Information communications system, node device, method of communicating contents, computer readable recording medium storing a program

• US 8,903,906 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Inoue, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): ZHANG, SHIRLEY X
• Application Number:
  US13/047,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20110231490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1065 Discovery involving distributed pre-established resource-based relationships among peers, e.g. based on distributed hash tables [DHT] pre-configuration of logical or physical connections H04L67/1053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

An information communications system for an overlay network includes: a plurality of node devices which are connected to each other through a network and constitute the overlay network, contents being distributed and stored in the plurality of node devices, the plurality of node devices including a contents source transmitting contents to other node devices. The plurality of node devices includes a first node device including: a contents storage unit configured to store the contents; and a limiting unit configured to limit uploading of the contents stored in the contents storage unit,

Claims

1. An information communications system for an overlay network comprising:

a plurality of node devices which are configured to be connected to each other through a network and constitute the overlay network, contents being distributed and stored in the plurality of node devices, the plurality of node devices including a contents source transmitting contents to other node devices, each of the plurality of node devices comprising a memory that stores instructions and a processor that executes the instructions, wherein the plurality of node devices includes a first node device, the processor of the first node device being configured to store the contents and being configured to limit uploading of the contents, and

an information processing apparatus comprising a memory that stores instructions and a processor that executes the instructions, the processor of the information processing apparatus being configured to;

store location information indicating a location, in the network, of a contents holding node device and first information indicating a data uploadable amount of the contents by which the contents holding node device whose location is indicated by the location information can upload the contents, the location information and the first information being correlated with each other, the data uploadable amount indicating an amount of data which can be uploaded within a predetermined period and being determined based on an allowable amount of data to be uploaded for the predetermined period and a total amount of data which has been uploaded to another node within the predetermined period,

determine location information of a contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than a threshold and whose location is indicated by the location information on the basis of the first information; and

transmit the determined location information of the contents holding node device to the first node device of the plurality of node devices,

wherein the processor of the first node device is configured to;

receive the location information transmitted from the information processing apparatus,

acquire the contents from the contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold on the basis of the first information, the location of the contents holding node device being indicated by the location information.

2. The information communications system according to claim 1, wherein the processor of the information processing apparatus is further configured to transmit the location information and the stored first information to the first node device,

wherein the processor of the first node device is further configured to:

receive the location information and the first information transmitted from the information processing apparatus; and

determine the contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold and whose location is indicated by the location information on the basis of the received first information , and

wherein the processor of the first node device is configured to acquire the contents from the determined contents holding node device.

3. The information communications system according to claim 1, wherein the processor of the first node device is further configured to:

transmit, to the information processing apparatus, a publication message, which indicates publication of the contents and includes the location information of the first node device and second information indicating the data uploadable amount based on the amount of data uploaded by the node device,

wherein the processor of the information processing apparatus is configured to;

store the location information and the first information for each contents in correlation with each other;

receive the publication message transmitted from the first node device; and

update the first information in correlation with the location information included in the received publication message on the basis of the second information included in the received publication message.

4. The information communications system according to claim 3, wherein the processor of the information processing apparatus is configured to store the location information and the second information in correlation with identification information of the contents,

wherein the processor of the information processing apparatus is further configured to:

receive an inquiry message including the identification information from the first node device;

determine the location information of the contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold from the location information on the basis of the second information in correlation with the identification information included in the inquiry message received by the information processing apparatus; and

transmit the determined location information to the first node device,

wherein the processor of the first node device is further configured to;

transmit the inquiry message including the identification information of the contents to be acquired; and

receive the location information transmitted from the information processing apparatus, and

wherein the processor of the first node device is configured to acquire the contents from the contents holding node device whose location is indicated by the received location information.

5. The information communications system according to claim 3, wherein the processor of the information processing apparatus stores the location information and the second information in correlation with identification information of the contents,

wherein the processor of the information processing apparatus is further configured to:

receive an inquiry message including the identification information from the node device; and

transmit, to the first node device, the location information and the second information, which are correlated with the identification information included in the received inquiry message,

wherein the processor of the first node device is further configured to;

transmit the inquiry message including the identification information of the contents to be acquired;

receive the location information and the second information transmitted from the information processing apparatus; and

determine the location information of the contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold from the received location information on the basis of the received second information, and

wherein the processor of the first node device acquires the contents from the contents holding node device whose the location is indicated by the determined location information.

6. The information communications system according to claim 3, wherein the processor of the information processing apparatus is further configured to:

determine whether data transmittable amount of contents indicated by the first information is equal to or less than a threshold; and

transmit a transmitting instructing message, which includes the identification information of the contents whose data transmittable amount is be equal to or less than the threshold, to the contents holding node device whose the location is indicated by the location information in correlation with the contents,

wherein the processor of the first node device is further configured to;

receive the transmitting instructing message transmitted from the information processing apparatus; and

acquire the contents indicated by the identification information included in the received transmitting instructing message and transmit the acquired contents to another node device.

7. The information communications system according to claim 3, wherein in response to determining the contents are uploaded to another node device, the processor of the first node device transmits the publication message of the uploaded contents.

8. The information communications system according to claim 3, wherein in response to the data uploadable amount of the contents at a current time is less than the threshold, the processor of the first node device transmits the publication message of the contents whose data uploadable amount is less than the threshold.

