Abstract: A method and system for intelligently directing a search of a peer-to-peer network, in which a user performing a search is assisted in choosing a host which is likely to return fast, favorable results to the user. A host monitor monitors the peer-to-peer network and collects data on various characteristics of the hosts which make up the network. Thereafter, a host selector ranks the hosts using the data, and passes this information to the user. The user then selects one or more of the highly-ranked hosts as an entry point into the network. Additionally, a cache may collect a list of hosts based on the content on the hosts. In this way, a user may choose to connect to a host which is known to contain information relevant to the user's search. The host selector may be used to select from among the hosts listed in the cache.

Abstract: The embodiments satisfy the need for a real-time search engine that significantly reduces the cost of constructing a search engine index by providing a method for creating a real-time search engine over the Internet that provides a search response containing data object descriptions and server descriptions of data objects that are currently available for transfer from a provider server directly to a recipient client in response to a recipient client search request. An exemplary method of updating a search-engine index of a search engine serving a plurality of servers is provided. The method comprising the steps of: a. establishing a communication link between the search engine and a first server, b. logging onto the search engine from the first server. The step of logging onto the search engine comprises the steps of: i. uploading a first video data object description of a first video data object from the first server to the search-engine index, ii.

Abstract: A method and system for intelligently directing a search of a peer-to-peer network, in which a user performing a search is assisted in choosing a host which is likely to return fast, favorable results to the user. A host monitor monitors the peer-to-peer network and collects data on various characteristics of the hosts which make up the network. Thereafter, a host selector ranks the hosts using the data, and passes this information to the user. The user then selects one or more of the highly-ranked hosts as an entry point into the network. Additionally, a cache may collect a list of hosts based on the content on the hosts. In this way, a user may choose to connect to a host which is known to contain information relevant to the user's search. The host selector may be used to select from among the hosts listed in the cache.

Abstract: A system and method provide for selecting Internet media channels. Generally speaking, the selection involves choosing target channels based on user preferences. In one example embodiment, the system and method receive a user preference relating to a data item available from at least one of a plurality of media providers, augment the user preference with at least one additional preference that is related to the user preference, and select one or more media providers from the plurality of media providers, wherein the selection is based on the frequency with which the selected media provider provides the user preference or the augmenting additional preference.

Abstract: Communication is established between a first client and a central index server in a fluid, de-centralized network. The central index server searches the memory of the first client for usable data files which lack authentication certificates issued by the central index server. A data-file identifier is generated for a first data file among the select files lacking authentication certificates within the first client. The data-file identifier is compared to a reliable identifier in a main data base of the central index server. The reliable identifier is indexed within the main data base against a first unique reference ID. If the data-file identifier matches the reliable identifier, a valid authentication certificate is issued to the first data file in the first client. An IP address of the first client is then referenced against the first unique reference ID within the main data base of the central index server.

Abstract: A visualization of a set of related data items is accomplished by ranking a plurality of secondary data items with respect to their relationship to a principal data item. The set of related data items may be stored in any form, including, for example, as a relational database, an object database, or an XML document. The related items display names can be formatted and ranked according to the properties of the item, so as to avoid duplication and information overload for the user. The ranked data can be displayed along curved segments in a graphical chart, so as to allow convenient visualization of the data and the data's relationship to the principal item that may be prominently displayed at the center of the chart.

Abstract: The embodiments satisfy the need for a real-time search engine that significantly reduces the cost of constructing a search engine index by providing a method for creating a real-time search engine over the Internet that provides a search response containing data object descriptions and server descriptions of data objects that are currently available for transfer from a provider server directly to a recipient client in response to a recipient client search request. An exemplary method of updating a search-engine index of a search engine serving a plurality of servers is provided. The method comprising the steps of: a. establishing a communication link between the search engine and a first server, b. logging onto the search engine from the first server. The step of logging onto the search engine comprises the steps of: i. uploading a first video data object description of a first video data object from the first server to the search-engine index, ii.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer connection is established by a receiving computer with a sending computer on which a desired file is located. The sending computer encrypts the file using a track key specifically generated for this particular file transfer. Once encrypted, the encrypted file is preferably obfuscated. An application server sends a public key specific to the receiving computer to the sending computer. The sending computer encrypts the track key using the public key associated with the receiving computer, and the sending computer sends the encrypted track key and the encrypted file to the receiving computer. The receiving computer stores the received encrypted track key and the received encrypted file as a secured file on the receiving computer. When a file is transferred, associated business rules are also transferred to the receiving computer. Business rules act to restrict the extent to which a file is read, copied, or distributed.

