Storage of content data in a peer-to-peer network
First Claim
1. A peer-to-peer network of computers, which are interconnected so as to allow sharing of content data, comprising:
- a plurality of computers configured to pass through the network messages that originate from respective requesting computers;
respective computers in the network are configured to store in a memory content files of content data in a file structure comprising a plurality of content folders, each content folder containing any number of content files, wherein;
at least one of the content folders contains a plurality of content files having related content data, andeach content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, further contains a corresponding description file, wherein;
the corresponding description file is a separate file from the at least one content file and from the plurality of content files,the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the plurality of content files that are stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the plurality of content files, andthe corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the at least one content file that is stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the at least one content file;
the respective requesting computers are configured to transmit a search query message that specifies search criteria for passage through the network; and
the respective computers configured to store content files are further configured to, after receipt of the search query message that specifies search criteria, compare the search criteria with the descriptive information contained in the corresponding description file in each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, and in an the event of there being a matching content folder, to transmit a hit message identifying the matching content folder for passage back through the network to the respective requesting computer,wherein the corresponding description file further contains identification information and the hit message identifies the matching content folder by including the identification information of the description file that contains the descriptive information matching the search criteria, andwherein the identification information contained in the corresponding description file is unique within the peer-to-peer network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a peer-to-peer network of peers which are interconnected for sharing content data, the peers store content files of content data in a file structure comprising a plurality of content folders each content folder containing any number of content files of related content data, and a description file containing both unique identification information and descriptive information in XML format describing the content file or files stored in the same content folder. Requesting peers transmit search query messages which specify search criteria for passage through the network. Peers receiving a search query message compare the search criteria with the descriptive information contained in the description files in each of their plurality of content folders and in the event of there being a matching content folder transmit a hit message including the identification information to identify the matching content folder for passage back through the network to the respective requesting peer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A peer-to-peer network of computers, which are interconnected so as to allow sharing of content data, comprising:
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a plurality of computers configured to pass through the network messages that originate from respective requesting computers; respective computers in the network are configured to store in a memory content files of content data in a file structure comprising a plurality of content folders, each content folder containing any number of content files, wherein; at least one of the content folders contains a plurality of content files having related content data, and each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, further contains a corresponding description file, wherein; the corresponding description file is a separate file from the at least one content file and from the plurality of content files, the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the plurality of content files that are stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the plurality of content files, and the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the at least one content file that is stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the at least one content file; the respective requesting computers are configured to transmit a search query message that specifies search criteria for passage through the network; and the respective computers configured to store content files are further configured to, after receipt of the search query message that specifies search criteria, compare the search criteria with the descriptive information contained in the corresponding description file in each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, and in an the event of there being a matching content folder, to transmit a hit message identifying the matching content folder for passage back through the network to the respective requesting computer, wherein the corresponding description file further contains identification information and the hit message identifies the matching content folder by including the identification information of the description file that contains the descriptive information matching the search criteria, and wherein the identification information contained in the corresponding description file is unique within the peer-to-peer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer configured to connect into a peer-to-peer network of computers that are interconnected so as to allow sharing of content data, comprising:
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a memory configured to store the content data; a processor configured to execute instructions; and an interface configured to communicatively connect the computer to the peer-to-peer network, wherein the computer is configured to pass through the network messages that originate from respective requesting computers; the computer is configured to store in the memory content files of the content data in a file structure comprising a plurality of content folders, each content folder containing any number of content files, wherein; at least one of the content folders contains a plurality of content files having related content data, and each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, further contains a corresponding description file, wherein; the corresponding description file is a separate file from the at least one content file and from the plurality of content files, and the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the plurality of content files that are stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the plurality of content files, and the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the at least one content file that is stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the at least one content file; the messages that the computer is configured to pass through the network include a search query message that specifies search criteria; and the computer is configured to, after receipt of the search query message that specifies search criteria, compare the search criteria with the descriptive information contained in the corresponding description file in each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, and in the event of there being a matching content folder, to transmit a hit message identifying the matching content folder for passage back through the network to the respective requesting computer, wherein the corresponding description file further contains identification information and the hit message identifies the matching content folder by including the identification information of the description file that contains the descriptive information matching the search criteria, and wherein the identification information contained in the corresponding description file is unique within the peer-to-peer network of computers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method implemented by a computer communicatively connected to a peer-to-peer network of plural computers that are interconnected for sharing of content data and for storing the content data, the method comprising:
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passing through network messages that originate from respective requesting computers; storing, in a memory of the computer, content files of the content data on respective computers in a file structure comprising a plurality of content folders, each content folder containing any number of content files, wherein; at least one of the content folders contains a plurality of content files having related content data, and each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, further contains a corresponding description file, wherein; the corresponding description file is a separate file from the at least one content file and from the plurality of content files, and the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the plurality of content files that are stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the plurality of content files, and the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the at least one content file that is stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the at least one content file; wherein the messages that the computer is configured to pass through the network include a search query message that specifies search criteria; and comparing, after receipt of the search query message that specifies search criteria, the search criteria with the descriptive information contained in the corresponding description file in content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, and in the event of there being a matching content folder, transmitting a hit message identifying the matching content folder for passage back through the network to the respective requesting computer, wherein the corresponding description file further contains identification information and the hit message identifies the matching content folder by including the identification information of the description file that contains the descriptive information matching the search criteria, and wherein the identification information contained in the corresponding description file is unique within the peer-to-peer network.
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22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computer communicatively connected to a peer-to-peer network of plural computers that are interconnected for sharing of content data and for storing the content data, cause the computer to implement a method comprising:
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passing through network messages that originate from respective requesting computers; storing, in a memory of the computer, content files of the content data on respective computers in a file structure comprising a plurality of content folders, each content folder containing any number of content files wherein; at least one of the content folders contains a plurality of content files having related content data, and each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, further contains a corresponding description file, wherein; the corresponding description file is a separate file from the at least one content file and from the plurality of content files, and the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the plurality of content files that are stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the plurality of content files, and the corresponding description file contains descriptive information describing the at least one content file that is stored in the same content folder as the corresponding description file, in the case of the content folder that contains the at least one content file, wherein the messages that the computer is configured to pass through the network include a search query message that specifies search criteria; and comparing, after receipt of the search query message that specifies search criteria, the search criteria with the descriptive information contained in the corresponding description file in each content folder that contains at least one content file, including the at least one of the content folders that contains a plurality of content files, and in the event of there being a matching content folder, transmitting a hit message identifying the matching content folder for passage back through the network to the respective requesting computer, wherein the corresponding description file further contains identification information and the hit message identifies the matching content folder by including the identification information of the description file that contains the descriptive information matching the search criteria, and wherein the identification information contained in the corresponding description file is unique within the peer-to-peer network.
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Specification