Patent ID: 8090813

Claim:
A computer system configured to facilitate transfer of a file having at least one segment via a p2p network, the system comprising: a processor having access to the p2p network; and a memory responsive to the processor, wherein the memory stores a p2p communication program configured to cause the computer system to: monitor an availability of the at least one file segment via the p2p network; automatically adjust the availability of the at least one file segment via the p2p network according to the availability of the at least one file segment, comprising: selecting a supplementary data source from a set of multiple candidate data sources according to at least one of: a bandwidth of the supplementary data source; and a cost associated with transferring data via the supplementary data source; and making the supplementary data source available via the p2p network, wherein the supplementary data source offers the at least one file segment for transfer; receive a request for the at least one file segment via the p2p network; and refer the request for the at least one file segment to the selected supplementary data source.