Peer-to-peer trading platform

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system is disclosed in which a network-based interaction environment includes a plurality of peer-to-peer nodes being able to communicate directly with each other using a peer-to-peer protocol and a peer-to-peer client application, and a first peer-to-peer client application to maintain persistent item information on at least one peer-to-peer node of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes, the persistent information being related to an item being offered by a first user of the first peer-to-peer client application.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

An architectural overview of an example embodiment of a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform client is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example architecture of a system supporting roles, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example architecture of a system supporting roles in an enterprise setting, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an item listing process from the seller perspective, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a list item event flow, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an item search/retrieval process from the buyer perspective, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a search item event flow, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a view item event flow, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an interconnectivity diagram showing the connections between functional components of an implementation, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a peer-to-peer trading platform plug-in that may replace a central e-commerce browser, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates a P2P trading platform message exchange protocol, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a messaging stack, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates a message format, according to an example embodiment.

FIGS. 14-25 illustrate various user interface screen snapshots, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 26 shows a diagrammatic representation of machine in the example form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, may be executed.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a network-based interaction environment including a plurality of peer-to-peer nodes being able to communicate directly with each other using a peer-to-peer protocol and a peer-to-peer client application; anda first peer-to-peer client application to maintain persistent item information on at least one peer-to-peer node of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes, the persistent information being related to an item being offered by a first user of the first peer-to-peer client application.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the persistent item information is maintained on more than one peer-to-peer node of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein a network connection between at least two peer-to-peer nodes of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes is shared by another data transfer session.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the bandwidth on the network connection is prioritized between a plurality of data transfer sessions.

5. The system of claim 1 being further operable to authenticate the first user.

6. The system of claim 1 being further operable to certify the item being offered by the first user.

7. The system of claim 1 being further operable to provide feedback to the first user regarding the item being offered by the first user.

8. The system of claim 1 being further operable to encrypt information associated with the item being offered by the first user.

9. The system of claim 1 being further operable to apply a digital signature to the information associated with the item being offered by the first user.

10. A method comprising: providing a network-based interaction environment including a plurality of peer-to-peer nodes being able to communicate directly with each other using a peer-to-peer protocol and a peer-to-peer client application; andmaintaining persistent item information using a first peer-to-peer client application on at least one peer-to-peer node of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes, the persistent information being related to an item being offered by a first user of the first peer-to-peer client application.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the persistent item information is maintained on more than one peer-to-peer node of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein a network connection between at least two peer-to-peer nodes of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes is shared by another data transfer session.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the bandwidth on the network connection is prioritized between a plurality of data transfer sessions.

14. The method of claim 10 further including authenticating the first user.

15. The method of claim 10 further including certifying the item being offered by the first user.

16. The method of claim 10 further including providing feedback to the first user regarding the item being offered by the first user.

17. The method of claim 10 further including encrypting information associated with the item being offered by the first user.

18. The method of claim 10 further including applying a digital signature to the information associated with the item being offered by the first user.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions embedded thereon, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to: enable network communication among a plurality of peer-to-peer nodes, the peer-to-peer nodes being able to communicate directly with each other using a peer-to-peer protocol and a peer-to-peer client application; andmaintain persistent item information using a first peer-to-peer client application on at least one peer-to-peer node of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes, the persistent information being related to an item being offered by a first user of the first peer-to-peer client application.

20. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 19 wherein the persistent item information is maintained on more than one peer-to-peer node of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes.

21. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 19 wherein a network connection between at least two peer-to-peer nodes of the plurality of peer-to-peer nodes is shared by another data transfer session.

22. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 21 wherein the bandwidth on the network connection is prioritized between a plurality of data transfer sessions.

23. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 19 being further operable to authenticate the first user.

24. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 19 being further operable to certify the item being offered by the first user.

25. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 19 being further operable to provide feedback to the first user regarding the item being offered by the first user.

26. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 19 being further operable to encrypt information associated with the item being offered by the first user.

27. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 19 being further operable to apply a digital signature to the information associated with the item being offered by the first user.