P4P: the future of file-sharing networks?

21st August 2008

P2P-systems today generate from 50 to 80 per cent of total Internet traffic, seriously threatening to block main arteries of the global network. A group of researchers from the University of Washington and Yale University suggested a curious development, called P4P, which will effectively cope with growth of peering traffic volumes.
The peculiarity of traditional P2P-networks is that the batch data exchange involves two random users, one of whom may be located in Tokyo and another in London. The technology P4P offers to use a different approach and chooses clients located close to each other geographically.
The studies held have shown that the data package transmitted via P2P-networks travels over a distance of more than 1 000 miles. In the process of testing a new system, the way passed by the package amounted to just 160 miles and, more importantly, during this time it committed on the total 0,89 â€œtransshipmentsâ€.
Such an approach will significantly reduce the amount of traffic transmitted on highways between the cities. The project attracted interest of a number of companies. The working group established last year to study possibilities of the technology P4P, today includes more than 80 members, including representatives of leading American Internet service providers and content providers.