METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENCOURAGE CLIENT INTO A DISTRIBUTED PEER TO PEER SHARING TECHNOLOGY

摘要

A method, program and system to provide incentives for client machines to contribute resources to a peer-to-peer computer network are provided. When a server receives requests for information from a plurality of client machines, it determines if the client machines are contributing resources to peer-to-peer sharing. When answering requests, clients which contribute resources to peer-to-peer sharing are given priority over client which do not contribute. In another embodiment of the present invention, a further incentive is provided to clients which contribute to peer-to-peer sharing, by giving higher priority to client requests in proportion to the level of resources contributed.