Patent ID: 8792358

Claim:
A network component comprising: a processor configured to: receive a request for a content from a first node; send a content search request to a plurality of adjacent nodes to search for the content; receive a confirmation message based upon the content search request that at least one of the adjacent nodes is currently receiving all of the content requested by the first node; establish a connection with the at least one of the adjacent nodes that is currently receiving all of the content; determine whether a second node is currently receiving a portion of the content using a tracking table; facilitate a first transfer of the portion of the content requested by the first node from the second node to the first node via the network component when the second node is currently receiving the portion of the content; facilitate a second transfer of a remaining portion of the content requested by the first node from a source node to the first node via the network component, wherein the second node is an interior node, wherein the second node is not currently receiving the remaining portion of the content requested by the first node, wherein the first transfer of the portion of the content and the second transfer of the remaining portion of the content are in response to the request for content from the first node, and wherein the tracking table comprises information used to determine a plurality of connections within the network and determine whether the second node is currently receiving at least some of the content requested by the first node.