Patent ID: 8219632

Claim:
A computer implemented method for managing file caching in a peer-to-peer file distribution environment, the computer implemented method comprising: receiving, at a peer computer in the file distribution environment, a download plan for a file, wherein the download plan comprises a number of peer servers within the file distribution environment where the file is stored and a minimum number of peer servers in the file distribution environment required to store the file; responsive to downloading the file from one or more of the peer servers listed in the download plan, determining at the peer computer whether the file is required to be cached at the peer computer by comparing the minimum number of peer servers in the download plan required to store the file against the number of peer servers listed in the download plan; and responsive to a determination that the minimum number of peer servers required to store the file in the download plan is greater than the number of peer servers listed in the download plan, caching the file at the peer computer.