Patent ID: 7043644

Claim:
A method for facilitating file access in a peer-to-peer network, the peer-to-peer network including at least one server node, and a plurality of client nodes, wherein each of the client nodes allow users to publish and share files over the network, receive files over the network, and search for files to download, wherein a portion of the nodes are separated from the network by a firewall device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) designating a first client node that is not firewall protected to act as a proxy server; (b) in response to determining that a second client node is protected by a firewall, instructing the second client node to establish a connection with the proxy server; (c) sending an open connection request from the second client node to the proxy server; (d) in response to receiving a request from a third client node for a file on the second client node, instructing the third client node to send the request to the proxy server; and (e) forwarding the request from the proxy server to the second client node as a response to the open connection request, thereby allowing other client nodes to access files on the second client node despite the presence of the firewall.