METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEARCHING DATA IN A PEER TO PEER NETWORK.

摘要

The invention provides a method and apparatus for more efficient searching peer to peer networks for data. Large peer to peer networks comprise millions of peer clients, or just briefly peers, having enormous amounts of data objects available. Searching all peers takes a lot of time, therefore a small group - private network - is formed within the peer to peer network. Peers for this private network are selected when they satisfy at least on criterion. This criterion relates to for example subscriptions of the peer to data delivery services or to the search query. The private network or networks may be formed upon start-up of the apparatus according to the invention or even right after submitting a search query.