System and method for providing content, applications, services and digital media to users in a peer-to-peer network
A device, a software product, and a method for obtaining content in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network are provided. A request is received for content from a device. For example, using a browser, a user at the device selects a hyperlink indicating content that can be obtained by the user. The content may include an application and a media file. For example, the content may be a movie, a song, a picture, a game, a software application, etc. The request includes information associated with the device. The information associated with the device is added to a collection, which is a group of devices connected in a P2P network that have received the selected content. A file is sent to the device using the P2P network. The file includes the content and programmed instructions to instantiate a management application at the device and to execute the first content at the device.
1 . A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor, cause the processor to obtain content in a peer-to-peer network, the instructions comprising:
receiving a request for a first content, wherein the request includes information associated with the device;
adding the information associated with the device to a collection, wherein a collection is a group of devices connected in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network that have received the first content; and
sending a file to the device using the P2P network, wherein the file includes the first content and programmed instructions to
instantiate a management application at the device; and
execute the first content at the device.
2 . A method of obtaining content in a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising:
receiving a request for a first content from a device, wherein the request includes information associated with the device;
adding the information associated with the device to a collection, wherein a collection is a group of devices connected in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network that have received the first content; and
sending a file to the device using the P2P network, wherein the file includes the first content and programmed instructions to
instantiate a management application at the device; and
execute the first content at the device.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein instantiating the management application comprises installing the management application from the sent file at the device and executing the management application.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the installed management application comprises a user interface application that identifies the first content to a user of the device.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the user interface application presents an interface to the user of the device from which the user can select the first content.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first content executes after user selection of the first content from the interface.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the interface presents an identifier for a second content to the user of the device, wherein the user can select the second content.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein, after the user selects the identifier for the second content from the interface, the method further comprises:
receiving a second request for the second content from the device;
adding the information associated with the device to a second collection, wherein the second collection is a second group of devices connected in the P2P network that have received the second content; and
sending a second file to the device using the P2P network, wherein the second file includes the second content;
wherein the programmed instructions further execute the second content at the device.
9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first content comprises an application.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the application is selected from at least one of a video player, an audio player, a text viewer, a picture viewer, and a game player.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first content further comprises a media file.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the media file is selected from at least one of a video file, an audio file, a text file, a picture file, and a game file.
13 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending a second file to the device using the P2P network, wherein the second file includes a second version of the first content.
14 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending a second file to the device using the P2P network, the second file including identifiers for additional content, the identifiers presented to the user of the device in a user interface.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the identifiers for additional content are selected based on the first content.
16 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising sending a second file to the device using the P2P network, the second file including an advertisement.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the advertisement is selected based on the first content.
18 . A device, the device comprising:
a computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising
receiving a request for a first content, wherein the request includes information associated with a device;
adding the information associated with the device to a collection, wherein a collection is a group of devices connected in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network that have received the first content; and
sending a file, wherein the file includes the first content and programmed instructions to
instantiate a management application at the device; and
execute the first content at the device;
a communication interface, the communication interface receiving the request from the device and sending the file to the device using the P2P network; and
a processor, the processor coupled to the communication interface and to the computer-readable medium and configured to execute the instructions.