Method and system for accessing a peer-to-peer network

• US 20040264471A1
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monarch Networking Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Petit, Stephane, Magliulo, Philippe, Boulay, Jean-Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 7,342,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1063 Discovery through centralising entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method comprising a search phase to find shared information in a peer-to-peer network by terminals each being configured as client and as server to share information with other terminals in the peer-to-peer network, the search phase being triggered on a server in a peer-to-peer network, connected to a data transmission network, after a request sent by a user terminal connected to the server but not to the peer-to-peer network, this phase comprising a step in which a list of shared information is created and transmitted to the terminal in response to the request, a step in which shared information is selected from this list on the terminal, and a phase in which the selected information is downloaded to the terminal not connected to the peer-to-peer network, after a download request has been sent from the terminal.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a peer-to-peer network connecting user terminals connected to a data transmission network, each user terminal being configured both as client and server to share information with other user terminals in the peer-to-peer network, the peer-to-peer network comprising a server connected to the data transmission network and managing a database memorizing information about user terminals in the peer-to-peer network and information shared by said user terminals, said method comprising:

a search phase for finding shared information, said search phase being triggered on the server following a request sent by a user terminal connected to the server but not to the peer-to-peer network, this phase comprising a step of searching in the database (4) for shared information corresponding to the request, a step in which a list of shared information is transmitted from the server to the terminal in response to the request, and a step in which shared information is selected on the user terminal so as to be downloaded, and

a phase in which the shared information is downloaded to the terminal not connected to the peer-to-peer network, after a request for downloading the selected information has been sent from the user terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shared information is downloaded directly from the user terminal connected to the peer-to-peer network and in which shared information to be downloaded is located, to the user terminal not connected to the peer-to-peer network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein shared information is downloaded following a delayed download request, initially from the terminal connected to the peer-to-peer network and in which shared information to be downloaded is located, to the server, and secondly after a delay, from the server to the user terminal not connected to the peer-to-peer network, or another terminal available to the user.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising prior to downloading the selected shared information, a step of payment for the shared information by the user who made the download request, and a step in which payment is confirmed at the time that the shared information is downloaded.

5. A peer-to-peer network access system connecting user terminals connected to a data transmission network, each terminal being configured both as client and server to share information with other terminals in the peer-to-peer network, the peer-to-peer network comprising a server connected to the data transmission network and managing a database memorizing information about user terminals in the peer-to-peer network and information shared by said user terminals, said server comprising means for receiving from user terminals connected to the server but not to the peer-to-peer network and for processing requests to search for shared information, and means for supplying in response lists of shared information, the system comprising means for downloading shared information from a user terminal connected to the peer-to-peer network to a user terminal connected to the server but not to the peer-to-peer network.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising means for downloading information shared directly from the terminal connected to the peer-to-peer network and in which this information is stored, to the user terminal connected to the data transmission network but not to the peer-to-peer network.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the server comprises storage means for temporarily storing shared information downloaded from a user terminal connected to the peer-to-peer network following a delayed download request sent by another user terminal.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the user terminals that might receive shared information in the peer-to-peer network comprise mobile terminals connected to a mobile telephone network, the server comprising means for being connected to the mobile telephone network and means for receiving requests for searches and for downloading information shared in the peer-to-peer network, from mobile terminals.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the data transmission network is the Internet network.