Content distribution

1. Apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code, wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

generate a first message including a portion of a media stream or a portion of a data file; and

generate a second message comprising the first message, the second message to be sent to one or more addressees, said second message further comprising information identifying one or more additional entities other than said one or more addressees and other than said apparatus from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to generate said second message on the basis of information received from a managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or said data file.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to generate said second message on the basis of information received from a node which is one of: an addressee, an additional entity or a node in communication with at least one addressee or additional entity in a peer-to-peer network.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to further cause the apparatus to thereafter:

generate a third message, the third message to be sent to one or more addressees, said third message including a further portion of said media stream or said data file; and

generate a fourth message comprising said third message, the fourth message to be sent to said one or more second entities, said fourth message further including information identifying one or more additional entities other than said one or more addressees from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained, and which is generated on the basis of updated information received from said managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or said data file.

5. Apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code, wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

receive a portion of a media stream or data file together with first information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file; and

cause said portion of a media stream or data file to be forwarded to another entity together with second information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file, wherein said second information includes said first information and the address of said apparatus, and wherein the address of one or more entities identified by the second information includes at least one address of an entity other than the apparatus and other than the another entity.

6. A method comprising:

generating at a first entity of a network a first message to be sent to one or more second entities of a network, wherein said first message includes a portion of a media stream or a data file;

and generating at said first entity a second message comprising the first message, the second message to be sent to said one or more second entities, said second message including information identifying one or more third entities other than said first entity and other than said one or more second entities, the third entities being entities from which one or more other portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.

7. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising generating said second message on the basis of information received from a managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or data file.

8. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising generating said second message on the basis of information received from a node which is one of: an addressee, an additional entity or a node in communication with at least one addressee or additional entity in a peer-to-peer network.

9. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising thereafter:

generating a third message to be sent to one or more second entities of said network, said third message including a further portion of said media stream or said data file; and

generating a fourth message to be sent to said one or more second entities, said fourth message including updated information identifying one or more third entities other than said first entity and said one or more second entities and from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained, and which is generated on the basis of updated information received from said managing entity associated with the distribution of said media stream or said data file.

10. A method comprising:

receiving at a first entity a portion of a media stream or data file together with first information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file; and

causing said portion of a media stream or data file to be forwarded to another entity together with second information identifying the address of one or more entities involved in the distribution of said media stream or data file, wherein said second information includes said first information and the address of said first entity, and wherein the address of one or more entities identified by the second information includes at least one address of an entity other than the first entity and other than the another entity.

11. Apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code, wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

generate at a second entity a first message requesting a portion of a media stream or a data file, the first message to be sent to a third entity of a network identified in information received from a first entity other than the third entity from which the second entity has received a further portion of said media stream or data file, wherein the information identifying the network is received in a second message further comprising the further portion of said media stream or data file.

12. Apparatus, according to claim 11 , wherein said further portion of said media stream was received in reply to a request from the second entity to the first entity for a portion of said media stream or data file.

13. A method comprising:

generating at a second entity a first message requesting a portion of a media stream or data file, the first message to be sent to a third entity of a network identified in information received from a first entity other than the third entity from which the second entity has received a further portion of said media stream or data file, wherein the information identifying the network is received in a second message further comprising the further portion of said media stream or data file.

14. A method according to claim 8 , wherein said further portion of said media stream or said data file was received in reply to a request from the second entity to the first entity for a portion of said media stream or said data file.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory memory storing program code, which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to perform a method according to claim 13 .

16. Apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing computer program code, wherein the memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

generate at a managing entity of a network a message to be sent to an originator entity of a media stream or a data file, said message including information identifying one or more other entities of the network from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained, the originator entity configured to generate a message for distributing a portion of said media stream or a portion of said data file that includes said portion of said media stream or said portion of said data file and information identifying said one or more other entities of the network from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.

17. A method comprising:

generating at a managing entity of a network a message to be sent to an originator entity of a media stream or a data file, said message including information identifying one or more other entities of the network from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained, the originator entity configured to generate a message for distributing a portion of said media stream or a portion of said data file that includes said portion of said media stream or said portion of said data file and information identifying said one or more other entities of the network from which one or more portions of said media stream or said data file can be obtained.

18. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory memory storing program code, which when loaded into a computer controls the computer to perform a method according to claim 11 .