Index server support to file sharing applications

Abstract

An index server support for file sharing applications is disclosed. A way of retrieving an index server includes sending a request for investigating a hierarchical structure of index servers in a network to a known index server, intercepting the investigation request by the first index server that becomes aware of the investigation request, notifying an originator of the investigation request of the intercepting index server identity, dropping the intercepted request is dropped by the intercepting index server. The originator of the investigation request then registers the intercepting index server as addressee for future file querying requests.

1 . A method of providing index server support to a file sharing application, said method comprising: 
 handling requests for investigating a hierarchical structure of index servers in a network, including 
 intercepting an investigation request that is directed to a remote index server, and  
 notifying an originator of the investigation request of the intercepting index server identity.  
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 notifying the remote index server of the intercepting index server identity.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 accepting an investigation request as recipient,    notifying an originator of the investigation request in response to the investigation request.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 receiving a note from a remote intercepting index server disclosing its identity,    registering the remote intercepting index server as child index server.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 sending an investigation request to a known index server,    receiving a notification in response to the request.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , further comprising 
 registering the known index server as a parent index server when the known index server is the originator of the received note.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5 , further comprising 
 registering the originator of the received note as parent index server when the originator of the received note is not the known index server.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 5 , further comprising 
 sending an investigation request to the originator of the response when the originator of the received note is not the known index server but another index server, and    receiving a further notification in response to this further investigation message.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising 
 registering the originator of the further notification as parent index server.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 handling requests for querying a file as part of a file sharing application, including 
 searching an index of the index server for a registered client that can provide the queried file.  
   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , comprising 
 forwarding the query to a registered child index server when the queried file is not allocated to a client registered in the index.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , comprising 
 forwarding the query to a registered parent index server when the queried file is not allocated to a client registered in the index.    
     
     
         13 . An index server, comprising a control logic that is configured for performing a method as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . A computer program element comprising computer program code which, when loaded in a processor unit of an index server, configures the processor unit for performing a method as claimed in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A method for retrieving an index server, said method comprising: 
 sending a request for investigating a hierarchical structure of index servers in a network to a known index server,    receiving a notification in response to the investigation request, and    registering the originator of the received note as destination for future file query requests.    
     
     
         16 . A client computer for performing a file sharing application, said client computer comprising a control logic that is configured for performing a method as claimed in  claim 15 .  
     
     
         17 . A computer program element comprising computer program code which, when loaded in a processor unit of a client computer, configures the processor unit for performing a method as claimed in  claim 15 .  
     
     
         18 . A method for retrieving an index server, said method comprising: 
 an originator sending a request for investigating a hierarchical structure of index servers in a network to a known index server;    a first index server that becomes aware of the investigation request, intercepting said investigation request;    notifying an originator of the investigation request of the first index server identity,    the intercepting index server dropping the intercepted request without forwarding it to its destination, and    the originator of the investigation request registering the intercepting index sever as addressee for file querying requests.    
     
     
         19 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing provision of index server support to a file sharing application, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 . A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for retrieving an index server, said method steps comprising the steps of  claim 18.