Automated File Distribution

• US 20070180078A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Garms, Jason, Murphy, Elissa, Rohlfsen, Bo, Waite, Ryan, Cavit, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1057 involving pre-assessment of levels of reputation of peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1061 using node-based peer discovery mechanisms static access to replicated servers H04L67/1006; service discovery H04L67/51

Abstract

Automated file distribution is described. A member of a peer-to-peer network receives from a file server, a file to be distributed. The file is then distributed via the peer-to-peer network to other members of the peer-to-peer network. Members of the peer-to-peer network can choose whether or not to receive a file from another member based on a trust level or reputation associated with the member. The trust level may be based, at least in part, on a number of degrees of separation between the members. Furthermore the file is verified, for example, by validating a digital signature associated with the file.

Claims

1. A method, implemented at least in part by a computer, comprising:

identifying first and second members of a peer-to-peer network from which a file is available; and

receiving the file from the first member of the peer-to-peer network based on trust ratings associated with the first and second members of the peer-to-peer network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving the file from the first member of the peer-to-peer network based on an automatically detected level of network traffic associated with the first member compared to an automatically detected level of network traffic associated with the second member.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving the file from the first member of the peer-to-peer network based on results of a network latency test.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving the file from the first member of the peer-to-peer network based on a geographic location associated with the first member compared to a geographic location associated with the second member.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving the file from the first member of the peer-to-peer network in response to a request for the file.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising validating the file that is received.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein validating the file that is received comprises verifying a digital signature associated with the file.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the trust ratings associated with the first and second members of the peer-to-peer network are based on locations of the first and second members within a user'"'"'s social network, wherein a user'"'"'s social network may have a first level that includes members of the peer-to-peer network that are specified in a contact list associated with the user, and a second level that includes members of the peer-to-peer network that are specified in a contact list associated with a member specified in the contact list associated with the user.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the trust rating associated with the first member of the peer-to-peer network is further based on reputation data obtained from a reputation service.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the trust rating associated with the first member of the peer-to-peer network is based on a certificate associated with the first member of the peer-to-peer network.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the trust rating associated with the first member of the peer-to-peer network is based on an identity of the first member in a user'"'"'s contact list; and

the trust rating associated with the first member of the peer-to-peer network is based on an identity of the second member in a contact list associated with a friend of the user.

12. A peer-to-peer network comprising:

a member contact list repository configured to maintain data that identifies friends of members of the peer-to-peer network; and

a member trust generator configured to determine and maintain, for a first member of the peer-to-peer network, trust levels associated with one or more other members of the peer-to-peer network.

13. The peer-to-peer network as recited in claim 12 wherein the member trust generator is configured to determine trust levels based on degrees of separation between members of the peer-to-peer network.

14. The peer-to-peer network as recited in claim 13 wherein a trust level associated with a first member identified in a particular user'"'"'s contact list is higher than a trust level associated with a second member identified in a contact list associated with the first member.

15. A method, implemented at least in part by a computer, comprising:

receiving a file to be distributed;

automatically notifying members of a peer-to-peer network, that the file is available for distribution, wherein the members are identified based, at least in part, on a contact list associated with a particular user; and

distributing the file via the peer-to-peer network.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a request for the file from one of the members via the peer-to-peer network; and

distributing the file via the peer-to-peer network in response to the request.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising validating the received file by verifying a digital signature associated with the file.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the file is received from a trusted member of the peer-to-peer network.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein notifying members of the peer-to-peer network comprises notifying a user'"'"'s friends as identified in a peer-to-peer network contact list associated with the user.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein notifying members of the peer-to-peer network further comprises:

selecting one of the user'"'"'s friends as identified in the contact list associated with the user; and

notifying the friend'"'"'s friends as identified in a contact list associated with the friend.