Using constraints to include and exclude files from file systems of peers in a peer-to-peer network

摘要

The invention concerns the application of constraints to the file system domains of first and second computers in a peer to peer (P2P) network (e.g. based on Gnutella, Napster, etc.). The constraints are binary and examples are equality - files on one peer are mirrored to the other, difference - files on one peer are excluded from existing on the other, or, inclusion -files on one peer exist on the other. The constraints are satisfied by daemons running on the peers of the network. Also disclosed is the use of a constraint database on a first computer, the database storing data describing constraints between said first computer and other computers in the peer to peer network. Further disclosure concerns a constraint library from which constraints can be selected and network analysis in order to rectify conflicts between the constraints set by individual peers. The invention is stated to have particular application to automatic updating of files in a windowed environment using a Gnutella system.