Method and apparatus for automatically disseminating information over a network

Abstract

An information distribution program ( 36 ) is provided for automatically distributing information over a network ( 24 ) connecting a plurality of computers ( 15 ). Each computer ( 15 ) is installed with the information distribution program ( 36 ), which comprises a family construction module ( 44 ), a publication module ( 40 ), a subscription module ( 42 ), and an information tree ( 46 ). The information tree ( 46 ) stores the most recent information available to the computer ( 15 ). The family construction module ( 44 ) organizes the various computers ( 15 ) connected to the network ( 24 ) into immediate and extended families of related computers ( 15 ). The publication module ( 40 ) automatically distributes, “publishes” or “pushes” the information to the immediate and extended family members of a computer ( 15 ) which have shown an interest in the information. The subscription module ( 42 ) provides a computer ( 15 ) with the ability to show interest in or “subscribe” to information located on the computers ( 15 ) connected to the network ( 24 ).

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A method for disseminating information stored in a plurality of nodes connected via a common communication medium, the method comprising: 
 (a) supplying the information to be disseminated to a first node; and    (b) causing the first node to automatically disseminate the information to a first plurality of nodes which are immediately known to the first node when the information is updated, wherein the immediate family of nodes is a subset of the plurality of nodes connected via the communication medium.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , further comprising causing at least one node in the first plurality of nodes to disseminate the information received from the first node to a second plurality of nodes which are immediately known to the at least one node in the first plurality of nodes.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , further comprising causing at least one node in an n th  plurality of nodes to disseminate the information received from at least one node in an n th− plurality of nodes to an n th+1  plurality of nodes which are immediately known to the at least one node in the n th  plurality of nodes.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein the information is disseminated to only those nodes which have previously indicated an interest in the information.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein only the most recent information is disseminated to the first plurality of nodes, the second plurality of nodes and the n th+1  plurality of nodes.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the information comprises at least one module containing a plurality of module blocks.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the information comprises at least one module block of a module containing a plurality of module blocks.