Abstract: A method performed by a network device of segmenting a corporate communications network is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a plurality of client devices in the corporate communications network, a measured value of a connectivity performance metric of a communication link over which each of the plurality of client devices has transferred data to at least one other randomly selected client device, and mapping the client devices into segments of the corporate communications network based on the measured value of the connectivity performance metric of each communication link, where two client devices communicating over a communication link having a measured value exceeding a connectivity quality measure will be mapped into a same segment. Devices for segmenting a corporate communications network are also provided.

Abstract: A network supervising device for managing distribution of data content streams in a segment of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, comprises a processing unit which receives a request for a data content stream from at least one of the peers being constrained from uploading the data content streams to further peers, and identifies whether at least one peer exists within the network segment being capable of uploading the requested data content stream. If no peer within the segment is currently rendering the requested data content stream, the processing unit identifies whether at least one currently idle peer exists within the network segment, which is capable of uploading the requested data content stream. The processing unit then assigns to the at least one peer downloading the requested data content stream, or to the at least one currently idle peer, to upload the requested data content stream to the peer being restrained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device of categorization of endpoint nodes into sites in a communications network. The invention further relates to a computer program performing the method according to the present invention, and a computer program product comprising computer readable medium having the computer programs embodied therein. A method of categorizing endpoint nodes into sites in a communications network is provided. The method comprises acquiring information pertaining to tracing of a route from each of a plurality of the endpoint nodes via a number of routing nodes in the communications network, which information identifies the routing nodes encountered in each traced route. The method further comprises performing a comparison, for each of the plurality of endpoint nodes with the remaining ones of the plurality of endpoint nodes, of the acquired information for a selected number of routing nodes closest to the endpoint node for each traced route.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and a device for, arranging peers in a P2P network comprising a streaming source and network peers arranged at distribution levels in the P2P network. The method comprises receiving a request from a peer entering the network to receive data content, and determining a distribution level in the P2P network at which the entering peer is to be arranged with respect to the streaming source. Further, the method comprises providing the entering peer with a plurality of peers selected from the network peers from which the requested data content can be downloaded with an expected probability depending on the determined distribution level, and further indicating the distribution level of each of the plurality of peers, wherein the entering peer is enabled to download, with the expected probability, the requested data content from a selected one of said plurality of peers being arranged at a distribution level closest to that determined for the entering peer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for distributing data content in a private network. Thus, in a first aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for distributing data content in a private network comprising a number of secondary network segments each connected to a main network segment via a virtual private network connection, which private network comprises devices for rendering the data content. The method comprises the step of arranging the devices rendering the data content as peers in a peer-to-peer (P2P) connectivity overlay network within the private network. Further, the method comprises the step of assigning a managing peer in the main network segment responsible to download the data content from a streaming source outside the private network via a gateway and to distribute the data content to at least one further peer in the main network segment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and device for, arranging peers in a P2P network comprising a streaming source and network peers arranged at distribution levels in the P2P network. The method comprises receiving a request from a peer entering the network to receive data content and determining a distribution level in the P2P network at which the entering peer is to be arranged with respect to the streaming source.

Abstract: A method is provided for distributing data content in a P2P live streaming network comprising a plurality of peers and a streaming source periodically producing segments representing the data content to be distributed, wherein a group of the peers are assigned to download the data content from the streaming source and to distribute the data content to remaining peers. The method comprises a first peer making requests for a current segment produced by the streaming source, the requests being made at a rate higher than a rate with which the segments are produced by the streaming source. If the first peer is the first to download the current segment, then the current segment has been downloaded, wherein the network peers can download the current segment from the first peer. Otherwise, a second peer downloads the current segment and it announces this to the group on the P2P network.

Abstract: The technology relates to a method of and a device for, arranging peers in a P2P network comprising a streaming source and a plurality of network peers arranged at distribution levels in the P2P network. The method receives a request from a peer entering the network to receive data content, and determines a distribution level for the entering peer with respect to the streaming source. Further, the method provides the entering peer with peers selected from the network peers from which the requested data content can be downloaded with an expected probability depending on the determined distribution level. The method also indicates upload capacity of peers, wherein the entering peer is enabled to download, with the expected probability, the requested data content from a selected one of the peers having a highest upload capacity among the selected peers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of, and device for, arranging a P2P network comprising a streaming source and network peers arranged at distribution levels in the P2P network, in which P2P network the streaming source is arranged to divide data content to be streamed into a plurality of content sub-streams together forming the data content and to distribute the plurality of content sub-streams to the network peers. The method comprises instructing a network peer requesting to download data content to download a single content sub-stream from a respective one of selected network peers being arranged at a distribution level closer to the streaming source than the requesting network peer until a number of content sub-streams have been downloaded by the requesting network peer from which the requested data content can be formed. The present invention further relates to a method of requesting data content in a P2P network and a peer device.

Abstract: A method and device for arranging a plurality of peers at distribution levels in a P2P network with respect to a streaming source are described. At least one peer of the plurality of peers having a highest upload capacity may be arranged at the distribution level closest to the streaming source. Remaining peers of the plurality of peers may be arranged at subsequent distribution levels in order of descending upload capacity, such that each peer has an upload capacity that does not exceed the upload capacity of any peer at an immediately preceding level. The peers may be further arranged such that the total upload capacity of the peers at any distribution level is equal to or exceeds total download demand of the peers at an immediately subsequent level. If a predetermined maximal allowed number of distribution levels has been exceeded, one or more peers may be moved or re-arranged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device of categorization of endpoint nodes into sites in a communications network. The invention further relates to a computer program performing the method according to the present invention, and a computer program product comprising computer readable medium having the computer programs embodied therein. A method of categorizing endpoint nodes into sites in a communications network is provided. The method comprises acquiring information pertaining to tracing of a route from each of a plurality of the endpoint nodes via a number of routing nodes in the communications network, which information identifies the routing nodes encountered in each traced route. The method further comprises performing a comparison, for each of the plurality of endpoint nodes with the remaining ones of the plurality of endpoint nodes, of the acquired information for a selected number of routing nodes closest to the endpoint node for each traced route.