US20030191933A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Invoking mutual anonymity by electing to become head of a return path
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 2002-04-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-04-03
Abstract
Abstract In a method of invoking mutual anonymity, electing to become a head of a return path in response to receiving a request for information. The information is received at the head of the return path. The information is then forwarded to a peer that transmitted the request.
Inventors
- 👤 Zhichen Xu
- 👤 Li Xiao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/04; H04L63/0407; H04L63/0421; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/104; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L67/1061; H04L67/1068; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
1 . A method of invoking mutual anonymity, said method comprising: electing to become a head of a return path in response to receiving a request for information; receiving said information at said head of said return path; and forwarding said information to a peer that transmitted said request.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
1 . A method of invoking mutual anonymity, said method comprising: electing to become a head of a return path in response to receiving a request for information; receiving said information at said head of said return path; and forwarding said information to a peer that transmitted said request.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: encrypting said request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: reformatting said request message to include an indication of being said head of said return path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: selecting a next peer from a plurality of peers; and transmitting said reformatted request message to said next peer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: marking said reformatted request message; and transmitting said reformatted request message, wherein said marking prevents retransmission of said reformatted request message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: receiving an incoming message; determining a message type for said incoming message; and comparing said incoming message with previously stored request messages in response to said message type being a retrieval message type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
7 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising: discarding said incoming message in response to said incoming message not matching with any one of said previously stored request messages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
8 . The method according to claim 6 , further comprising: matching said incoming message with one of said previously stored request messages; identifying a returning peer from said one of said previously stored request messages; and forwarding said incoming message to said returning peer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: receiving an incoming message; determining a message type for said incoming message; and searching for said information in response to said message type being a request message type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising: transmitting said information to a requester peer, said requestor peer configured to transmit said request message, in response to said information being located.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
11 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising: storing said request message in response to said information not being located.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
12 . A method of increasing privacy, said method comprising: forwarding a request for information among a plurality of peers; selecting a peer from said plurality of peers as a head of a return path; and forwarding said information to said peer from another peer containing said information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
12 . A method of increasing privacy, said method comprising: forwarding a request for information among a plurality of peers; selecting a peer from said plurality of peers as a head of a return path; and forwarding said information to said peer from another peer containing said information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
13 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising: receiving an incoming message; determining a message type for said message; and comparing said incoming message with previously stored requests in response to said message type being a retrieval message type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
14 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising: discarding said incoming message in response to said incoming message not matching with any of said previously stored requests.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
15 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising: determining an identified peer from one of said previously stored requests in response to said incoming message matching a previously stored request; and forwarding said incoming message to said identified peer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
16 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising: storing said incoming message in response to said incoming message not matching any one of said previously stored requests.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
17 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising: reformatting said request to include an indication of a status of being said head of said return path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
18 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising: marking said reformatted request; and broadcasting said reformatted request to said plurality of peers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
19 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising: selecting a next peer; and transmitting said reformatted request to said next peer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
20 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising: determining a message format of said request; and reformatting said request to indicate a change in status of a requesting peer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
21 . The method according to claim 20 , further comprising: marking said reformatted request; and broadcasting said reformatted request to said plurality of peers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
22 . The method according to claim 20 , further comprising: selecting a next peer; and transmitting said reformatted request to said next peer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
23 . An apparatus for increasing privacy, said apparatus comprising: means for forwarding a request for information among a plurality of peers; means for selecting a peer from said plurality of peers as a head of a return path; and means for forwarding said information to said peer from another peer containing said information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
23 . An apparatus for increasing privacy, said apparatus comprising: means for forwarding a request for information among a plurality of peers; means for selecting a peer from said plurality of peers as a head of a return path; and means for forwarding said information to said peer from another peer containing said information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
24 . The apparatus according to claim 23 , further comprising: means for receiving an incoming message; means for determining a message type for said message; and means for comparing said incoming message with previously stored requests in response to said message type being a retrieval message type.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
25 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , further comprising: means for discarding said incoming message in response to said incoming message not matching with previously stored requests.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
26 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , further comprising: means for determining an identified peer from one of said previously stored requests; and means for forwarding said incoming message to said identified peer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
27 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , further comprising: means for storing said incoming message in response to said incoming message not matching any one of said previously stored requests.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
28 . The apparatus according to claim 23 , further comprising: means for reformatting said request to include an indication of a status of being said head of said return path.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
29 . The apparatus according to claim 28 , further comprising: means for marking said reformatted request; and means for broadcasting said reformatted request to said plurality of peers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
30 . The apparatus according to claim 28 , further comprising: means for selecting a next peer; and means for transmitting said reformatted request to said next peer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
31 . The apparatus according to claim 26 , further comprising: means for determining a message format of said request; and means for reformatting said request to indicate a change in status of a requesting peer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
32 . The apparatus according to claim 31 , further comprising: means for marking said reformatted request; and means for broadcasting said reformatted request to said plurality of peers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
33 . The apparatus according to claim 31 , further comprising: means for selecting a next peer; and means for transmitting said reformatted request to said next peer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
87 words
34 . A system for invoking mutual anonymity, said system comprising: a network; a plurality of peers; and a peer privacy module configured to be stored and executed on each peer of said plurality of peers, wherein said peer privacy module is configured to forward a request for information among a plurality of peers through said network, to select a peer from said plurality of peers as a head of a return path and to forward said information to said peer from another peer containing said information.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
87 words
34 . A system for invoking mutual anonymity, said system comprising: a network; a plurality of peers; and a peer privacy module configured to be stored and executed on each peer of said plurality of peers, wherein said peer privacy module is configured to forward a request for information among a plurality of peers through said network, to select a peer from said plurality of peers as a head of a return path and to forward said information to said peer from another peer containing said information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
76 words
35 . The system according to claim 34 , further comprising: a network interface configured to interface with said network on each peer of said plurality of peers, wherein said peer privacy module is configured to receive an incoming message from said network through said network interface, to determine a message type for said message, and to compare said incoming message with previously stored requests in response to said message type being a retrieval message type.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
36 . The system according to claim 35 , wherein said peer privacy module is configured to discard said incoming message in response to said incoming message not matching with previously stored requests.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
39 words
37 . The system according to claim 35 , wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to determine an identified peer from one of said previously stored requests and to forward said incoming message to said identified peer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
64 words
38 . The system according to claim 35 , further comprising: a memory configured to store and access data and to interface with said peer privacy module on each peer of said plurality of peers, wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to store said incoming message in said memory in response to said incoming message not matching any said previously stored requests.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
39 . The system according to claim 38 , wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to elect to become a head of a return path for said information.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
40 words
40 . The system according to claim 34 , wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to mark said reformatted request and to broadcast said reformatted request through said network interface to said plurality of peers over said network.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
39 words
41 . The system according to claim 40 , wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to select a next peer and to transmit said reformatted request through said network interface to said next peer over said network.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
40 words
42 . The system according to claim 37 , wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to determine a message format of said request and to reformat said request to indicate a change in status of a requesting peer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
40 words
43 . The system according to claim 42 , wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to mark said reformatted request and to broadcast said reformatted request through said network interface to said plurality of peers over said network.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
39 words
44 . The system according to claim 42 , wherein said peer privacy module is further configured to select a next peer and to transmit said reformatted request through said network interface to said next peer over said network.
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