Organizing content on a distributed file-sharing network

摘要

A system for and method of locating desired files in distributed file sharing over a computer network is disclosed, whereby each file 6 is categorized according to the content of the file 6 and information about files 6 resides on at least one central index server 3. Client terminals 1 publish files 6 for other client terminals 1 in the computer network 2. The central index servers 3 store the list of files 6 in the system. Client terminals 1 query the central index servers 3 to determine the set of files 6 currently available in the system. A central index server 3 returns a list of files 6 and file locations which match the query results and are currently available. The client terminal 1 issuing the search can retrieve the file 6 from the search results by requesting it from one of the client terminals 1 specified in the search results.