Patent ID: 6374289
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
A method for distributing data packages across a network, the network featuring an external server for serving at least one data package, the external server being a dedicated server, the steps of the method being performed by a data processor, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a plurality of peer clients attached to the network and providing a list of data packages, said data packages being stored by each of said plurality of peer clients, each data package of said data packages having an entry in said list, said entry indicating a unique identifier for said data package and a location of said data package in at least one of said plurality of peer clients; (b) examining said list of data packages by a first peer client to find an entry for a required data package; and (c) if said entry for said data package is present on said list of data packages of said first peer client, retrieving said data package from said location at another of said plurality of peer clients according to said entry for said data package.