Peer-to-Peer Overlay Network Load Distribution

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional peer-to-peer networks face load imbalance due to uneven distribution of keywords, leading to resource exhaustion and network destabilization as common keywords overwhelm individual peers.

Innovation Solution

A method for evenly distributing data resources across peers by setting resource limits for each peer and redirecting data to adjacent peers when limits are reached, maintaining network topology and distributing load across a group of peers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data resources are distributed across peers in a peer-to-peer network, then the network achieves scalability and no single point of failure exists, but load imbalance occurs when keyword frequency is unevenly distributed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidload distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by allowing each peer to independently determine its storage capacity limits and reject data resources when local limits are reached. Each peer autonomously manages its own keyword range and resource allocation based on local conditions, rather than following uniform centralized rules. This enables differentiated load handling across the network while maintaining overall stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by having peers reject data resources when their local capacity is reached, rather than continuously accepting and redistributing. Instead of forcing data movement when limits are hit, the system allows natural load distribution to occur by rejecting excess data at the source peer, which then routes to alternative peers. This reversal simplifies load management while maintaining network reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Speed

If all peers store data resources within their assigned keyword ranges, then data retrieval efficiency is improved, but individual peers become overwhelmed when common keywords generate excessive data volume

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata retrieval speedVSAvoiddata storage volume per peer
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having peers pre-establish their maximum storage capacity limits for different keyword ranges before data distribution begins. When data resources are published, peers can immediately evaluate whether their local limits would be exceeded and reject accordingly, rather than allowing overload to occur and then attempting redistribution. This proactive capacity management prevents individual peer exhaustion while maintaining efficient keyword-based routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If resource limits are set for each peer to prevent overload, then individual peer stability is improved, but network complexity increases due to limit management and redistribution logic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeer stabilityVSAvoidnetwork control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling each peer to autonomously manage its own resource limits and make independent decisions about data acceptance and rejection. Peers automatically monitor their local storage capacity and reject data resources when limits are reached, without requiring centralized coordination or complex inter-peer communication protocols. This self-managing approach simplifies network control while ensuring individual peer stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2095611B1Method for the load distribution in a peer-to-peer-overlay network
Publication Date: 2014.12.31 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2095611B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2095611B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2095611B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for the even load distribution in a peer-to-peer-overlay network comprising a plurality of peers, each having an associated keyword region. A data resource to be stored, the keyword thereof being within the keyword region of a peer, is only stored with said peer if the number of data resources stored there has not reached a resource threshold limit.