Bidding in P2P content distribution networks using the lightweight currency paradigm

This paper presents a micropayment-based architecture for P2P content distribution networks using the lightweight currency protocol. Under this architecture, autonomous peers form a dynamic overlay network that evolves as peers buy and sell documents with the lightweight currency protocol (LCP). By adopting a payment-based system, member peers are forced to contribute resources in order to obtain benefits, thus eliminating the free-rider problem. We present a document search mechanism that is based on bidding, with the use of micropayments.