Partially replicated, locally searched peer to peer file sharing system

Abstract

Controlling access to a file includes selecting, by a first network node in a peer to peer file sharing system, a file to make available for sharing with a second network node in the peer to peer file sharing system, the file being stored on the first network node. The first network node sends index information associated with the selected file to the second network node. The second network node subsequently performs a local search of a set of index information associated with a set of files stored in the peer to peer file sharing system to locate the index information for the selected file; and requests a copy of the selected file from the first network node using the index information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of controlling access to a file comprising: 
 selecting, by a first network node in a peer to peer file sharing system, the file to make available for sharing with a second network node in the peer to peer file sharing system, the file being stored on the first network node;    sending index information associated with the selected file from the first network node to the second network node;    performing, by the second network node, a local search of a set of index information associated with a set of files stored in the peer to peer file sharing system to locate the index information for the selected file; and    requesting, by the second network node, a copy of the selected file from the first network node using the index information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the index information comprises a globally unique identifier of the selected file.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating at least one file and associated index information by the first network node.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the index information is sent from the first network node to the second network node only when a user operating the first network node has a social connection to a user operating the second network node.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of index information stored on the second network node is a subset of the set of index information for all files of the peer to peer file sharing system.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the selected file and the index information is encrypted by the first network node.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reception of the index information grants access to the file associated with the index information.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising limiting propagation of the index information among network nodes.  
     
     
         9 . An article comprising: a storage medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions provide for controlling access to a file by 
 selecting, by a first network node in a peer to peer file sharing system, the file to make available for sharing with a second network node in the peer to peer file sharing system, the file being stored on the first network node;    sending index information associated with the selected file from the first network node to the second network node;    performing, by the second network node, a local search of a set of index information associated with a set of files stored in the peer to peer file sharing system to locate the index information for the selected file; and    requesting, by the second network node, a copy of the selected file from the first network node using the index information.    
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the index information comprises a globally unique identifier of the selected file.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for creating at least one file and associated index information by the first network node.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for sending the index information from the first network node to the second network node only when a user operating the first network node has a social connection to a user operating the second network node.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the set of index information stored on the second network node is a subset of the set of index information for all files of the peer to peer file sharing system.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for encrypting at least one of the selected file and the index information by the first network node.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein reception of the index information grants access to the file associated with the index information.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for limiting propagation of the index information among network nodes.  
     
     
         17 . A peer to peer file sharing system comprising: 
 a plurality of network nodes, wherein each network node creates files and assigns a globally unique identifier to each created file, selects files to be shared with other network nodes, sends index information associated with each of the selected files to at least one other network node, performs local searches of index information obtained from other network nodes and index information created by the network node, and requests copies of one or more of the selected files from another network node using the index information for the one or more selected files obtained in the local searches.    
     
     
         18 . The peer to peer file sharing system of  claim 17 , wherein the files store at least one of digital photographs, digital videos, digital audio data, image data, or text data.  
     
     
         19 . The peer to peer file sharing system of  claim 17 , wherein the network nodes of the peer to peer system are operated by users having a social connection.