Patent ID: 7346682

Claim:
A system for distributing information to a set of destination nodes connected via a communication network comprising: a reporting process in each destination node for generating and transmitting a report to a distribution manager, said report containing an identification of said destination node and corresponding destination node parameters, whereby said destination node offers to become a participant in a distribution job; said distribution manager connected to said network and configured to receive said reports from said destination nodes and to create a prioritized list of destination nodes selected as participants in a distribution job according to said destination node parameters, said prioritized list being an information source for any later destination node occurring in said list, said distribution manager having a management process for sending information to each participant; said management process adapted to send each participant instructions to obtain a copy of said information either from said distribution manager or from another identified participant, and said management process determines when each participant has received a copy of said information; each participant having a store-and-forward process configured to receive instructions from a prior participant or from said distribution manager and is to request a copy of said information from said prior participant or from said distribution manager, and to thereafter request further distribution instructions from said distribution manager until instructed that no other participants require said information; whereby each participant obtains a copy of the information and the distribution manager obtains confirmation that each destination node has obtained said information.