METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DATA TRANSFER

• US 20080071907A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solid State Networks LLC
• Original Assignee: Solid State Networks LLC
• Inventors: THOMPSON, MARK
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/101 based on network conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1038 Load balancing arrangements to avoid a single path through a load balancer
• 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 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for an efficient peer-to-peer (p2p) system generally includes a server selection mechanism connected to a p2p network. The server selection mechanism may be configured to maintain a list that describes the servers which are storing at least a portion of a specified file. The server selection mechanism may be configured to selectively distribute at least a portion of the file between servers, for example according to the description in the list.

Claims

1. A computer system configured to facilitate transfer of a file having at least one segment via a p2p network, comprising:

a processor having access to the p2p network; and

a memory responsive to the processor, wherein the memory stores a p2p communication program configured to cause the computer system to;

monitor an availability of the at least one file segment via the p2p network; and

automatically adjust the availability of the at least one file segment according to the availability of the at least one file segment.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein causing the computer system to automatically adjust the availability of the at least one file segment includes causing the computer system to make a supplementary data source available via the p2p network, wherein the supplementary data source offers the at least one file segment for transfer.

3. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein causing the computer system to make a supplementary data source available via the p2p network includes causing the computer system to select the supplementary data source from a set of multiple candidate data sources according to at least one of a bandwidth of the supplementary data source and a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source.

4. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein causing the computer system to monitor the availability of the at least one file segment includes causing the computer system to receive a request for a supplementary data source from a peer in response to a low availability of the at least one file segment on the p2p network.

5. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the p2p communication program is further configured to cause the computer system to:

receive a request for the at least one file segment via the p2p network;

select a supplementary data source according to a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source; and

refer the request for the at least one file segment to the selected supplementary data server.

6. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one file segment is a BitTorrent file segment.

7. A method for transferring a file having multiple segments via a p2p network, comprising:

monitoring an availability of at least one of the file segments via the p2p network; and

automatically adjusting the availability of the at least one file segment according to the availability of the at least one file segment.

8. A method for transferring a file according to claim 7, wherein automatically adjusting the availability of the at least one file segment comprises making a supplementary data source available via the p2p network, wherein the supplementary data source offers the at least one file segment for transfer.

9. A method for transferring a file according to claim 8, wherein making a supplementary data source available via the p2p network comprises selecting the supplementary data source from a set of multiple candidate data sources according to at least one of a bandwidth of the supplementary data source and a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source.

10. A method for transferring a file according to claim 7, wherein monitoring the availability of the at least one file segment comprises receiving a request for a supplementary data source from a peer in response to a low availability of the at least one file segment on the p2p network.

11. A method for transferring a file according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a request for the at least one file segment via the p2p network;

selecting a supplementary data source according to a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source; and

referring the request for the at least one file segment to the selected supplementary data server.

12. A method for transferring a file according to claim 7, wherein the at least one file segment is a BitTorrent file segment.

13. A medium storing computer-executable instructions, wherein the instructions are configured to cause a computer coupled to a p2p network to:

monitor an availability of at least one file segment via the p2p network; and

automatically adjust the availability of the at least one file segment according to the availability of the at least one file segment.

14. A medium according to claim 13, wherein causing the computer to automatically adjust the availability of the at least one file segment includes causing the computer to make a supplementary data source available via the p2p network, wherein the supplementary data source offers the at least one file segment for transfer.

15. A medium according to claim 14, wherein causing the computer to make a supplementary data source available via the p2p network includes causing the computer to select the supplementary data source from a set of multiple candidate data sources according to at least one of a bandwidth of the supplementary data source and a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source.

16. A medium according to claim 13, wherein causing the computer to monitor the availability of the at least one file segment includes causing the computer to receive a request for a supplementary data source from a peer in response to a low availability of the at least one file segment on the p2p network.

17. A medium according to claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the computer to:

receive a request for the at least one file segment via the p2p network;

select a supplementary data source according to a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source; and

refer the request for the at least one file segment to the selected supplementary data server.

18. A medium according to claim 13, wherein the at least one file segment is a BitTorrent file segment.

19. A computer program configured to cause a computer coupled to a p2p network to:

monitor an availability of at least one file segment via the p2p network; and

automatically adjust the availability of the at least one file segment according to the availability of the at least one file segment.

20. A computer program according to claim 19, wherein causing the computer to automatically adjust the availability of the at least one file segment includes causing the computer to make a supplementary data source available via the p2p network, wherein the supplementary data source offers the at least one file segment for transfer.

21. A computer program according to claim 20, wherein causing the computer to make a supplementary data source available via the p2p network includes causing the computer to select the supplementary data source from a set of multiple candidate data sources according to at least one of a bandwidth of the supplementary data source and a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source.

22. A computer program according to claim 19, wherein causing the computer to monitor the availability of the at least one file segment includes causing the computer to receive a request for a supplementary data source from a peer in response to a low availability of the at least one file segment on the p2p network.

23. A computer program according to claim 19, wherein the computer program is further configured to cause the computer to:

receive a request for the at least one file segment via the p2p network;

select a supplementary data source according to a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source; and

refer the request for the at least one file segment to the selected supplementary data server.

24. A computer program according to claim 19, wherein the at least one file segment is a BitTorrent file segment.