Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for arranging peers in a P2P network. To this end, a request is received from a peer entering the network to receive data content. Thereafter, a latency is determined with which the entering peer is to receive the data content with respect to a real-time playback point of the data content distributed by the streaming source. After the latency has been determined, the entering peer is provided with a plurality of randomly selected peers from which the requested data content can be downloaded with an expected probability depending on the determined latency. Thus, the entering peer is enabled to download, with the expected probability, the requested data content from a selected one of the randomly selected peers having a lower latency than that determined for the entering peer.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay network, which comprises a streaming source and a plurality of peers arranged in distribution layers, is arranged such that the total number of distribution layers of the overlay network is reduced. First, the upload capacity of each individual peer is determined and a maximum number of overlay peers to which said each individual peer can upload is calculated. Then, the peers are arranged in hierarchical order in relation to the streaming source on the basis of the maximum number of peers to which each individual peer can upload data. A higher number results in the individual peer being arranged in a distribution layer closer to the streaming source while a lower number results in the individual peer being arranged in a distribution layer further from the streaming source. Thus, the total number of distribution layers of the overlay network is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and a device for arranging a P2P overlay network comprising a streaming source arranged to stream data content and a plurality of peers arranged in distribution layers. The method comprises the step of arranging the peers in the distribution layers such that data content download requirements of peers in any one distribution layer does not exceed data content distribution capacity of an immediately preceding distribution layer. The method further comprises the step of selecting, when a first peer has capacity to distribute a data content stream to another peer in an immediately subsequent layer but is restricted from doing so, a second peer from a distribution layer subsequent to that of the first peer, which second peer is not being restricted from distributing the data content stream to said another peer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and a device for arranging a P2P overlay network comprising a streaming source and a plurality of peers arranged in distribution layers, the streaming source being 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.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay network, which comprises a streaming source and a plurality of peers arranged in distribution layers, is arranged such that the total number of distribution layers of the overlay network is reduced. First, the upload capacity of each individual peer is determined and a maximum number of overlay peers to which said each individual peer can upload is calculated. Then, the peers are arranged in hierarchical order in relation to the streaming source on the basis of the maximum number of peers to which each individual peer can upload data. A higher number results in the individual peer being arranged in a distribution layer closer to the streaming source while a lower number results in the individual peer being arranged in a distribution layer further from the streaming source. Thus, the total number of distribution layers of the overlay network is reduced.