Searching content in distributed computing networks

摘要

A distributed search system includes a central server having an index of data, wherein the index of data is also available on a plurality of computing devices in a distributed computing network, the plurality of computing devices being distinct from the central server, each the computing device having a cache in which the computing device automatically stores data generated during the course of the computing device's access to another computing network distinct from the distributed computing network.

主权项

1. A search system comprising:
(A) a central server having an index, said index is also being available on at least one other computing device in a distributed computing network, wherein said distributed computing network comprises a peer-to-peer network; (B) computer program code stored in a memory of said at least one other computing device, said code for:
(B)(i) automatically and periodically generating said index based on data in a cache of said computing device, wherein said at least one other computing device stores data generated during the course of said computing device's access to another computing network distinct from said distributed computing network; and(B)(ii) automatically and periodically transmitting said index of said data to said central server; (C) a first client connected to said distributed computing network, wherein said first client has access to a copy of said index; and (D) a second client connected to said distributed computing network, wherein said first client receives at least one search request from said second client, and responds to said at least one search request by searching said copy of said index, wherein said first client has a distributed search engine application for receiving and fulfilling search requests from said second client, wherein, in fulfilling a search request from said second client, said distributed search engine application provides search results from said at least one other computing network and from said distributed computing network.