Background File Sharing in a Segmented Peer-to-Peer Sharing Network

Abstract

A peer-to-peer file sharing client with background file sharing is provided in a segmented peer-to-peer file sharing network. Each file sharing participant may designate an amount of bandwidth and/or storage space for background file sharing. Peer-to-peer file sharing clients then share file data and content in the background automatically. The client may participate in additional swarms, in the background, to generally increase the number of peers in file sharing networks, thus increasing the speed of downloading desired files for other users.

1 . A method in a peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system for background file sharing in a peer-to-peer file sharing network, the method comprising:
 allocating background resources in the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system for background file sharing, the background resources comprising a specified amount of bandwidth and a specified amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing, wherein the amount of bandwidth and the amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing are specified in a preferences data structure;   identifying, by the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system, a background swarm in which the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system is not participating;   requesting at least one file fragment from the background swarm for background file sharing;   receiving the at least one file fragment from the background swarm using at least a portion of the specified amount of bandwidth;   storing the at least one file fragment in at least a portion of the specified amount of storage space; and   uploading the at least one file fragment to peers in the background swarm,   wherein the at least one file fragment is part of a file that is not being downloaded in the foreground.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deleting a given file fragment of the at least one file fragment from the amount of storage space based on an expiration parameter.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the expiration parameter is specified in the preferences data structure. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of storage space is partitioned to a defined storage space from which files cannot be executed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the background swarm comprises:
 identifying a given peer in a foreground swarm;   determining whether the given peer is participating in another swarm; and   identifying the another swarm as the background swarm.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a user of the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system is a member of a community and wherein the background swarm is selected based on swarm peers being members of the community. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one file fragment is selected based on a rarity value of the file fragment. 
     
     
         12 . A peer-to-peer file sharing client for background file sharing in a peer-to-peer file sharing network, the peer-to-peer file sharing client comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory contains instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 allocate background resources in the peer-to-peer file sharing client for background file sharing, the background resources comprising a specified amount of bandwidth and a specified amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing, wherein the amount of bandwidth and the amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing are specified in a preferences data structure; 
 identify a background swarm in which the peer-to-peer file sharing client is not participating; 
 request at least one file fragment from the background swarm for background file sharing; 
 receive the at least one file fragment from the background swarm using at least a portion of the specified amount of bandwidth; 
 store the at least one file fragment in at least a portion of the specified amount of storage space; and 
 upload the at least one file fragment to peers in the background swarm, 
   wherein the at least one file fragment is part of a file that is not being downloaded in the foreground.   
     
     
         13 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The peer-to-peer file sharing client of  claim 12 , wherein the memory contains instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
 delete a given file fragment of the at least one file fragment from the amount of storage space based on an expiration parameter.   
     
     
         17 . The peer-to-peer file sharing client of  claim 16 , wherein the expiration parameter is specified in the preferences data structure. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The peer-to-peer file sharing client of  claim 12 , wherein the amount of storage space is partitioned to a defined storage space from which files cannot be executed. 
     
     
         20 . The peer-to-peer file sharing client of  claim 12 , wherein identifying the background swarm comprises:
 identifying a given peer in a foreground swarm;   determining whether the given peer is participating in another swarm; and   identifying the another swarm as the background swarm.   
     
     
         21 . The peer-to-peer file sharing client of  claim 12 , wherein a user of the peer-to-peer file sharing client is a member of a community and wherein the background swarm is selected based on swarm peers being members of the community. 
     
     
         22 . The peer-to-peer file sharing client of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one file fragment is selected based on a rarity value of the file fragment. 
     
     
         23 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system, causes the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system to:
 allocate background resources in the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system for background file sharing, the background resources comprising a specified amount of bandwidth and a specified amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing, wherein the amount of bandwidth and the amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing are specified in a preferences data structure;   identify a background swarm in which the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system is not participating;   request at least one file fragment from a background swarm for background file sharing;   receive the at least one file fragment from the background swarm; and   upload the at least one file fragment to peers in the background swarm,   wherein the at least one file fragment is part of a file that is not being downloaded in the foreground.   
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the computer readable program further causes the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system to:
 delete a given file fragment of the at least one file fragment from the amount of storage space based on an expiration parameter.   
     
     
         28 . The computer program product of  claim 27 , wherein the expiration parameter is specified in the preferences data structure. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the amount of storage space is partitioned to a defined storage space from which files cannot be executed. 
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein identifying the background swarm comprises:
 identifying a given peer in a foreground swarm;   determining whether the given peer is participating in another swarm; and   identifying the another swarm as the background swarm.   
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one file fragment is selected based on a rarity value of the file fragment. 
     
     
         33 . A communications system, comprising:
 a memory configured to store a computer readable program; and   a transmitter configured to transmit the computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when received by and executed on a peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system, causes the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system to:
 allocate background resources in the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system for background file sharing, the background resources comprising a specified amount of bandwidth and a specified amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing, wherein the amount of bandwidth and the amount of storage space to be used for background file sharing are specified in a preferences data structure; 
 identify a background swarm in which the peer-to-peer file sharing client data processing system is not participating; 
 request at least one file fragment from a background swarm for background file sharing; 
 receive the at least one file fragment from the background swarm; and 
 upload the at least one file fragment to peers in the background swarm, 
   wherein the at least one file fragment is part of a file that is not being downloaded in the foreground.