METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA STORAGE IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK
One embodiment of the present invention provides a peer-to-peer (P2P) data-storage system. The system includes a P2P network, a file upload module configured to receive a file uploaded by a user, a file processing module configured to disassemble the received file into a plurality of file blocks and select a plurality of peer nodes from the P2P network, and a file distribution module configured to distribute the file blocks to the selected peer nodes. A respective file block is distributed to a respective peer node.
1 . A method for storing data in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, comprising:
receiving a file uploaded by a user;
disassembling the received file into a plurality of file blocks;
selecting a plurality of peer nodes from the P2P network; and
distributing the file blocks to the selected peer nodes, wherein a respective file block is distributed to a respective peer node, and wherein distributing the respective file block to the respective peer node further involves:
determining whether the respective peer node is behind a firewall; and
in response to the selected peer node being behind a firewall, establishing a tunnel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the peer nodes include at least one of:
a plug computer;
a desktop computer;
a set top box; and
a wireless router.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating multiple copies of the respective file block; and
distributing each copy to a different peer node, thereby resulting in the multiple copies of the respective file block being distributed to multiple different peer nodes.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
monitoring the multiple different peer nodes;
in response to at least one of the multiple different peer nodes becoming unreachable:
identifying a file block stored in the unreachable peer node;
replicating the identified file block; and
storing the replicated file block in a different peer node in the P2P network.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising encrypting the received file.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a tracker file, wherein the tracker file includes index information associated with the file blocks and the selected peer nodes.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a log file.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the file blocks to the selected peer nodes involves:
notifying a selected peer node that a file block is scheduled for distribution; and
allowing the selected peer node to download the scheduled file block.
9 . A peer-to-peer (P2P) data-storage system, comprising:
a P2P network;
a file upload module configured to receive a file uploaded by a user;
a file processing module configured to:
disassemble the received file into a plurality of file blocks; and
select a plurality of peer nodes from the P2P network;
a file distribution module configured to distribute the file blocks to the selected peer nodes, wherein a respective file block is distributed to a respective peer node; and
a tunnel module configured to establish a tunnel to a selected peer node that is behind a firewall.
10 . The P2P data-storage system of claim 9 , wherein the peer nodes include at least one of:
a plug computer;
a desktop computer;
a set top box; and
a wireless router.
11 . The P2P data-storage system of claim 9 , further comprising a replication module configured to generate multiple copies of the respective file block, and wherein the file distribution module is further configured to distribute each copy to a different peer node, thereby resulting in the multiple copies of the respective file block being downloaded to multiple different peer nodes.
12 . The P2P data-storage system of claim 11 , wherein the replication module is further configured to:
monitor the multiple different peer nodes;
in response to at least one of the multiple different peer nodes becoming unreachable:
identify a file block stored in the unreachable peer node; and
replicate the identified file block; and
wherein the file distribution module is configured to distribute the replicated file block to a different peer node in the P2P network.
13 . The P2P data-storage system of claim 9 , further comprising an encryption module configured to encrypt the received file.
14 . The P2P data-storage system of claim 9 , further comprising a tracker module configured to maintain a tracker file, wherein the tracker file includes index information associated with the file blocks and the selected peer nodes.
15 . The P2P data-storage system of claim 9 , further comprising a log module configured to maintain a log file.
16 . The P2P data-storage system of claim 9 , further comprising an event module configured to notify a selected peer node that a file block is scheduled for distribution.
17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for storing data in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, the method comprising:
receiving a file;
disassembling the received file into a plurality of file blocks;
selecting a plurality of peer nodes from the P2P network; and
distributing the file blocks to the selected peer nodes, wherein a respective file block is distributed to a respective peer node, and wherein distributing the respective file block to the respective peer node further involves:
determining whether the respective peer node is behind a firewall; and
in response to the selected peer node being behind a firewall, establishing a tunnel.
18 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the peer nodes include at least one of:
a plug computer;
a desktop computer;
a set top box; and
a wireless router.
19 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
generating multiple copies of the respective file block; and
distributing each copy to a different peer node, thereby resulting in the multiple copies of the respective file block being distributed to multiple different peer nodes.
20 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
monitoring the multiple different peer nodes;
in response to at least one of the multiple different peer nodes becoming unreachable:
identifying a file block stored in the unreachable peer node;
replicating the identified file block; and
storing the replicated file block in a different peer node in the P2P network.
21 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises encrypting the received file.
22 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises maintaining a tracker file, wherein the tracker file includes index information associated with the file blocks and the selected peer nodes.
23 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises maintaining a log file.
24 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein distributing the file blocks to the selected peer nodes involves:
notifying a selected peer node that a file block is scheduled for distribution; and
allowing the selected peer node to download the scheduled file block.