Abstract: A search engine operates substantially in real time through instant updates by the servers on a file sharing network. A server coming on-line in the network and comprising a first data object such as an audio file, video file, executable file, or text file, is configured to upload a description, such as a song title or file name, of the first data object, to the search engine during the log-in process. The search engine comprises a data-object description table for storing and correlating various data object descriptions to respective server identifiers identifying servers currently on line that store the data objects defined by the data object descriptions. During the log-in process, the search engine is configured to correlate the identifier of the server coming on-line with a data-object description of a data object stored in the server coming on-line.

Abstract: A method and system for intelligently directing a search of a peer-to-peer network, in which a user performing a search is assisted in choosing a host which is likely to return fast, favorable results to the user. A host monitor monitors the peer-to-peer network and collects data on various characteristics of the hosts which make up the network. Thereafter, a host selector ranks the hosts using the data, and passes this information to the user. The user then selects one or more of the highly-ranked hosts as an entry point into the network. Additionally, a cache may collect a list of hosts based on the content on the hosts. In this way, a user may choose to connect to a host which is known to contain information relevant to the user's search. The host selector may be used to select from among the hosts listed in the cache.

Abstract: A method and system for intelligently directing a search of a peer-to-peer network, in which a user performing a search is assisted in choosing a host which is likely to return fast, favorable results to the user. A host monitor monitors the peer-to-peer network and collects data on various characteristics of the hosts which make up the network. Thereafter, a host selector ranks the hosts using the data, and passes this information to the user. The user then selects one or more of the highly-ranked hosts as an entry point into the network. Additionally, a cache may collect a list of hosts based on the content on the hosts. In this way, a user may choose to connect to a host which is known to contain information relevant to the user's search. The host selector may be used to select from among the hosts listed in the cache.

Abstract: A method and system for intelligently directing a search of a peer-to-peer network, in which a user performing a search is assisted in choosing a host which is likely to return fast, favorable results to the user. A host monitor monitors the peer-to-peer network and collects data on various characteristics of the hosts which make up the network. Thereafter, a host selector ranks the hosts using the data, and passes this information to the user. The user then selects one or more of the highly-ranked hosts as an entry point into the network. Additionally, a cache may collect a list of hosts based on the content on the hosts. In this way, a user may choose to connect to a host which is known to contain information relevant to the user's search. The host selector may be used to select from among the hosts listed in the cache.

Abstract: A system and method provide for selecting Internet media channels. Generally speaking, the selection involves choosing target channels based on user preferences. In one example embodiment, the system and method receive a user preference relating to a data item available from at least one of a plurality of media providers, augment the user preference with at least one additional preference that is related to the user preference, and select one or more media providers from the plurality of media providers, wherein the selection is based on the frequency with which the selected media provider provides the user preference or the augmenting additional preference.

Abstract: Disclosed is described a method for creating a real-time search engine over the Internet which provides a search response containing data object descriptions and server descriptions of data objects that are currently available for transfer from a provider server directly to a recipient client in response to a recipient client search request. The method comprises the provider server connecting to a Real-time search engine through the Internet, the provider server providing the Real-time search engine with data object descriptions of data objects residing on the provider server, and the Real-time search engine indexing data object descriptions associated with the data object of the provider server, wherein the data object descriptions provided by the provider server are purged from the Real-time search engine when the provider server is disconnected from the Real-time search engine.