US7047406B2 — Method and system for providing a secure peer-to-…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 241 words

A method for electronically delivering files over a public network of computers comprising at least one server node and multiple client nodes, the method comprising: (a) enabling secure and reliable peer-to-peer file sharing between two client nodes by generating account information for a user, including a digital certificate, in response to a registration process, wherein the digital certificate includes a private key and a public key, (i) in response to a file being selected for publication on a first client node by the user, generating and associating a digital fingerprint with the file, generating a bitstream ID for the file and including the bitstream ID in the fingerprint, and using the user's private key to generate a digital signature from the file and including the digital signature in the fingerprint; (ii) adding an entry for the file to a searchable index of shared files on the server node and storing the fingerprint on the server; (iii) in response to a second client node selecting the file from the search list on the server node, automatically transferring the file from the first client node directly to the second client node; and (iv) authenticating the file by the second client node by generating a new bitstream ID, comparing the new bitstream ID to the bitstream ID in the fingerprint stored on the server, and using the user's public key to decrypt the digital signature to determine the authenticity of the file and publisher.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 241 words

A method for electronically delivering files over a public network of computers comprising at least one server node and multiple client nodes, the method comprising: (a) enabling secure and reliable peer-to-peer file sharing between two client nodes by generating account information for a user, including a digital certificate, in response to a registration process, wherein the digital certificate includes a private key and a public key, (i) in response to a file being selected for publication on a first client node by the user, generating and associating a digital fingerprint with the file, generating a bitstream ID for the file and including the bitstream ID in the fingerprint, and using the user's private key to generate a digital signature from the file and including the digital signature in the fingerprint; (ii) adding an entry for the file to a searchable index of shared files on the server node and storing the fingerprint on the server; (iii) in response to a second client node selecting the file from the search list on the server node, automatically transferring the file from the first client node directly to the second client node; and (iv) authenticating the file by the second client node by generating a new bitstream ID, comparing the new bitstream ID to the bitstream ID in the fingerprint stored on the server, and using the user's public key to decrypt the digital signature to determine the authenticity of the file and publisher.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 1 further including the step of: (b) enabling subscription-based decentralized file downloads to the client nodes by (i) allowing the client nodes to subscribe with the server node to periodically receive copies of one of the files, (ii) when providing a current subscribing client node with the file, locating the closest client node containing the file, and (iii) transferring the file from the closest node directly to the current subscribing node, thereby efficiently utilizing bandwidth.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (a)(ii) further includes the step of providing the server node with a database for storing the user's account information and the fingerprint for the file.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (a)(iii) further includes the step of transferring the file from the first client node directly to the second client node if both the first and second client nodes are logged-in to the network and no firewall separates the first and second client nodes.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 4 wherein step (a)(iii) further includes the step of: if the second client node is not logged into the network, then temporarily storing the file on the server node, and delivering the file by the server node when second client node logs-in to the network.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 5 wherein step (a)(iii) further includes the step of: if a firewall separates the first client node from the second client node, then using the server node to act as a proxy for the second client node and sending the file through the server node.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 6 further including step (c) for allowing a user of the first client node to search for files on the network, and presorting results based on files found that are stored on client nodes located closest to the first client node.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 7 wherein step (b)(iii) further includes the step of transferring the file during off-peak hours to take advantage of idle bandwidth of the subscribing node and thereby evening out bandwidth distribution of the network.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (a)(i) further includes the step of allowing a user of the first client node to privately publish the file or publicly publish the file.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (a)(ii) further includes transferring a copy of the file from the first node to the server node so that should the first node be off-line when another node request the file, the file may then be served by the server node.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1 wherein step (a)(iii) of transferring the file to the second client node further includes the step of transferring different portions of the file from different nodes and then reassembling the file upon receipt.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 263 words

A peer-to-peer file delivery network, comprising: at least one server node multiple client nodes coupled to the server node over the network, each of the client nodes running a client application, wherein the client application works and operates in conjunction with the server node to enable secure and reliable peer-to-peer file sharing between two client nodes by, generating account information for a user of each client node, including a digital certificate, in response to a registration process, wherein the digital certificate includes a private key and a public key, in response to a file being selected for publication on a first client node by a first user, generating and associating a digital fingerprint with the file, generating a bitstream ID for the file and including the bitstream ID in the fingerprint, and using the user's private key to generate a digital signature from the file and including the digital signature in the fingerprint, adding an entry for the file to a search list of shared files on the server node and storing the fingerprint on the server, in response to a second client node selecting the file from the search list on the server node, automatically transferring the file from the first client node directly to the second client node, and authenticating the file by the second client node by generating a new bitstream ID, comparing the new bitstream ID to the bitstream ID in the fingerprint stored on the server, and using the user's public key to decrypt the digital signature to determine the authenticity and reliability of the file and publisher.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 263 words

A peer-to-peer file delivery network, comprising: at least one server node multiple client nodes coupled to the server node over the network, each of the client nodes running a client application, wherein the client application works and operates in conjunction with the server node to enable secure and reliable peer-to-peer file sharing between two client nodes by, generating account information for a user of each client node, including a digital certificate, in response to a registration process, wherein the digital certificate includes a private key and a public key, in response to a file being selected for publication on a first client node by a first user, generating and associating a digital fingerprint with the file, generating a bitstream ID for the file and including the bitstream ID in the fingerprint, and using the user's private key to generate a digital signature from the file and including the digital signature in the fingerprint, adding an entry for the file to a search list of shared files on the server node and storing the fingerprint on the server, in response to a second client node selecting the file from the search list on the server node, automatically transferring the file from the first client node directly to the second client node, and authenticating the file by the second client node by generating a new bitstream ID, comparing the new bitstream ID to the bitstream ID in the fingerprint stored on the server, and using the user's public key to decrypt the digital signature to determine the authenticity and reliability of the file and publisher.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 82 words

The network of claim 12 wherein the client application operates in conjunction with the server node to enable subscription-based decentralized file downloads to the client nodes by allowing the client nodes to subscribe with the server node to periodically receive copies of one of the files, when providing a current subscribing client node with the file, locating the closest client node containing the file, and transferring the file from the closest node directly to the current subscribing node, thereby efficiently utilizing bandwidth.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The network of claim 12 wherein the server node includes a database for storing the user's account information and the fingerprint for the file.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 44 words

The network of claim 12 wherein the file is transferred from the first client node directly to the second client node if both the first and second client nodes are logged-in to the network and no firewall separates the first and second client nodes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 42 words

The network of claim 15 wherein if the second client node is not logged into the network, the file is temporarily stored on the server node and delivered the file by the server node when second client node logs-in to the network.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The network of claim 16 wherein if a firewall separates the first client node from the second client node, then the server node acts as a proxy for the second client node and sending the file through the server node.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 42 words

The network of claim 17 wherein a user of the first client node may search for files on the network, and the results are presorted based on files found that are stored on client nodes located closest to the first client node.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

The network of claim 18 wherein the file is transferred during off-peak hours to take advantage of idle bandwidth of the subscribing node and thereby evening out bandwidth distribution of the network.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The network of claim 12 wherein a user of the first client node may privately publish the file or publicly publish the file.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 45 words

The network of claim 12 wherein a copy of the file is transferred from the first node to the server node so that should the first node be off-line when another node requests the file, the file may then be served by the server node.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The network of claim 12 wherein different portions of the file are transferred the second client from different client nodes and then reassembled the file upon receipt.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-05-15	2009-11-14	2010-05-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-05-15	2013-11-14	2014-05-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-05-15	2017-11-14	2018-05-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for providing a secure peer-to-peer file delivery network

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