Peers within a Peer-to-Peer network can provide a lot of various resources, e.g. information, disk space, memory space or computing power, and they can deliver different services, e.g. create or provide files, compute complex calculations or act as a required part of the network.

To avoid “free-riding” on these resources, contents or services and to balance out the relationship between providers and consumers, market mechanisms have to be established. This requires a fundamental framework which reflects peer-based business models and allows market participants to offer, discover, and consume required resources. Furthermore, mechanisms for accounting and payment between involved peers have to be adopted.

Project balance aims to discuss belonging questions, to design a suitable concept, to develop an applicable framework, and probably intends to invent a new form of Peer-to-Peer-based eCommerce, a so called pCommerce.
Courtesy: JXTA Balance Project