Reputation based probabilistic resource allocation for avoiding free riding and formation of common interest groups in unstructured P2P networks

Free riding is a major problem in peer-to-peer networks. Reputation management systems are generally proposed to overcome this problem. In this paper we have discussed a possible way of resource allocation on the basis of reputation management system i.e. probabilistic allocation based on reputation. This seems to be a better way for allocation of resources because in this case nodes that don’t have very good reputation about each other, may also serve each other at least some amount of resource with finite probability. This avoids disconnect between them. Algorithms are presented for optimizing the shared capacity, reputation based probabilistic allocation that is optimal for a node, and formation of interest groups on the basis of similarity between interests of nodes.