US Patent 7624179 Locator and tracking service for peer-to-peer resources

A resource naming service (RNS) server receives peer resource requests from peer platforms through a networking environment. The RNS server, possibly in cooperation with other RNS servers and peer registrars generates a response to the request to enable the peer platforms to access the requested peer resources. In one embodiment, a response includes a list of locations of peer devices in the networking environment where a resource is expected to be available. A requesting device can then choose to access the resource from one or more of the listed peer locations.