Abstract: One embodiment provides a system and a method for presenting streaming media content delivered through a peer-to-peer overlay network. During operation, a data-transfer mechanism sends requests to a plurality of peer nodes to receive data for streaming media content. The system stores received data for the streaming media content into a buffer. Next, a server local to a media presentation mechanism serves the buffered data to a media presentation mechanism. The server controls the data serving in response to a signal received from the media-presentation mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method facilitate dynamic QoS-based billing in a P2P network. According to one embodiment, a peer node identifies a plurality of partner peer nodes that transiently stage streaming media data the peer node requests and receives from the partner peer nodes. The peer node further collects QoS information for the received data and communicates a QoS information report to a remote node to facilitate QoS-based billing.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system and method facilitate a credit system for providing user incentives to encourage data sharing in a P2P network. The credit system maintains a user credit database and respectively increases or decreases a user's credits based on the data uploaded to or downloaded from other peer nodes. The credit system can also associate a user's credits with economic value or rewards to encourage the user to share data with other peer nodes. In one embodiment, the credit system maintains a credit record for each user. The credit system increases the credit for a user based on the amount of data a peer node associated with the user uploads to other peer nodes in the P2P network. The credit system also decreases the credit for the user based on the amount of data downloaded by the peer node associated with the user.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method and a system for expediting content delivery in a peer-to-peer overlay network. A local cache and directory server caches a multiplicity of segments for multi-media content, and maintains a mapping between cacheable content and one or more local partner nodes that transiently stage segments for the cacheable content. The local cache and directory server receives a request identifying requested content, which may or may not be cached or mapped. The cache and directory server determines a match to the requested content in the mapping and sends a list of local partner nodes that transiently stage segments for the requested content based on the match.

Abstract: A system for delivering streamed content over a large digital network such as the Internet. Distributed functionality executes on nodes in the network to achieve functions such as assigning partner nodes for transfer of content to or from a target node, scheduling transfer operations among nodes, adding or removing nodes from the network, maintaining security, and other operations. Different embodiments may use one or more of the functional features. In a preferred embodiment, video content is segmented and streamed through multi-path routing. An overlay network uses nodes in partnership groups so that a target node can obtain segments from multiple sources. Partner nodes can provide the segments within a given time window, including simultaneous delivery from multiple partner nodes, so that a more reliable data stream is supported.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system and method for synchronously buffering real-time streaming content in a peer-to-peer overlay network to improve inter-peer-node synchronization. A requesting peer node identifies a partner peer node that transiently stages content segments. The requesting peer node determines the status of its local buffer and sends a request that indicates such status to a partner peer node. After receiving the most recent segment not present in the buffer from the partner peer node, the requesting peer node transiently stages the received segments in the buffer.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system and method for facilitating expedited delivery of media content to a node over a network. During operation, the system communicates a request to a media server to present media content. The system then presents the media content based on the data received from the media server. In addition, the system communicates requests to a plurality of peer nodes within the network for the media content at a same proximate time. Next, the system discontinues receipt of data from the media server and presents the media content based on data received from at least one peer node without significant interruption in presentation.