Peer to peer gateway

• US 20070220160A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rovi Solutions Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Macrovision Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Seidel, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1059 Inter-group management mechanisms, e.g. splitting, merging or interconnection of groups
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1091 Interfacing with client-server systems or between P2P systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A method and system for interconnecting a number of peer to peer networks is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a peer to peer gateway communicates with one or more peer to peer networks. The gateway communicates with these networks through the Internet, to which it is connected. The gateway may be configured to perform a number of functions on each of the connected networks, including but not limited to: data storage, searching, data transfer, and data translation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a search request at a gateway, wherein the search request requests content accessible via one or more peer to peer networks; and

using the gateway to access the one or more peer to peer networks, wherein the one or more peer to peer networks include a first peer to peer network having a first protocol, and a second peer to peer network having a second protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising translating the search request into the first protocol and the second protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the search request is received from a client in communication with the gateway.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein using the gateway to access the one or more peer to peer networks further comprises:

routing the search request to the first peer to peer network and to the second peer to peer network.

5. A method, comprising:

using a gateway to access one or more peer to peer networks, wherein the one or more peer to peer networks include a first peer to peer network having a first protocol, and a second peer to peer network having a second protocol; and

transferring content from the first peer to peer network to a client.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the client is in communication with the second peer to peer network.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein transferring content from the first peer to peer network to a client comprises:

transferring the content from the first peer to peer network to the gateway;

translating the content from the first protocol to the second protocol;

transferring the content from the gateway to the second peer to peer network; and

transferring the content from the second peer to peer network to the client.

8. A method comprising:

receiving content at a gateway from a source;

providing the content to a first peer to peer network having a first protocol; and

providing the content to a second peer to peer network having a second protocol.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising translating the content into the first protocol and the second protocol.

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

receiving a search request at a gateway, wherein the search request requests content accessible via one or more peer to peer networks; and

using the gateway to access the one or more peer to peer networks, wherein the one or more peer to peer networks include a first peer to peer network having a first protocol, and a second peer to peer network having a second protocol.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, having stored thereon-additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform translating the search request into the first protocol and the second protocol.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein the search request is received from a client in communication with the gateway.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, having stored thereon-additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer for using the gateway to access the one or more peer to peer networks, cause said computer to further perform:

routing the search request to the first peer to peer network and to the second peer to peer network.

14. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

using a gateway to access one or more peer to peer networks, wherein the one or more peer to peer networks include a first peer to peer network having a first protocol, and a second peer to peer network having a second protocol; and

transferring content from the first peer to peer network to a client.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the client is in communication with the second peer to peer network.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having stored thereon-additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform transferring content from the first peer to peer network to a client comprises:

transferring the content from the first peer to peer network to the gateway;

translating the content from the first protocol to the second protocol;

transferring the content from the gateway to the second peer to peer network; and

transferring the content from the second peer to peer network to the client.

17. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:

receiving content at a gateway from a source;

providing the content to a first peer to peer network having a first protocol; and

providing the content to a second peer to peer network having a second protocol.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, having stored thereon-additional instructions, said additional instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to further perform translating the content into the first protocol and the second protocol.