Resource usage anonymization

• US 10,237,364 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Megiddo, Nimrod
• Primary Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fiorillo, James N
• Application Number:
  US15/079,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20170279911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 709203, 709213, 709228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/9005 using dynamic buffer space allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

One embodiment of a method, executed by one or more processors, includes receiving a request from a client for a network resource, selecting a previously-serviced client as a proxy client, forwarding the request to the proxy client, receiving the network resource from the proxy client, and forwarding the network resource to the client. In another embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a client for a network resource, selecting a proxy client from a dynamic pool of proxy clients that are each capable of requesting the network resource, and directing the request from the client to the proxy client. The selected proxy client may be the client whose request immediately preceded the current request. A computer system and computer program product corresponding to the method are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for hiding from the provider the fact that anonymization is being used by enabling users to collectively service each other, executed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a current client for a network resource;

selecting a proxy client, wherein the proxy client is a previous client whose request to use an anonymization service preceded the current request, and the proxy client is randomly selected from a dynamic pool of proxy clients, wherein each client in the dynamic pool of proxy clients is provided an interface in the form of a script to enable the client to request the anonymization service and to operate as a proxy client when requested;

forwarding the request to the proxy client, wherein the request comprises associated information, wherein the associated information comprises a uniform resource locator and cookies;

receiving the network resource from the proxy client;

instructing the proxy client to forward the received network resource to the current client; and

storing an identifier for the current client on a database for indicating a next proxy client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the proxy client is a client whose request immediately preceded the current request.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the client as a subsequent proxy client.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the client as a next proxy client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a URL.

6. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising instructions to perform;

program instructions to receive a request from a current client for a network resource;

program instructions to select a proxy client, wherein the proxy client is a previous client whose request to use an anonymization service preceded the current request, and the proxy client is randomly selected from a dynamic pool of proxy clients, wherein each client in the dynamic pool of proxy clients is provided an interface in the form of a script to enable the client to request the anonymization service and to operate as a proxy client when requested;

program instructions to forwarding the request to the proxy client, wherein the request comprises associated information, wherein the associated information comprises a uniform resource locator and cookies;

program instructions to receive the network resource from the proxy client;

instructing the proxy client to forward the received network resource to the current client; and

program instructions to store an identifier for the current client on a database for indicating a next proxy client.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the proxy client is a client whose request immediately preceded the current request.

8. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the program instructions further comprise instructions for using the client as a subsequent proxy client.

9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the program instructions further comprise instructions for using the client as a next proxy client.

10. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the request comprises a URL.

11. A method;

executed by one or more processors, the method comprising;

receiving a request from a current client for a network resource;

selecting a proxy client, wherein the proxy client is a previous client whose request to use an anonymization service preceded the current request, and the proxy client is randomly selected from a dynamic pool of proxy clients, wherein;

each client in the dynamic pool of proxy clients is provided an interface in the form of a script to enable the client to request the anonymization service and to operate as a proxy client when requested; and

the dynamic pool of proxy clients corresponds to a buffer or queue;

forwarding the request to the proxy client wherein the request comprises associated information, wherein the associated information comprises a uniform resource locator and cookies;

receiving the network resource from the proxy client;

instructing the proxy client to forward the received network resource to the current client; and

storing an identifier for the current client on a database for indicating a next proxy client.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, from the proxy client, results of a proxy request that corresponds to the request from the client.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising forwarding, to the client, the results of the proxy request.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising updating the dynamic pool of proxy clients.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the dynamic pool of proxy clients consists of clients that have recently requested resources.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the proxy client is a client that has recently requested resources.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the proxy client is a client from the dynamic pool of proxy clients, that has most recently made a request.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein a client identifier corresponding to the client is placed into a queue in response to receiving the request from the client or in response to directing the request from the client.