Distributed identities

• US 20030182421A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Beatty, John D., Waterhouse, Steve, Faybishenko, Yaroslav
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1042 using topology management mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1044 Group management mechanisms management of multicast group membership H04L12/185; reconfiguring of node membership in a computing system to eliminate errors G06F11/1425
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1068 Discovery involving direct consultation or announcement among potential requesting and potential source peers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/108 characterised by resources being split in blocks or fragments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

In a system and method for the distribution of identities and reputation on a network, identity and reputation information may be distributed among nodes on a network (e.g nodes on a peer-to-peer network). Embodiments may allow nodes on the network to evaluate other nodes'"'"' reputation using the distributed reputation information. Embodiments may allow nodes to iteratively increase confidence in a determined reputation of a node by determining the reputation of nodes that provide reputation information corresponding to the node. Embodiments may allow nodes to adjust a reputation of other nodes using results of transactions and prior reputations. Determined or adjusted reputation information and/or transaction information may be distributed among the nodes on the network. In one embodiment, transaction information may be divided into segments and the segments may be distributed among the nodes on the network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of nodes operable to couple to a network;

wherein the plurality of nodes are each configured to store reputation information for one or more of the other nodes, wherein the reputation information corresponding to a particular node is configured for use by others of the plurality of nodes to determine a reputation of the particular node during a transaction with the particular node;

wherein one of the plurality of nodes is configured to;

request reputation information for another one of the plurality of nodes on the network;

receive one or more responses to said request for reputation information for the other node from one or more of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the other node each includes reputation information corresponding to the other node; and

determine a reputation of the other node from the received reputation information.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the node is further configured to:

perform a transaction with the other node if the reputation meets or exceeds a reputation threshold for the transaction; and

not perform the transaction with the other node if the reputation does not meet or exceed the reputation threshold for the transaction.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the node is further configured to modify the reputation of the other node after said transaction in accordance with a result of the transaction and a reputation of the other node prior to the transaction.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the node is further configured to distribute information corresponding to the transaction including the reputation of the other node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

5. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the node is further configured to:

divide information corresponding to the transaction into two or more segments; and

distribute the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction to two or more of the plurality of nodes.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein a different one of the plurality of nodes is configured to:

obtain the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction from the two or more nodes; and

reconstruct the information corresponding to the transaction from the obtained two or more segments.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the other node is configured to:

request reputation information for the node on the network;

receive one or more responses to said request for reputation information for the node from one or more of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the node each includes reputation information corresponding to the node; and

determine a reputation of the node from the received reputation information.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein, to determine the reputation of the other node from the received reputation information, the node is further configured to adjust the reputation of the other node using reputation information corresponding to the one or more nodes which provided responses to said request for reputation information for the other node.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein, to determine the reputation of the other node from the received reputation information, the node is further configured to:

request reputation information for each of the one or more nodes which provided responses to said request for reputation information for the other node;

receive one or more responses to said request for reputation information for each of the one or more nodes from one or more others of the plurality of nodes, wherein each of the one or more responses to said request for reputation information corresponds to a particular one of the one or more nodes and includes reputation information corresponding to the particular node; and

adjust the reputation of the other node from the received reputation information corresponding to the one or more nodes which provided responses to said request for reputation information for the other node.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the node is further configured to distribute the reputation of the other node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the nodes are peer nodes participating in a peer-to-peer environment on the network.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes is configured to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, perform the transactions, and share content in the peer-to-peer environment.

13. A system comprising:

a plurality of nodes operable to couple to a network;

wherein at least a subset of the plurality of nodes are each configured to store reputation information for one or more of the other nodes, wherein the reputation information corresponding to a particular node is configured for use by others of the plurality of nodes to determine a reputation of the particular node during a transaction with the particular node;

wherein each of the plurality of nodes is configured to;

determine a reputation for another of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the other node stored on at least one of the at least a subset of the nodes; and

distribute the determined reputation to one or more of the at least a subset of the nodes.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein, to determine a reputation for another of the plurality of nodes, the node is further configured to:

