Patent ID: 8676914

Claim:
A network-enabled device, comprising: a network interface for access to peer nodes of network-enabled devices on a network; and a processor for running services on the network-enabled device, wherein the services include at least a node service and a service repository service, wherein the service repository service maintains a service list which includes services available locally at the network-enabled device and services available remotely at peer nodes, wherein the node service manages synchronized access to the service list of the service repository service by multicasting a change notification responsive to a change in the services available at the network-enabled device, and by listening for multicasts of change notifications from peer nodes, wherein, responsive to a change in services available locally at the network-enabled device, the node service collects a list of services locally at the network-enabled device, generates a SyncGUID including hash information of the list of services available locally at the network-enabled device by using a hash function, formats a change notification message which includes the SyncGUID having the hash information and not having the list of services available locally at the network-enabled device, and multicasts the formatted change notification message via the network to peer nodes on the network, wherein the formatted change notification message does not include the list of services available locally at the network-enabled device, and wherein, responsive to receiving a request for an update from a peer node that determines, by verifying the SyncGUID having the hash information included in the multicast formatted change notification received by the peer node, that a service available locally at the network-enabled device has changed, the node service provides the list of services available locally at the network-enabled device to the peer node.