Patent ID: 7013330
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of distributing a computer file from a source computer to a plurality of target computers via a computer network, said method comprising the steps of: determining a demand level upon said source computer for downloading of said computer file to said plurality of target computers; sending at least one download controlling message from said source computer to at least one of said plurality of target computers, the download controlling message including at least one download qualifying parameter, wherein said at least one download qualifying parameter is adjusted such that a probability that a particular target computer will qualify to download said computer file on the basis of said at least one download qualifying parameter increases as time progresses, wherein a number of target computers not having said computer file decreases as time progresses; controlling downloading of said computer file by said at least one of said plurality of target computers in dependence upon said download controlling message; and adjusting said downloading controlling message in dependence upon said demand level; wherein said download controlling message is sent from said source computer to said target computers, in order to control the manner in which said target computers request said downloading of said computer file: wherein said download controlling message includes a broadcast message, said method comprising the steps of: issuing said broadcast message from said source computer to said plurality of target computers indicating availability of said computer file for download from said source computer, said broadcast message including the at least one download qualifying parameter: receiving said broadcast message at said plurality of target computer: determining for each target computer of said plurality of target computers that received said broadcast message whether or not said target computer already has said computer file; determining for each target computer that does not already have said computer file in dependence upon said at least one download qualifying parameter whether or not said target computer qualifies to download said computer file in response to said broadcast message: downloading said computer file from said source computer to those target computers that do not already have said computer file and that qualify to download said computer file; monitoring how many target computers download said computer file in response to said broadcast message; and adjusting at least one download parameter used in a following broadcast message issued by said source computer in dependence upon how many target computers downloaded said computer file in response to said broadcast message; wherein said at least one download qualifying parameter includes a random selection control parameter used in combination with a quasi-random parameter generated by a particular target computer to control whether or not said particular target computer qualifies to download said computer file; wherein said broadcast message includes time range data specifying a range of times within which target computers qualifying to download said computer file in response to said broadcast message should download said computer file; wherein each target computer that qualifies to download said target file in response to said broadcast message initiates downloading at a time quasi-randomly selected within said range of time; wherein a target computer that has downloaded said computer file subsequently acts as a source computer; wherein upon receipt of said computer file said target computer issues prompts seeking user input specifying how said computer file should be used; wherein said computer file is a virus definition data file for use by an anti-virus computer program.