Abstract: A method of controlling communication quality between one node and at least one other node in a packet switched communication system, the method comprising the steps of detecting at one of said nodes a condition that indicates that communication quality is below an acceptable threshold, automatically generating instructions based on the detected condition for a user of the at least one node, said instructions intended to provide a remedy to improve the communication quality, and receiving input from a user of the at least one node responsive to the instructions to implement the remedy and thereby improve the communication quality.

Abstract: A method, system and program for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes. The method comprises: establishing a plurality of routes for the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes; at each of a plurality of optimising nodes, executing an optimization algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node and determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications. The different optimising nodes' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes.

Abstract: A method of controlling communication quality between one node and at least one other node in a packet switched communication system, the method comprising the steps of detecting at one of said nodes a condition that indicates that communication quality is below an acceptable threshold, automatically generating instructions based on the detected condition for a user of the at least one node, said instructions intended to provide a remedy to improve the communication quality, and receiving input from a user of the at least one node responsive to the instructions to implement the remedy and thereby improve the communication quality.

Abstract: There is provided a peer-to-peer telephone system comprising a plurality of end-users and a communication structure through which one or more end-users are couplable for communication purposes. The system is distinguished in that the communication structure is substantially de-centralized with regard to communication route switching therein for connecting the one or more end-users. One or more end-users are operable to establish their own communication routes through the structure based on exchange of one or more authorization certificates, namely User Identity Certificates (UIC), to acquire access to the structure. The structure comprises an administration arrangement for issuing said one or more certificates to said one or more end-users.

Abstract: A method, system and program for transmitting different quality versions of a stream to end-user nodes of a network. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of versions of the stream to different consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of those consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on the version and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the respective version; for each of said plurality of possible combinations of versions of the stream over said routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of said plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of versions of the stream over said routes based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations.

Abstract: A method, system and program for transmitting a data stream in a network of interconnectable end-user nodes comprising a source node, a plurality of recipient nodes and a plurality of further nodes, wherein each end-user node executes a communication client application. The method comprises: the source receiving a command to transmit the data stream to the plurality of recipients; selecting from the plurality of further nodes at least one relaying node to relay the data stream between the source node and the plurality of recipients; the source establishing a connection to the at least one relaying node; the at least one relaying node establishing a connection to each of the plurality of recipients; transmitting the data stream from the source to the at least one relaying node; and transmitting the data stream from the at least one relaying node to the plurality of recipients.

Abstract: A method, system and program for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes. The method comprises: establishing a plurality of routes for the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes; at each of a plurality of optimising nodes, executing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node and determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications. The different optimising nodes' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a data stream to end-user nodes of a network, and a corresponding communication system, program, and distribution system for distributing the program. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of routes of the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of the consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on route and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the stream; for each of the plurality of possible combinations of routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of the plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of routes for the stream based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations.

Abstract: Message delivery systems and methods for delivering messages to a computing system are described. The system uses a message ID structure and a message ID database to allow a user to check whether he or she is recipient of a new message without having to contact the message server that holds messages to be delivered. The resource load related to users checking for messages is therefore left to a separate computing system, allowing the message server to dedicate its resources to the receiving and delivering of messages.

Abstract: A method, system and program for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes. The method comprises: establishing a plurality of routes for the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes; at each of a plurality of optimizing nodes, executing an optimization algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimizing node and determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications. The different optimizing nodes' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimizing node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a data stream to end-user nodes of a network, and a corresponding communication system, program, and distribution system for distributing the program. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of routes of the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of the consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on route and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the stream; for each of the plurality of possible combinations of routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of the plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of routes for the stream based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a message delivery system and methods for delivering messages to a computing system. The system uses a message ID structure and a message ID database to allow a user to check whether he or she is recipient of a new message without having to contact the message server that holds messages to be delivered. The resource load related to users checking for messages is therefore left to a separate computing system, allowing the message server to dedicate its resources to the receiving and delivering of messages.

Abstract: There is provided a peer-to-peer telephone system comprising a plurality of end-users and a communication structure through which one or more end-users are couplable for communication purposes. The system is distinguished in that the communication structure is substantially de-centralized with regard to communication route switching therein for connecting the one or more end-users. One or more end-users are operable to establish their own communication routes through the structure based on exchange of one or more authorization certificates, namely User Identity Certificates (UIC), to acquire access to the structure. The structure comprises an administration arrangement for issuing said one or more certificates to said one or more end-users.

Abstract: A method, system and program for transmitting different quality versions of a stream to end-user nodes of a network. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of versions of the stream to different consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of those consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on the version and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the respective version; for each of said plurality of possible combinations of versions of the stream over said routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of said plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of versions of the stream over said routes based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations.

Abstract: A method, system and program for transmitting a data stream in a network of interconnectable end-user nodes comprising a source node, a plurality of recipient nodes and a plurality of further nodes, wherein each end-user node executes a communication client application. The method comprises: the source receiving a command to transmit the data stream to the plurality of recipients; selecting from the plurality of further nodes at least one relaying node to relay the data stream between the source node and the plurality of recipients; the source establishing a connection to the at least one relaying node; the at least one relaying node establishing a connection to each of the plurality of recipients; transmitting the data stream from the source to the at least one relaying node; and transmitting the data stream from the at least one relaying node to the plurality of recipients.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a data stream to end-user nodes of a network, and a corresponding communication system, program, and distribution system for distributing the program. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of routes of the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of the consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on route and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the stream; for each of the plurality of possible combinations of routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of the plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of routes for the stream based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations.

Abstract: A method, system and program for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes. The method comprises: establishing a plurality of routes for the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes; at each of a plurality of optimising nodes, executing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node and determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications. The different optimising nodes' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes.

Abstract: There is provided a peer-to-peer telephone system comprising a plurality of end-users and a communication structure through which one or more end-users are couplable for communication purposes. The system is distinguished in that the communication structure is substantially de-centralized with regard to communication route switching therein for connecting the one or more end-users. One or more end-users are operable to establish their own communication routes through the structure based on exchange of one or more authorisation certificates, namely User Identity Certificates (UIC), to acquire access to the structure. The structure comprises an administration arrangement for issuing said one or more certificates to said one or more end-users.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data over a communication network from a first user terminal executing a communication client application to a second user terminal is provided. The communication client application of the first user terminal receives a command to transmit the data to the second user terminal and establishing a first connection between the first user terminal and the second user terminal via a first relay node. The transmission of the data from the first user terminal over the first connection is started, and at least one network parameter related to the transmission of the data is monitored and compared to at least one known value to determine whether to add a further connection.

Abstract: There is provided a distributed database system comprising a plurality of participating nodes mutually interconnected via a communication network. The participating nods include a first subset of storage nodes and a second subset of interfacing nodes. The storage nodes are grouped into a plurality of slots, each storage node having stored therein addresses of substantially al other storage nodes in its particular slot. The storage nodes of each slot further have stored therein one or more addresses of storage nodes in all other of the slots of the system. The interfacing nodes each have stored therein addresses of one or more of the storage nodes. The storage nodes are operable to store one or more data records therein and/or retrieve one or more data records therefrom in response to instructions received from the interfacing nodes. The system is coordinated in operation in a decentralised manner.