Method for managing the allocation of resources to channel swarms in a peer-to-peer network

1. A method operating in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network for allocating resources to channel swarms in the P2P network, wherein the method is performed by a resource-node in the P2P network, comprising:

occasionally connecting a resource-node to at least one of the channel-swarms;

setting a transience parameter value to a join-start level when the resource-node joins to at least one of the channel-swarms, wherein the join-start level indicates a high likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm;

periodically setting the transience parameter value of the resource-node according to a predefined transience level;

periodically sending the transience parameter value to consumer-nodes in the P2P network; and

periodically disconnecting the resource-node from the at least one of the channel-swarms if the consumed resources by recently connected consumer-nodes are below a predefined threshold; wherein each of the consumer-nodes connects to the resource-node according to the transience parameter value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resources include at least an available upload bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the resource-node is a node in the P2P network with an available upload bandwidth that can be contributed to at least one consumer-node.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the consumer-node is a node in the P2P network connected to at least one channel swarm, wherein the consumer-node consumes only the required resources.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

broadcasting real-time media content to a plurality of consumer-nodes in a plurality of channel-swarms.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

varying the transience parameter value to different transience levels over time.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predefined transience level comprises at least one of: a join-end level, a connect level, a leave-start level, and a leave-end level.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the join-end level after a predefined time interval elapsed from the time of setting transience parameter value the join-start level, wherein the join-start level indicates a relatively lesser likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the join-end level.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the connect level after a predefined time interval that the resource-node is connected to the channel swarm, wherein the connect level indicates a relatively lesser likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the join-start level, join-end level, leave-start level, and leave-end level.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the leave-start-level when the resource-node attempts to leave the channel swarm, wherein the leave-start level indicates a relatively higher likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the connect-level.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the leave-end level when the resource-node decides to leave the channel swarm, wherein the leave-end level indicates a relatively higher likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the leave-start level.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lower the transience level the less likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm and the more attractive the resource node is for a consumer node to connect to, wherein the consumer-node consumes resources from at least one resource-node having a relatively lower transience parameter value and sufficient available resources.

13. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable code executed by in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network for allocating resources to channel swarms in the P2P, the computer executable code when executed by a resource-node in the P2P network comprising:

occasionally connecting the resource-node to at least one of the channel-swarms;

setting a transience parameter value to a join-start level when the resource-node joins to at least one of the channel-swarms, wherein the join-start level indicates a high likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm;

periodically setting the transience parameter value of the resource-node according to a predefined transience level;

periodically sending the transience parameter value to consumer-nodes in the P2P network; and

periodically disconnecting the resource-node from the to at least one of the channel-swarms if the consumed resources by recently connected consumer-nodes are below a predefined threshold; wherein each of the consumer-nodes connects to the resource-node according to the transience parameter value.

14. The computer executable code of claim 13 , wherein the resources include at least an available upload bandwidth.

15. The computer executable code of claim 14 , wherein the resource-node is a node in the P2P network with an available upload bandwidth that can be contributed to at least one consumer-node.

16. The computer executable code of claim 15 , wherein the consumer-node is a node in the P2P network connected to at least one channel swarm, wherein the consumer-node consumes real-time media content.

17. The computer executable code of claim 15 , further comprising:

broadcasting real-time media content to a plurality of consumer-nodes, and a plurality of channel-swarms.

18. The computer executable code of claim 13 , further comprising:

varying the transience parameter value to different transience levels over time.

19. The computer executable code of claim 18 , wherein the different transience level comprises at least one of: a join-end level, a connect level, a leave-start level, and a leave-end level.

20. The computer executable code of claim 19 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the join-end level after a predefined time interval elapsed from a time of setting transience parameter value the join-start level, wherein the join-start level indicates a relatively lesser likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the join-end level.

21. The computer executable code of claim 20 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the connect level after a predefined time interval that the resource-node is connected to the channel swarm, wherein the connect level indicates a relatively lesser likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the join-start level, join-end level, leave-start level, and leave-end level.

22. The computer executable code of claim 21 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the leave-start-level when the resource-node attempts to leave the channel swarm, wherein the leave-start level indicates a relatively more likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the connect-level.

23. The computer executable code of claim 22 , further comprising:

setting the transience parameter value to the leave-end level when the resource-node decides to leave the channel swarm, wherein the leave-end level indicates a relatively more likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm than the leave-start level.

24. The computer executable code of claim 23 , wherein the lower the transience level the less likelihood that the resource-node will disconnect from a channel swarm and the more attractive the resource node is for a consumer node to connect to the resource node and the consumer-node consumes resources from at least one resource-node having a relatively lower transience parameter value and sufficient available resources.