Scheduling connections between peers in a peer-to-peer file sharing environment

US7643491B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Dan Teodosiu · Kirkland, US
• Philip A. Chou · Bellevue, US
• Alexandra K. Heron · New York, US
• Cheng Huang · Redmond, US
• Tom Kleinpeter · San Francisco, US
• Jin Li · Sammamish, US
• Eyal Schwartz · Bellevue, US
• John T. Spivey · Redmond, US
• David C. Steere · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 16, 2005
• Grant date: Jan 5, 2010
• Expiry date: Aug 3, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W76/14
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Various embodiments can utilize a distributed solution for scheduling connections between peers in a file sharing environment. In accordance with at least some embodiments, individual nodes in a peer-to-peer system include scheduling software that enables the nodes to make scheduling decisions with regard to how, when and where connections are made with other peers. Scheduling decisions can be based on a number of different parameters. In at least some embodiments, a synchronization negotiation manager is embodied with logic that drives the negotiation and scheduling process. This logic is represented by an innovative state machine that is designed to implement the negotiation and synchronization process.