Daniel Cutting first got me interested in P2P computing with implicit group messaging while in Australia. We recently published a new book chapter together entitled Serendipity reloaded: fair loading in event-based messaging in the Handbook of Research on Advanced Distributed Event-Based Systems, Publish/Subscribe and Message Filtering Technologies together [5].

My new graduate student Neil Cowzer in UCD Ireland continues this research in new and interesting ways. His current focus is on addressing the needs of location based services across a P2P network. This is an area of cross over research for me between P2P and location and context awareness [4].

A Peer to Peer system consists of a number (typically very large) of networked computers (peers) which collectively perform an operation where each peer typically has equivalent capabilities and responsibilities. Given the proliferation of peer-to-peer file sharing systems, starting with Napster and more recently the BitTorrent protocol the term has become synonymous with just this activity.

However, the concept of peer to peer computing goes far beyond mundane file exchange. It is the subject of global research and development. These efforts are exploring the use of P2P systems for intensive tasks, globally scalable services and novel applications, that would typically be supported by central servers only. Examples of such applications include Joost (TV), Chinook, PAST, IGM (messaging), Skype (telephone) and SETI@home(research).

I wanted to pass on my congratulations to Neil Cowzer on having his first paper accepted at the 5th International Workshop on Collaborative Peer-to-Peer Systems (COPS 2009) for his paper on GeoIGM: a Location-Aware IGM Platform. In recent years, peer-to-peer systems have gained traction in a number of important areas including; file-sharing, VoIP and scientific research vehicles such as the Grid. In this paper we argue that this merely scratches the surface of the potential of peer-to-peer systems. We propose a novel peer-to-peer system, GeoIGM, well suited to the highly collaborative style of tagging and development of context-aware services, particularly with location[4]. With the provision of two fundamental operations; geographically-scoped multicasting and queries, GeoIGM eases the development of next-generation location-aware systems[1].

I also wanted to note the upcoming deadline in April for the Ninth International Conference on Peer-to-Peer Systems from the 8 – 11 September 2009 to be held in Seattle, Washington, USA [2]. It’s an excellent conference series with a range of research presented, from the highly theoretical in systems demonstrated though simulation alone to clearly applied, real-world results. I’m on the PC again this year and I look forward to an exciting range of papers to review. I’d also like to mention the deadline of next month for AP2PS the First International Conference on Advances in Peer-to-Peer Systems to be held on 11-16 October 2009, in Sliema, Malta [3].

The range of small focused workshops along with leading international conferences demonstrates the strength of research interest and activity in this area beyond the mundane applications noted before.

1. Cowzer N. and Quigley A., “GeoIGM: a Location-Aware IGM Platform“, 5th International Workshop on Collaborative Peer-to-Peer Systems (COPS 2009)
2. P2P 2009 the 9th International Conference on Peer-to-Peer Systems from the 8 – 11 September 2009, in Seattle, USA
3. AP2PS the First International Conference on Advances in Peer-to-Peer Systems, 11-16 October 2009, in Sliema, Malta
4. Choudhury, T.; Quigley, A.; Strang, Th.; Suginuma, K. (Eds.), Location and Context Awareness, 4th International Symposium, LoCA 2009 Tokyo, Japan, May 7-8, ISBN: 978-3-642-01720-9, LNCS Vol. 5561
5. Cutting A and Quigley A, Serendipity reloaded: fair loading in event-based messaging, Handbook of Research on Advanced Distributed Event-Based Systems, Publish/Subscribe and Message Filtering Technologies, IGI Global 2009