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 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: 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: A device and a method performed by the device for determining performance of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Performance of a P2P network including a plurality of peer devices may be determined by initiating distribution of content to at least one of the plurality of peer devices in the P2P network, the distribution of content being specified by at least one distribution parameter, acquiring, from the at least one peer device, at least one metric associated with the content received by the at least one peer device, and determining the performance of the P2P network based on the acquired at least one metric.

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.

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 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: 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 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 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 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 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: 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: 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.