| Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfersRelated Patent Categories: Multiplex Communications, Fault Recovery, Bypass An Inoperative ChannelMethod and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070165519, Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates generally to computing networks and relates more particularly to anonymous data transfers between computing devices. [0002] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network 100 of nodes (e.g., computing devices) interacting in a peer-to-peer (P2P) manner. Generally, a requesting node 101 sends a search message 105 (e.g., containing keywords relating to data that the requesting node 101 wishes to locate) to one or more intermediate network nodes 111 connected to the requesting node 101. Each intermediate node 111 receives the search message 105 and then forwards the search message 105 to one or more additional nodes 111. Eventually, the search message 105 reaches one or more responding nodes 103 having the requested data. One or more responding nodes 103 then send a response message 107 back to the requesting node 101, e.g., via the intermediate nodes 111. The requesting node 101 then requests the relevant data from a responding node 103 by connecting directly to the responding node 103, e.g., via direct connection 109. [0003] In conventional P2P systems, both the requesting node 101 and the responding node 103 are aware of the other's identity such that one node has some unique information about the other node (e.g., a network address). Intermediate nodes may likewise be aware of the identities of the requesting node 101 and/or the responding node 103, depending on what type of identification is contained within the search and response messages 105 and 107. In many instances, however, one or both of the requesting node 101 and the responding node 103 may not wish to have their identities known to other nodes. Unfortunately, most conventional anonymous transfer methods, such as static anonymizing services, may be easily compromised, revealing the identities of transferring parties and/or causing a denial of service. Other methods for preserving the identity of the transferring parties typically involve encrypting the transferred files such that their contents are unknown. However, searching content using standard text for file names becomes impractical, and users typically must know specific public keys for desired data, making key distribution a network bottleneck. Moreover, most typical methods for establishing anonymous data transfer paths between two nodes do not provide a way for re-establishing the anonymous path should the connection between the two nodes be broken (e.g., due to a compromised path or to failure of a node on the path). [0004] Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers between a first endpoint and a second endpoint in a network includes receiving, from a first node, the identity of a second node connected to the first node, where at least the first node is a neighbor node. A third node (a neighbor node) is then selected and instructed to connect to the second node in order to establish a link for the path. In this manner, the first endpoint and the second endpoint remain unknown at least to each other (e.g., where "unknown" means that neither endpoint knows any identifying information, such as network address, about the other endpoint), and likely to all other nodes in the path as well. In another embodiment, a failure is detected at a neighbor node, where the neighbor node is part of an original path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint. The neighbor node's repair server is contacted for a repair node associated with the neighbor node, and a connection to the repair node is made such that the path is established in a manner that maintains anonymity of the first endpoint and the second endpoint relative to each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] So that the manner in which the above recited embodiments of the invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be obtained by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. [0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network of nodes interacting in a peer-to-peer manner; [0008] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for re-establishing a path between a requesting node and a responding node that maintains the anonymity of both parties, according to the present invention; [0009] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for re-establishing a path between a requesting node and a responding node that maintains the anonymity of both parties, according to the present invention; [0010] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for re-establishing a path between a requesting node and a responding node that maintains the anonymity of both parties, according to the present invention; [0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooperative operation of the methods of FIGS. 2-4 to re-establish an anonymous path between a requesting node and a responding node; [0012] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a second method for re-establishing a path between a requesting node and a responding node that maintains the anonymity of both parties, according to the present invention; [0013] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for re-establishing a path between a requesting node and a responding node that maintains the anonymity of both parties, according to the present invention; and [0014] FIG. 8 is a high level block diagram of the anonymous connection re-establishment method that is implemented using a general purpose computing device. [0015] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for re-establishing connections or paths for anonymous data transfers. Embodiments of the present invention enable paths between two anonymous nodes (i.e., anonymous at least to each other) to be re-established in the event that a previously established path fails before a data transfer is completed (e.g., due to failure of a node in the path or to the path becoming compromised, where a path is compromised if one or both of the anonymous nodes learns the identity of the other). Within the context of the present invention, a first node is "anonymous" or "unknown" to a second node if the second node does not know any identifying information (e.g., network address) about the first node. Paths may be re-established in a manner that maintains a substantially equivalent level of anonymity and avoids restarting the (potentially large) data transfer, which can be time consuming. [0017] Embodiments of the present invention are particularly well-suited for re-establishing an anonymous path between a requesting node and a responding node, where the path includes one or more intermediate or "relay" nodes that aid in the data transfer such that the requesting node and the responding node do not connect directly to each other. Methods for establishing such an initial anonymous path using relay nodes have been discussed in co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 10/903,531 and 10/909,024, both filed Jul. 30, 2004, and both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. [0018] It is possible that in the course of time, the ability of one or more relay nodes to participate in an anonymous data transfer may be compromised (e.g., by external attack or collusion of other nodes to reveal the identities of the requesting and responding nodes). In such a case, it may be necessary to re-establish an anonymous path between the requesting node and the responding node, omitting at least the compromised relay node. Furthermore, it is desirable to define a new path that affords substantially the same degree of anonymity (e.g., no additional identities or information revealed) as the old path. [0019] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 200 for re-establishing a path between a requesting node and a responding node that maintains the anonymity of both parties, according to the present invention. The method 200 may be implemented, for example, at a node that is an endpoint in an anonymous data transfer (e.g., a requesting node or a responding node). [0020] The method 200 is initialized at step 202 and proceeds to step 204, where the method 200 receives a notification to re-establish a path to a network endpoint (e.g., due to a failure of an intermediate or relay node in the previous path) or simply detects on its own that the existing path or connection has been lost. For example, if the method 200 is executing at the requesting node, the notification informs the method 200 of the need to re-establish a path to the responding node. Continue reading about Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Vpls failure protection in ring networks Next Patent Application: Port trunking between switches Industry Class: Multiplex communications ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.25969 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
