Instant messaging using distributed indexes
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a network; and
a plurality of peer nodes coupled to the network and configured to;
participate with each other in instant messaging;
store instant messaging information in a distributed index, wherein one or more of the plurality of peer nodes each stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store instant messaging information for a subset of participating peer nodes at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of identifiers of the participating peer nodes;
one of the plurality of peer nodes configured to;
receive a message comprising an identifier;
access routing information comprised in the instant messaging information for a participating peer node corresponding to the identifier from a location in the distributed index indicated by a hash of the identifier comprised in the message; and
route the message to the participating peer node corresponding to the identifier comprised in the message according to the routing information.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a distributed instant messaging system that uses a distributed index in peer-to-peer networks. A distributed index may be used to implement an instant messaging system in a group of participating peers. The distributed index may be used, for example, to route messages between participating peers, in identifying and authenticating peers wishing to participate, in notifying peers of newly joined peers, and in notifying joining peers of participating peers. In one embodiment, zones of the distributed index may be moved to joining peers. In one embodiment, zones of the distributed index stored on departing peers may be moved to participating peers. One embodiment may be implemented in peer-to-peer networks implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform including one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources.
86 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a network; and a plurality of peer nodes coupled to the network and configured to; participate with each other in instant messaging; store instant messaging information in a distributed index, wherein one or more of the plurality of peer nodes each stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store instant messaging information for a subset of participating peer nodes at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of identifiers of the participating peer nodes; one of the plurality of peer nodes configured to; receive a message comprising an identifier; access routing information comprised in the instant messaging information for a participating peer node corresponding to the identifier from a location in the distributed index indicated by a hash of the identifier comprised in the message; and route the message to the participating peer node corresponding to the identifier comprised in the message according to the routing information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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a plurality of peer nodes coupled to a network participating with each other in instant messaging; the plurality of peer nodes storing instant messaging information in a distributed index, wherein one or more of the plurality of peer nodes each stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store instant messaging information for a subset of participating peer nodes at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of identifiers of the participating peer nodes; one of the plurality of peer nodes receiving a message comprising an identifier; the one of the plurality of peer nodes accessing routing information comprised in the instant messaging information for a participating peer node corresponding to the identifier from a location in the distributed index indicated by a hash of the identifier comprised in the message; and routing the message to the participating peer node corresponding to the identifier comprised in the message according to the routing information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-accessible medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are configured to implement:
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a plurality of peer nodes coupled to a network participating with each other in instant messaging; the plurality of peer nodes storing instant messaging information in a distributed index, wherein one or more of the plurality of peer nodes each stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store instant messaging information for a subset of participating peer nodes at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of identifiers of the participating peer nodes; one of the plurality of peer nodes receiving a message comprising an identifier; the one of the plurality of peer nodes accessing routing information comprised in the instant messaging information for a participating peer node corresponding to the identifier from a location in the distributed index indicated by a hash of the identifier comprised in the message; and routing the message to the participating peer node corresponding to the identifier comprised in the message according to the routing information. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system, comprising:
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a network; and a plurality of peer nodes coupled to the network and configured to; participate with each other in instant messaging; store instant messaging information in a distributed index, wherein one or more of the plurality of peer nodes each stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store instant messaging information for a subset of participating peer nodes at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of identifiers of the participating peer nodes; and route messages to the participating peer nodes in accordance with routing information comprised in instant messaging information corresponding to the participating peer nodes and accessed from locations in the distributed index indicated by hashes of identifiers of the participating peer nodes comprised in the messages. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification