Freelib: peer-to-peer-based digital libraries

In this paper, we propose a P2P digital library that takes advantage of P2P networks and digital libraries. The key problem with P2P network searches is the low recall value, time to completion and its high use of network bandwidth. In this paper we introduce Freelib a universal client that once installed on a user's machine will connect itself to a P2P network and after a few searches will become aware of the community the user belongs to. The architecture of Freelib is such that a Web of connections is created automatically for people who share common interests, i.e., have similar searches. We report in this paper on the first prototype client the design changes made in the architecture as we actually built the client and the development of an emulator that can validate the working of the client in a real P2P network.