Charge-based flooding algorithm for detecting multimedia objects in peer-to-peer overlay networks

Multimedia objects are distributed in peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay networks since objects are cached, downloaded, and personalized in peer computers (peers). An application has to find target peers which can support enough quality of service of objects. We discuss a new type of flooding algorithm to find target peers based on charge and acquaintance concepts so that areas in networks where target peers are expected to exist are more deeply searched. In addition, we discuss how peers can be granted access rights to manipulate the objects with help and cooperation of acquaintances. We evaluate the charge-based flooding algorithm compared with a TTL-based flooding algorithm in terms of the number of messages transmitted in networks.