METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT

• US 20100011060A1
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solid State Networks LLC
• Original Assignee: Solid State Networks LLC
• Inventors: Hilterbrand, Travis, Buonincontri, Frederic J.
• Application Number:
  US12/499,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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 transferring data according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a computer system configured to connect to a p2p network. The computer may run a p2p communication program that receives a list of content available for download and determines a list of missing content on the computer by comparing the list of content available for download to a list of content previously acquired. Each of the content available for download comprises only a current version of corresponding content available.

Claims

1. A computer system configured to connect to a p2p network, comprising:

a processor configured to access the p2p network; and

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

receive a list of content available for download, wherein each of the content available for download comprises only a current version of corresponding content available; and

determine a list of missing content on the computer system by comparing the list of content available for download to a list of content previously acquired.

2. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein the list of content available for download is determined by a tracker system.

3. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein the tracker system communicates with one or more peers connected to the p2p network to coordinate distribution of content to the computer system.

4. A computer system according to claim 2, wherein the tracker system compares corresponding versions of content to determine the current version.

5. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein each of the content available is not necessary to run a content-using program.

6. A computer system according to claim 1, wherein:

the content available for download comprises a BitTorrent file segment; and

the p2p communication program is configured to receive the BitTorrent file segment from a BitTorrent network.

7. A computer-implemented method for transferring content via a p2p communication program operating on a computer and a p2p network, comprising:

receiving a list of content available for download, wherein each of the content available for download comprises only a current version of corresponding content available; and

determining a list of missing content on the computer by comparing the list of content available for download to a list of content previously acquired.

8. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7, wherein the list of content available for download is determined by a tracker system.

9. A computer-implemented method according to claim 8, wherein the tracker system communicates with one or more peers connected to the p2p network to coordinate distribution of content to the computer system.

10. A computer-implemented method according to claim 8, wherein the tracker system compares corresponding versions of content to determine the current version.

11. A computer system according to claim 7, wherein each of the content available is not necessary to run a content-using program.

12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 7, wherein:

the content available for download comprises a BitTorrent file segment; and

the p2p communication program is configured to receive the BitTorrent file segment from a BitTorrent network.

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

receive a list of content available for download, wherein each of the content available for download comprises only a current version of corresponding content available; and

determine a list of missing content on the computer by comparing the list content available for download to a list of content previously acquired.

14. A medium according to claim 13, wherein the list of content available for download is determined by a tracker system.

15. A medium according to claim 14, wherein the tracker system communicates with one or more peers connected to the p2p network to coordinate distribution of content to the computer system.

16. A medium according to claim 14, wherein the tracker system compares corresponding versions of content to determine the current version.

17. A computer system according to claim 13, wherein each of the content available is not necessary to run a content-using program.

18. A medium according to claim 13, wherein:

the content available for download comprises a BitTorrent file segment; and

the p2p communication program is configured to receive the BitTorrent file segment from a BitTorrent network.

19. A tracker system configured to connect to a p2p network, comprising:

a processor configured to access the p2p network; and

a memory responsive to the processor, wherein the memory stores a p2p communication program configured to cause the processor to determine a list of content available for download, wherein each of the content available for download is determined by comparing corresponding versions of content available to determine a current version.

20. A tracker system according to claim 19, wherein the p2p communication program is further configured to cause the processor to determine a list of missing content on a separate computer system by comparing the list of content available for download to a list of content previously acquired by the separate computer system.

21. A tracker system according to claim 19, wherein the tracker system communicates with one or more peers connected to the p2p network to distribute file segments to a separate computer system.