Method and apparatus for peer-to-peer connection assistance

Abstract

One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for assisting a peer-to-peer connection between a first node and a second node includes receiving, at a third node, a request for connection assistance from one of the first and second nodes. The third node then connects to both the first node and the second node, receives the data from the first node and delivers the data to the second node. In this manner, data may be transferred between the first and second nodes even if the first and second nodes are unable to directly connect to each other (e.g., due to permanent or temporary limitations).

1 . A method for transferring data from a first node to a second node in a peer-to-peer network, said method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving, at a third node in said peer-to-peer network, a request for connection assistance from one of said first node and said second node, at least one of said first node and said second node being known to the other of said first node and said second node, but said first node and said second node being unable to connect to each other directly;    connecting to said first node;    connecting to said second node;    receiving, at said third node, said data from said first node; and    delivering said data from said third node to said second node.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 sending an acknowledgement to said first node or said second node in response to said request for connection, said acknowledgement indicating that said third node is able to assist in a transfer of said data.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said acknowledgement is sent based on at least one of: an availability of said third node, a value in a time to live field of said request for connection or a randomly generated number.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said acknowledgement is always sent in response to a request for connection from at least one of said first node or said second node.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said third node is configured for monitoring data transfers involving said at least one of said first node and said second node.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said third node maintains at least one active network connection on behalf of said at least one of said first node or said second node.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said request for connection includes one or more details relating to the desired data transfer.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said one of said first node or said second node provides one or more details relating to said desired data transfer upon connecting to said third node.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 logging said data transfer upon completion.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 examining said data for prohibited content; and    blocking a transfer of said data to said second node if said data contains prohibited content.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first node is behind a first network firewall and said second node is behind a second network firewall.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a network outage exists on a path between said first node and said second node.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving said request for connection assistance: 
 receiving, from said second node, a search request message;    examining said search request message for the presence of prohibited content;    forwarding said search request message through said network if said search request message does not contain prohibited content; and    blocking said search request message if said search request message contains prohibited content.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 receiving, from said first node, a response message responding to said search request message;    examining said response message for the presence of prohibited content;    forwarding said response message to said second node if said response message does not contain prohibited content; and    blocking said response message if said response message contains prohibited content.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first node and said second node are both known to each other.  
   
   
       16 . A computer readable medium containing an executable program for transferring data from a first node to a second node in a peer-to-peer network, where the program performs the steps of: 
 receiving, at a third node in said peer-to-peer network, a request for connection assistance from one of said first node and said second node, at least one of said first node and said second node being known to the other of said first node and said second node, but said first node and said second node being unable to connect to each other directly;    connecting to said first node;    connecting to said second node;    receiving, at said third node, said data from said first node; and    delivering said data from said third node to said second node.    
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 sending an acknowledgement to said first node or said second node in response to said request for connection, said acknowledgement indicating that said third node is able to assist in a transfer of said data.    
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein said third node is configured for monitoring data transfers involving said at least one of said first node or said second node.  
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 logging said data transfer upon completion.    
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 examining said data for prohibited content; and    blocking a transfer of said data to said second node if said data contains prohibited content.    
   
   
       21 . The computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein said first node and said second node are both known to each other.  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus for transferring data from a first node to a second node in a peer-to-peer network, comprising: 
 means for receiving, at a third node in said peer-to-peer network, a request for connection assistance from one of said first node and said second node, at least one of said first node and said second node being known to the other of said first node and said second node, but said first node and said second node being unable to connect to each other directly;    means for connecting to said first node;    means for connecting to said second node;    means for receiving, at said third node, said data from said first node; and    means for delivering said data from said third node to said second node.