System for content-based peer-to-peer indexing of data on a networked storage device

• US 20090177757A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuidex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuidex, Inc.
• Inventors: Pottenger, William M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks

Abstract

An apparatus consisting of a networked data storage device and a software system for automatically indexing the data on the storage device by topic, and for sharing both the data and the topic indexes on the network. These may be used to provide the user of the apparatus with functionality including, but not limited to, content-based searching, sharing and automatic recommendations.

The storage device stores its data by means of a file system. The software executes either on co-processing hardware within the storage device enclosure or on some other device on the network. The indexing portion of the software performs topic-based categorization by means of a higher-order path analysis algorithm, which mimics human intuition by considering both high- and low-order links between data elements. The indexes generated by the software are automatically partitioned by topic. The indexing software operates continuously and transparently, updating the index as data is added to or removed from the storage device. The software includes a novel mesh-based, self-healing peer-to-peer protocol that has been specialized to facilitate sharing of both topic indexes and the stored data on the network. The software implements user authentication and user-level access control to data and indexes. The search, retrieval and recommendation functions are operated through a graphical user interface on a device that may be either local or remote to the storage device. The apparatus is well suited to function as an independent node on peer-to-peer communications network.

Claims

1. A hardware and/or software machine comprised of:

(a) a data storage device;

(b) an implementation of a file system which serves as a means for reading, writing, and access control for data on said data storage device;

(c) an implementation of a of network protocol suite that serves as a means for sending said data storage device'"'"'s data over a network;

(d) an implementation of higher-order indexing system, which generates a plurality of topic indexes from a pre-selected data set, wherein each topic index comprises a plurality of key elements, a plurality of entry items that link the key to the original source data, and a topic classifier for data;

(e) an implementation of a peer-to-peer networking system, providing means to transmit said topic indexes and/or any other type of data on a network;

(f) an interconnection between said higher-order indexing system and said file system which provides a means for said indexing algorithms to automatically generate topic indexes of data as data is written to said data storage device;

(g) an interconnection between said higher-order indexing system and said peer-to-peer network system which provides said topic indexes to said peer-to-peer network system for the purpose of sharing said topic indexes on the network;

(h) an interconnection between said peer-to-peer protocol and said network protocol suite, providing a means for translating peer-to-peer messages into data packets suitable for transmission through a network;

whereby a user of said system is provided with enhanced ability to store, index and share data by topic on a network.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said network protocol suite comprises a plurality of ASICs mounted on a printed circuit board.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said hard drive, said printed circuit board, and said ASICs are mounted inside a housing separate from a computer'"'"'s case, with an external network connector.