System and method for automatic selection of service provider for efficient use of bandwidth and resources in a peer-to-peer network environment
First Claim
1. A method for secure automatic selection of a designated service provider in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:
- broadcasting a digitally signed election initiating packet over the network by a sending node in the network, the election packet containing a value for at least one criteria;
awaiting one of expiry of response time-out period and receipt of a response election packet;
broadcasting a digitally signed election result packet indicating the sending node is the designated service provider if expiry of response time-out period occurs prior to receipt of a response election packet; and
awaiting for, verifying, and storing election result in an election result broadcast if receipt of a response election packet occurs prior to expiry of response time-out period;
wherein the response election packet contains a value for the at least one criteria;
wherein said verifying election result includes verifying that the value for at least one criteria in the response election packet wins over the value for at least one criteria in the initiating election packet.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for distributed function discovery with third party responses in a peer-to-peer network to facilitate efficient use of bandwidth and resources are disclosed. The method for secure automatic selection of a designated service provider in a peer-to-peer network generally comprises broadcasting a digitally signed election initiating packet containing a value for at least one criteria by a sending node, awaiting response time-out period expiry or receipt of a response election packet, broadcasting a digitally signed election result packet indicating the sending node is the designated service provider if response time-out period expiry occurs prior to receipt of a response election packet, and awaiting for, verifying, and storing election result in an election result broadcast if receipt of a response election packet occurs prior to expiry of response time-out period. The election result broadcast may contain a value for the at least one criteria such that verifying the election result includes verifying that the value for at least one criteria in the response election packet wins over the value for at least one criteria in the initiating election packet. The criteria may be, for example, node name, MAC (media access control) address, Internet access, bandwidth, operating system, and processor speed.
47 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for secure automatic selection of a designated service provider in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:
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broadcasting a digitally signed election initiating packet over the network by a sending node in the network, the election packet containing a value for at least one criteria; awaiting one of expiry of response time-out period and receipt of a response election packet; broadcasting a digitally signed election result packet indicating the sending node is the designated service provider if expiry of response time-out period occurs prior to receipt of a response election packet; and awaiting for, verifying, and storing election result in an election result broadcast if receipt of a response election packet occurs prior to expiry of response time-out period; wherein the response election packet contains a value for the at least one criteria; wherein said verifying election result includes verifying that the value for at least one criteria in the response election packet wins over the value for at least one criteria in the initiating election packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer program product for secure and automatic selection of a designated service provider in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:
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computer code at a sending node that broadcasts a digitally signed election initiating packet over the network in the network, the election packet containing a value for at least one criteria; computer code that awaits one of expiry of response time-out period and receipt of a response election packet; computer code that broadcasts a digitally signed election result packet indicating the sending node is the designated service provider if expiry of response time-out period occurs prior to receipt of a response election packet; and computer code that awaits for, verifies, and stores election result in an election result broadcast if receipt of a response election packet occurs prior to expiry of response time-out period; and a computer readable medium that stores said computer codes; wherein the response election packet contains a value for the at least one criteria; wherein said verifying election result includes verifying that the value for at least one criteria in the response election packet wins over the value for at least one criteria in the initialing election packet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product for secure and automatic selection of a designated service provider in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:
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computer code at a receiving node that receives and verifies a digitally signed election initiating packet from a sending node in the network, the election packet containing a value for at least one criteria; computer code that determines one of the receiving node and sending node as current winner by comparing the value for the at least one criteria in the election initiating packet and a value for the at least one criteria of the receiving node; computer code that awaits for, verifies, and stores election result in an election result broadcast if the sending node is the current winner; computer code that awaits one of expiry of response delay period and receipt of an additional election packet ifthe receiving node is the current winner; computer code that broadcasts a digitally signed election result packet indicating the receiving node is the designated service provider if expiry of response delay period occurs prior to receipt of any additional election packet; and a computer readable medium that stores said computer codes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification