

21. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises a peer resolver protocol configured for use in sending search queries from one peer group member to another peer group member.

22. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises a pipe binding protocol configured for use in finding the physical location of a pipe endpoint and in binding to the pipe endpoint.

23. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises an endpoint routing protocol for enabling the peer nodes to request peer routing information to reach other peer nodes.

24. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises a peer information protocol for enabling the peer nodes to learn about other peer nodes'"'"' capabilities and status.

25. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises a peer advertisement format configured for use in advertising the peers in the peer-to-peer network, wherein said discovering peers returns one or more peer advertisements formatted in accordance with the peer advertisement format.

26. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises a peer group advertisement format configured for use in advertising the peer groups in the peer-to-peer network, wherein said discovering peer groups returns one or more peer group advertisements formatted in accordance with the peer group advertisement format.

27. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 18, wherein the peer discovery protocol is further configured for discovering one or more of pipes, endpoints, services and content in the peer-to-peer network.

28. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 27, wherein the peer-to-peer platform further comprises one or more of:

a pipe advertisement format configured for use in advertising pipes in the peer-to-peer network, wherein said discovering pipes returns one or more pipe advertisements formatted in accordance with the pipe advertisement format;

an endpoint advertisement format configured for use in advertising endpoints in the peer-to-peer network, wherein said discovering endpoints returns one or more endpoint advertisements formatted in accordance with the endpoint advertisement format;

a service advertisement format configured for use in advertising services provided by the peers in the peer-to-peer network, wherein said discovering services returns one or more service advertisements formatted in accordance with the service advertisement format; and

a content advertisement format configured for use in advertising the content in the peer-to-peer network, wherein said discovering content returns one or more content advertisements formatted in accordance with the content advertisement format.

30. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

the peer node broadcasting a peer group discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more peer group response messages to the peer group discovery message from one or more peer groups on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer group response messages each include information about the particular peer group, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in joining the particular peer group; and

wherein the peer group discovery message and the peer group response messages are in a format defined by the peer discovery protocol, and wherein said broadcasting a peer group discovery message and said receiving one or more peer group response messages are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

31. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

the peer node broadcasting a pipe discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more pipe response messages to the pipe discovery message from one or more peers on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the pipe response messages each include information about the particular pipe, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in binding to the particular pipe; and

wherein the pipe discovery message and the pipe response messages are in a format defined by the peer discovery protocol, and wherein said broadcasting a pipe discovery message and said receiving one or more pipe response messages are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

32. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

the peer node broadcasting an endpoint discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more endpoint response messages to the endpoint discovery message from one or more peers on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the endpoint response messages each include information about the particular endpoint, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in binding to the particular endpoint; and

wherein the endpoint discovery message and the endpoint response messages are in a format defined by the peer discovery protocol, and wherein said broadcasting an endpoint discovery message and said receiving one or more endpoint response messages are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

33. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

the peer node broadcasting a service discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more service response messages to the service discovery message from one or more peers on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the service response messages each include information about the particular service, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in accessing the particular service; and

wherein the service discovery message and the service response messages are in a format defined by the peer discovery protocol, and wherein said broadcasting a service discovery message and said receiving one or more service response messages are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

34. The method as recited in claim 29, further comprising:

the peer node broadcasting a content discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more content response messages to the content discovery message from one or more peers on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the content response messages each include information about the particular content, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in accessing the particular content; and

wherein the content discovery message and the content response messages are in a format defined by the peer discovery protocol, and wherein said broadcasting a content discovery message and said receiving one or more content response messages are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, further comprising the peer node joining the peer group in accordance with the information received in the peer group response message.

37. The method as recited in claim 36, wherein said joining the peer group comprises:

the peer node sending a peer group membership application message to the peer group, wherein the peer group membership application includes information on the peer node'"'"'s qualifications for membership in the peer group;

the peer group sending a peer group membership acceptance message to the peer node if the peer node qualifies for peer group membership;

wherein the peer group membership application message and the peer group membership acceptance message are in a format defined by a peer membership protocol comprised in the peer-to-peer platform.

39. The carrier medium as recited in claim 38, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

the peer node broadcasting a peer group discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more peer group response messages to the peer group discovery message from one or more peer groups on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer group response messages each include information about the particular peer group, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in joining the particular peer group; and

wherein the peer group discovery message and the peer group response messages are in a format defined by a peer discovery protocol comprised in a peer-to-peer platform, and wherein said broadcasting a peer group discovery message and said receiving one or more peer group response messages are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

12. A peer computing system comprising:

a plurality of peer nodes;

means for at least a subset of the peer nodes to discover resources in the peer computing system, wherein the resources include peer nodes and peer groups, and wherein the resources further include one or more of pipes, endpoints, services and content; and

means for at least a subset of the peer nodes to join or form a peer group with other peer nodes;

wherein said peer group is a collection of cooperating peer nodes that provide a common set of services in the peer computing system.

18. An article of manufacture comprising software instructions executable to implement a peer-to-peer platform comprising:

a peer discovery protocol for discovering peers and peer groups in a peer-to-peer network;

a peer membership protocol for use by the peers in applying for membership in one or more of the peer groups;

wherein the peer-to-peer platform is configured for use in the peer-to-peer network to enable the peers to discover each other, to communicate with each other, and to cooperate with each other to form the peer groups.

29. A method for discovering peer nodes on a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

a peer node broadcasting a peer discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more response messages to the peer discovery message from one or more other peer nodes on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the response messages each include information about the particular peer node, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in establishing a connection to the particular peer node; and

wherein the peer discovery message and the response messages are in a format defined by a peer discovery protocol comprised in a peer-to-peer platform, and wherein said broadcasting and said receiving are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

35. A method for discovering peer groups on a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

a peer node broadcasting a peer group discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving a peer group response messages to the peer group discovery message from a peer group on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer group response message includes information about the peer group, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in joining the peer group; and

wherein the peer group discovery message and the peer group response message are in a format defined by a peer discovery protocol comprised in a peer-to-peer platform, and wherein said broadcasting a peer group discovery message and said receiving the peer group response message are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

38. A carrier medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

a peer node broadcasting a peer discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving one or more response messages to the peer discovery message from one or more other peer nodes on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the response messages each include information about the particular peer node, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in establishing a connection to the particular peer node; and

wherein the peer discovery message and the response messages are in a format defined by a peer discovery protocol comprised in a peer-to-peer platform, and wherein said broadcasting and said receiving are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.

40. A carrier medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:

a peer node broadcasting a peer group discovery message on the peer-to-peer network; and

the peer node receiving a peer group response messages to the peer group discovery message from a peer group on the peer-to-peer network, wherein the peer group response message includes information about the peer group, wherein the information is configured for use by the peer node in joining the peer group; and

wherein the peer group discovery message and the peer group response messages are in a format defined by a peer discovery protocol comprised in a peer-to-peer platform, and wherein said broadcasting a peer group discovery message and said receiving one or more peer group response messages are performed in accordance with the peer discovery protocol.