SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING A COMMERCIAL PEER TO PEER NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating a commercial distributed peer-to-peer network including the steps of:
- (a) providing means to allow registered members to download authorised content via a transaction with a central server which may either (i) be paid for (ii) be free of charge;
or (iii) earning credits;
(b) providing means for at least part of said content to be uploaded from one or more said members who are online who hold copies of the said content locally on their own computers;
(c) providing means to verify the legitimacy of download requests with said central server prior to commencing upload from said members holding copies of the requested content.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods for monitoring, controlling and generating income from the copying and distribution of all forms of digital content within a membership based network of peer-to-peer clients (10, 12, 20). The system creates a controlled environment where only authorised, legitimate content is distributed and all users pay for legal copies but are in return rewarded for any data packets uploaded. Allocation and usage of uploading clients is controlled and prioritised by the central server (18) in order to optimise performance and download speed for purchaser, share distribution of rewards and incentives among uploading clients and enable the security, validation, reconciliation and authorisation of distributed rewards. The invention provides that users upload local transaction logs to the central server (18) on a delayed basis to optimise utilisation of available bandwidth outside of peak times ensure that real-time data transfers between members are facilitated as quickly as possible.
37 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating a commercial distributed peer-to-peer network including the steps of:
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(a) providing means to allow registered members to download authorised content via a transaction with a central server which may either (i) be paid for (ii) be free of charge;
or (iii) earning credits;(b) providing means for at least part of said content to be uploaded from one or more said members who are online who hold copies of the said content locally on their own computers; (c) providing means to verify the legitimacy of download requests with said central server prior to commencing upload from said members holding copies of the requested content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for facilitating a commercial distributed peer-to-peer network, comprising:
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(a) providing means to maintain a detailed local transaction log for each item of authorised digital content by tracking the number of downloads made by date and user; (b) providing means to maintain a account for each provider of authorised content and allocate a credit or debit to an account for each complete download of specific content related to that provider; (c) providing means for uploading said local transaction log to central server, on a delayed basis, to in order to reconcile the account details for said provider; (d) providing means for said provider to view their account details at any time and view history and volumes of content downloads as well as current balance, credits and debits applied to their account.
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Specification