Peer-to-peer caching network

• US 20030101267A1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aerocast.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aerocast.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Raciborski, Nathan F., Thompson, Mark R.
• Application Number:
  US10/002,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• 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

Abstract

A peer-to-peer caching system can be utilized to cache a file residing on a content providing computer. The cached file can be stored on a caching computer. A computer that requests a file from a content providing computer can be rerouted to the caching computer so as to obtain the file.

Claims

1. A method of caching data files comprising:

providing a first computer;

providing a second computer;

establishing a peer to peer network relationship between said first computer and said second computer;

conveying a file from said first computer to said second computer;

caching said file.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said caching said file comprises:

caching said file at a caching computer.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said caching said file comprises:

caching said file at a location where said second computer is located.

4. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

receiving a request for said file at said first computer from a third computer.

5. The method as described in claim 4 and further comprising:

directing said third computer to obtain said file from said caching computer.

6. The method as described in claim 5 and further comprising:

establishing communications between said third computer and said caching computer; and

conveying said file to said third computer.

7. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

providing an intermediate computer to facilitate communications between said first computer and said third computer;

intercepting a request of said third computer for said file.

8. The method as described in claim 7 and further comprising:

directing said third computer to said caching computer so as to obtain said file.

9. The method as described in claim 7 and further comprising:

utilizing said intermediate computer as said caching computer.

10. The method as described in claim 1 and further comprising:

utilizing a global communication network to establish said peer to peer relationship.

11. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

establishing a peer to peer relationship between a first computer and a second computer;

receiving a first request for a file of the first computer from the second computer;

conveying said file from the first computer to the second computer;

caching said file.

12. The computer readable medium as described in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a request for said file from a third computer.

13. The computer readable medium as described in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

storing said file at a caching computer for access by additional computers that request said file.

14. The computer readable medium as described in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

caching said file at a location where said second computer is located.

15. The computer readable medium as described in claim 11 wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a request for said file at said first computer from a third computer.

16. The computer readable medium as described in claim 15 and further comprising:

directing said third computer to obtain said file from said caching computer.

17. The computer readable medium as described in claim 11 and further comprising:

utilizing a global communication network to establish said peer to peer relationship.