University of Washington and Yale University researchers have developed a faster way to send data across the Internet, accelerating peer-to-peer traffic.

Their algorithm, which they call P4P or “local file-sharing,” finds the shortest path across the Internet by tracking users’ locations and ISP network maps without revealing details to either side. In tests, users could download files about 20% faster than conventional file-sharing, while cutting the bandwidth requirements by more than a factor of five.