Patent ID: 7797399
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for allowing distributed importing of images in a peer-based photosharing network comprising a peer network server and a plurality of peer computers, the method comprising: allowing a peer computer owner of a destination peer computer to access the peer network server to set import authorization rights for the destination peer computer comprising a guest user identifier and a guest password that enables access to the destination peer computer via the peer network server from a guest computer, wherein the destination peer computer comprises one of a plurality of peer computers, each of the plurality of peer computers comprising peer node software adapted to provide images contained on a respective peer computer to ones of the other peer computers comprising the peer node software upon request and to communicate with the peer network server; receiving at the peer network server from the guest computer the guest user identifier and the guest password, wherein the guest computer does not access the peer network server via the peer node software, and wherein the peer network server comprises a dynamic DNS server that maintains a dynamic list, wherein the dynamic list comprises a peer name and an open socket connection for each of the plurality of peer computers, and a fulfillment server for fulfilling a request for a print or a photo gift through a print service; authenticating the guest computer at the peer network server based on the guest user identifier and the guest password; allowing the guest computer to specify the destination peer computer for importing using a user ID of the peer computer owner, and to upload one or more images to the peer network server; and transferring the images uploaded by the guest computer to the destination peer computer from the peer network server when the destination peer computer becomes available on the photosharing network, without request from the destination peer computer.