Patent ID: 7404006
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: a first peer node in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network that includes a plurality of peer nodes creating a first instance of a first network address, wherein creating the first instance of the first network address comprises the first peer node initiating propagation of a first publish message, wherein each respective peer node of a first subset of peer nodes in the P2P network receives the first publish message via a respective link and stores respective first routing information in response to the first publish message, wherein the respective first routing information stored by each respective peer node of the first subset of peer nodes specifies that messages addressed to the first network address should be routed from the respective peer node to the first instance of the first network address via the link by which the respective peer node received the first publish message, wherein the first subset of peer nodes includes a second peer node; a third peer node in the P2P network creating a second instance of the first network address, wherein creating the second instance of the first network address comprises the third peer node initiating propagation of a second publish message, wherein each respective peer node of a second subset of peer nodes in the P2P network receives the second publish message via a respective link and stores respective second routing information in response to the second publish message, wherein the respective second routing information stored by each respective peer node of the second subset of peer nodes specifies that messages addressed to the first network address should be routed from the respective peer node to the second instance of the first network address via the link by which the respective peer node received the second publish message, wherein the second subset of peer nodes includes the second peer node; and the second peer node sending a first message addressed to the first network address; wherein the first message is delivered to the first instance of the first network address on the first peer node by routing the first message from the second peer node to the first peer node via a first path consisting of one or more of the peer nodes in the first subset of peer nodes, wherein each respective peer node in the first path routes the first message toward the first peer node via the link specified by the respective first routing information stored on the respective peer node; wherein the first message is delivered to the second instance of the first network address on the third peer node by routing the first message from the second peer node to the third peer node via a second path consisting of one or more of the peer nodes in the second subset of peer nodes, wherein each respective peer node in the second path routes the first message toward the third peer node via the link specified by the respective second routing information stored on the respective peer node.