9. The information communications system according to claim 3, wherein

the information communications system distributes and stores contents in the overlay network including the plurality of node devices, and

the information processing apparatus is a node device of the plurality of node devices included in the overlay network and is a root node determined by contents.

10. A node device in an information communications system for an overlay network, the information communications system including a plurality of node devices which are configured to be connected to each other through a network and are configured to constitute the overlay network, contents being distributed and stored in the plurality of node devices, the plurality of node devices including a contents source transmitting contents to other node devices, the information communications system including an information processing apparatus, the node device being one of the plurality of node devices,

the node device comprising:

a memory that stores instructions, and

a processor that is configured to execute the instructions to;

receive the location information transmitted from the information processing apparatus,

acquire the contents from the contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold, the location of the contents holding node device being indicated by the location information, the data uploadable amount indicating an amount of data which can be uploaded within a predetermined period and being determined based on an allowable amount of data to be uploaded for the predetermined period and a total amount of data which has been uploaded to another node within the predetermined period,

acquire the total amount of data by which the contents are uploaded to the other node device for the predetermined period;

determine whether the total amount of data acquired is greater than a threshold, and

limit the node device from uploading the contents to other node devices, in response to determining that the total amount of data is greater than the threshold.

11. The node device according to claim 10, the processor of the node device is further configured to download and acquire the contents from another node device,

wherein in response to determining that the total amount of data is greater than the threshold, the processor of the node device is configured to allow download the contents.

12. The node device according to claim 10, the processor of the node device is further configured to transmit at least one piece of stored contents to another node device before the limiting the uploading of the contents in response to determining the total amount of acquired data is greater than the threshold.

13. The node device according to claim 12, the processor of the node device is further configured to:

receive the contents transmitted by another node device;

store the received contents ; and

allow other node devices to acquire the stored contents through the overlay network,

wherein the processor of the node device transmits at least one piece of contents to another node device.

16. The node device according to claim 10,

wherein the processor of the node device is further configured to:

transmit, to the information processing apparatus, a publication message, which indicates publication of the contents and includes the location information of the first node device and second information indicating the data uploadable amount based on the amount of data uploaded by the node device.

14. A method of communicating contents which are distributed and stored in a plurality of node devices which are connected to each other and constitutes an overlay network, the contents being transmitted among the plurality of node devise, the method comprising:

storing location information indicating a location, in the network, of a contents holding node device and first information indicating a data uploadable amount of the contents by which the contents holding node device whose location is indicated by the location information can upload the contents, the location information and the first information being correlated with each other, the data uploadable amount indicating an amount of data which can be uploaded within a predetermined period and being determined based on an allowable amount of data to be uploaded for the predetermined period and a total amount of data which has been uploaded to another node within the predetermined period the step being performed by an information processing apparatus;

determining location information of a contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than a threshold and whose location is indicated by the location information on the basis of the first information, the step being performed by an information processing apparatus; and

transmitting the determined location information of the contents holding node device to the one of the plurality of node devices, the step being performed by an information processing apparatus; and

receiving the location information transmitted from the information processing apparatus, the step being performed by the one of the plurality of node devices,

acquiring the contents from the contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold on the basis of the first information, the location of the contents holding node device being indicated by the location information, the step being performed by the one of the plurality of node devices.

17. The method according to claim 14,

wherein the one of the plurality of node devices perform further performs:

transmitting, to the information processing apparatus, a publication message, which indicates publication of the contents and includes the location information of the first node device and second information indicating the data uploadable amount based on the amount of data uploaded by the node device,

wherein the information processing apparatus further performs;

storing the location information and the first information for each contents in correlation with each other;

receiving the publication message transmitted from the first node device; and

updating the first information in correlation with the location information included in the received publication message on the basis of the second information included in the received publication message.

15. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a program for an information communications system for an overlay network, the information communications system including (a) a plurality of node devices and (b) an information processing apparatus, which are connected to each other through a network and constitute the overlay network, contents being distributed and stored in the plurality of node devices, the plurality of node devices including a contents source transmitting contents to other node devices, the program comprising:

instructions for the information processing apparatus to perform;

storing location information indicating a location, in the network, of a contents holding node device and first information indicating a data uploadable amount of the contents by which the contents holding node device whose location is indicated by the location information can upload the contents, the location information and the first information being correlated with each other, the data uploadable amount indicating an amount of data which can be uploaded within a predetermined period and being determined based on an allowable amount of data to be uploaded for the predetermined period and a total amount of data which has been uploaded to another node within the predetermined period,

determining location information of a contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than a threshold and whose location is indicated by the location information on the basis of the first information; and

transmitting the determined location information of the contents holding node device determined to the one of the plurality of node devices, and

instructions for one of the plurality of node devices to perform;

receiving the location information transmitted from the information processing apparatus,

acquiring the contents from the contents holding node device whose data uploadable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold on the basis of the first information, the location of the contents holding node device being indicated by the location information.

18. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium according to claim 15, the program further comprises:

instructions for the one of the plurality of node devices to perform;

transmitting, to the information processing apparatus, a publication message, which indicates publication of the contents and includes the location information of the first node device and second information indicating the data uploadable amount based on the amount of data uploaded by the node device, and

instructions for the information processing apparatus to perform;

storing the location information and the first information for each contents in correlation with each other;

receiving the publication message transmitted from the first node device; and

updating the first information in correlation with the location information included in the received publication message on the basis of the second information included in the received publication message.