A method for autonomously routing data using in a peer-to-peer computer network includes automatically discovering neighbor nodes associated with a first node in a peer-to-peer computer network by automatically sending bursts of first pulse messages from a first node to neighbor nodes and candidate nodes associated with the first node, and automatically updating neighbor nodes connected to the first node in the peer-to-peer computer network by sending second pulse messages from the first node to neighbor nodes and candidate nodes associated with the first node. The second pulse messages are longer than the first pulse messages, and have longer intervals in between than intervals between the first pulse messages in one of the bursts.