SECURE PEER TO PEER MESSAGING SERVICE

摘要

A message system for a peer-to-peer network stores messages or message fragments at multiple peers when a called peer is off-line. The replicated messages or message fragments may be encrypted. According to a pull model, the called peer polls other peers to which it has access when it comes on-line to determine if a message is waiting. According to a push model, the peers storing the message from the calling peer notify the called peer when it comes on line. The system may employ a single level where only message data is stored or two levels where the primary level holds the address of peers that contain the message data which forms the secondary level.