Methods and apparatus for optimal participation of devices in a peer to peer overlay network

1. A method performed by a node for dynamic node configuration in a peer-to-peer overlay network, the method comprising:

operating on the overlay network using a first participation mode;

obtaining at least one configuration parameter;

selecting a second participation mode for operation on the overlay network based on local policy and the at least one configuration parameter; and

configuring the node to participate on the overlay network based on the second participation mode;

wherein the selecting comprises selecting the second participation mode from a plurality of participation modes available on the overlay network; and

wherein the plurality of participation modes comprise a full participation mode, a partial participation mode and a service participation mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter is at least one of a power indicator, memory indicator, resource indicator, network indicator, and a user indicator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the full participation mode corresponds to operation as a routing peer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partial participation mode corresponds to operation as a non-routing peer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service participation mode corresponds to operation as a non peer.

6. An apparatus for dynamic node configuration in a peer-to-peer overlay network, the apparatus comprising:

means for operating on the overlay network using a first participation mode;

means for obtaining at least one configuration parameter;

means for selecting a second participation mode for operation on the overlay network based on local policy and the at least one configuration parameter; and

means for configuring the node to participate on the overlay network based on the second participation mode;

wherein the means for selecting comprises means for selecting the second participation mode from a plurality of participation modes available on the overlay network; and

wherein the plurality of participation modes comprise a full participation mode, a partial participation mode and a service participation mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter is at least one of a power indicator, memory indicator, resource indicator, network indicator, and a user indicator.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the full participation mode corresponds to operation as a routing peer.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the partial participation mode corresponds to operation as a non-routing peer.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the service participation mode corresponds to operation as a non peer.

11. An apparatus for dynamic node configuration in a peer-to-peer overlay network, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to:

operate on the overlay network using a first participation mode;

obtain at least one configuration parameter;

select a second participation mode for operation on the overlay network based on local policy and the at least one configuration parameter; and

configure the node to participate on the overlay network based on the second participation mode;

wherein the processor is configured to select the second participation mode from a plurality of participation modes available on the overlay network; and

wherein the plurality of participation modes comprise a full participation mode, a partial participation mode and a service participation mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter is at least one of a power indicator, memory indicator, resource indicator, network indicator, and a user indicator.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the full participation mode corresponds to operation as a routing peer.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the partial participation mode corresponds to operation as a non-routing peer.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the service participation mode corresponds to operation as a non peer.

16. A computer program product for dynamic node configuration in a peer-to-peer overlay network, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium embodying codes executable to:

operate on the overlay network using a first participation mode;

obtain at least one configuration parameter;

select a second participation mode for operation on the overlay network based on local policy and the at least one configuration parameter;

configure the node to participate on the overlay network based on the second participation mode;

wherein the codes are configured to select the second participation mode from a plurality of participation modes available on the overlay network; and

wherein the plurality of participation modes comprise a full participation mode, a partial participation mode and a service participation mode.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter is at least one of a power indicator, memory indicator, resource indicator, network indicator, and a user indicator.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the full participation mode corresponds to operation as a routing peer.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the partial participation mode corresponds to operation as a non-routing peer.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the service participation mode corresponds to operation as a non peer.