request the reputation information for the other node on the network; and

receive one or more responses to said request for reputation information for the other node from the at least one of the at least a subset of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the other node each includes particular reputation information corresponding to the other node.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the node is further configured to:

perform a transaction with the other node if the reputation meets or exceeds a reputation threshold for the transaction; and

not perform the transaction with the other node if the reputation does not meet or exceed the reputation threshold for the transaction.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the node is further configured to modify the reputation of the other node after said transaction in accordance with a result of the transaction and a reputation of the other node prior to the transaction.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the node is further configured to distribute information corresponding to the transaction including the reputation of the other node among the at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the node is further configured to:

divide information corresponding to the transaction into two or more segments; and

distribute the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction to two or more of the plurality of nodes.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein a different one of the plurality of nodes is configured to:

obtain the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction from the two or more nodes; and

reconstruct the information corresponding to the transaction from the obtained two or more segments.

20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the other node is configured to:

determine a reputation for the node from reputation information corresponding to the node stored on another at least one of the at least a subset of nodes; and

distribute the determined reputation for the node among the at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

21. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein, to determine a reputation for another of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the other node stored on at least one of the at least a subset of nodes, the node is further configured to adjust the reputation of the other node using reputation information corresponding to the at least one of the at least a subset of nodes.

22. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the nodes are peer nodes participating in a peer-to-peer environment on the network.

23. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the plurality of nodes is configured to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, perform the transactions, and share content in the peer-to-peer environment.

24. A peer node comprising:

one or more network interfaces for coupling to a network;

a memory comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable within the peer node to;

request reputation information for another peer node on the network;

receive one or more responses to said request for reputation information for the other peer node from at least one other peer node on the network, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the other peer node each includes reputation information corresponding to the other peer node;

determine a reputation of the other peer node from the received reputation information; and

distribute the determined reputation of the other peer node to one or more other peer nodes on the network.

25. The peer node as recited in claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable within the peer node to:

perform a transaction with the other peer node if the reputation meets or exceeds a reputation threshold for the transaction; and

not perform the transaction with the other peer node if the reputation does not meet or exceed the reputation threshold for the transaction.

26. The peer node as recited in claim 25, wherein the program instructions are further executable within the peer node to:

modify the reputation of the other peer node after said transaction in accordance with a result of the transaction and a reputation of the other peer node prior to the transaction; and

distribute information corresponding to the transaction including the reputation of the other node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

27. The peer node as recited in claim 25, wherein the program instructions are further executable within the peer node to:

divide information corresponding to the transaction into two or more segments; and

distribute the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction to two or more other peer nodes.

28. The peer node as recited in claim 24, wherein, to determine the reputation of the other node from the received reputation information, the program instructions are further executable within the peer node to adjust the reputation of the other peer node using reputation information corresponding to the at least one other peer node which provided responses to said request for reputation information for the other peer node.

29. The peer node as recited in claim 24, wherein the program instructions are further executable within the peer node to participate with other peer nodes in a peer-to-peer environment on the network according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, perform the transactions, and share content in the peer-to-peer environment.

30. A method comprising:

distributing reputation information for two or more nodes on a network among a plurality of nodes on the network;

requesting reputation information for a node on the network;

receiving one or more responses to said requesting reputation information for the node from at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the node each includes reputation information corresponding to the node; and

determining a reputation of the node from the received reputation information.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

performing a transaction with the node if the reputation meets or exceeds a reputation threshold for the transaction; and

not performing the transaction with the node if the reputation does not meet or exceed the reputation threshold for the transaction.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, further comprising modifying the reputation of the node after said transaction in accordance with a result of the transaction and a reputation of the node prior to the transaction.

33. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein the node is further configured to distribute information corresponding to the transaction including the reputation of the other node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

34. The method as recited in claim 31, further comprising:

dividing information corresponding to the transaction into two or more segments; and

distributing the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction among the plurality of nodes.

35. The method as recited in claim 34, further comprising:

obtaining the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction from the plurality of nodes; and

reconstructing the information corresponding to the transaction from the obtained two or more segments.

36. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein, in said determining the reputation of the node from the received reputation information, the method further comprises adjusting the reputation of the node from reputation information corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of nodes which provided responses to said requesting reputation information for the node.

37. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein, to in said determining the reputation of the node from the received reputation information, the method further comprises:

requesting reputation information for each of the at least one of the plurality of nodes which provided responses to said requesting reputation information for the node;

receiving one or more responses to said requesting reputation information for each of the at least one of the plurality of nodes from one or more others of the plurality of nodes, wherein each of the one or more responses to said request for reputation information corresponds to a particular node and includes reputation information corresponding to the particular node; and

adjusting the reputation of the other node using the received reputation information corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of nodes which provided responses to said request for reputation information for the node.

38. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising distributing the reputation of the node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

39. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the nodes are peer nodes participating in a peer-to-peer environment on the network.

40. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the plurality of nodes is configured to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, perform the transactions, and share content in the peer-to-peer environment.

41. A method comprising:

distributing reputation information for each of a plurality of nodes on a network among the plurality of nodes on the network, wherein the reputation information is configured for use by the nodes in determining a reputation of particular ones of the plurality of nodes during transactions between two of the plurality of nodes;

determining a reputation for a node of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the node stored on one or more of the at least two of the plurality of nodes; and

distributing the determined reputation among the plurality of nodes.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein, in said determining a reputation for a node of the plurality of nodes, the method further comprises:

requesting the reputation information for the node on the network; and

receiving one or more responses to said request for reputation information for the node from at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the node each includes reputation information corresponding to the node.

43. The method as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

performing a transaction with the node if the reputation meets or exceeds a reputation threshold for the transaction; and

not performing the transaction with the node if the reputation does not meet or exceed the reputation threshold for the transaction.

44. The method as recited in claim 43, further comprising modifying the reputation of the node after said transaction in accordance with a result of the transaction and a reputation of the node prior to the transaction.

45. The method as recited in claim 43, further comprising distributing information corresponding to the transaction including the reputation of the node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

46. The method as recited in claim 43, further comprising:

dividing information corresponding to the transaction into two or more segments; and

distributing the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction among two or more of the plurality of nodes.

47. The method as recited in claim 46, further comprising:

obtaining the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction from the two or more nodes; and

reconstructing the information corresponding to the transaction from the obtained two or more segments.

48. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein, in said determining for a node of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the node stored on one or more of the at least two of the plurality of nodes, the method further comprises adjusting the reputation of the node from reputation information corresponding to the at least two of the plurality of nodes.

49. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein the nodes are peer nodes participating in a peer-to-peer environment on the network.

50. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein the plurality of nodes is configured to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, perform the transactions, and share content in the peer-to-peer environment.

51. An article of manufacture comprising software instructions executable to implement:

distributing reputation information for two or more nodes on a network among a plurality of nodes on the network;

requesting reputation information for a node on the network;

receiving one or more responses to said requesting reputation information for the node from at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the node each includes reputation information corresponding to the node; and

determining a reputation of the node from the received reputation information.

52. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 51, further comprising:

performing a transaction with the node if the reputation meets or exceeds a reputation threshold for the transaction; and

not performing the transaction with the node if the reputation does not meet or exceed the reputation threshold for the transaction.

53. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 52, further comprising modifying the reputation of the node after said transaction in accordance with a result of the transaction and a reputation of the node prior to the transaction.

54. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 52, wherein the node is further configured to distribute information corresponding to the transaction including the reputation of the other node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

55. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 52, further comprising:

dividing information corresponding to the transaction into two or more segments; and

distributing the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction among the plurality of nodes.

56. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 55, further comprising:

obtaining the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction from the plurality of nodes; and

reconstructing the information corresponding to the transaction from the obtained two or more segments.

57. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 51, wherein, in said determining the reputation of the node from the received reputation information, the method further comprises adjusting the reputation of the node from reputation information corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of nodes which provided responses to said requesting reputation information for the node.

58. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 51, wherein, to in said determining the reputation of the node from the received reputation information, the method further comprises:

requesting reputation information for each of the at least one of the plurality of nodes which provided responses to said requesting reputation information for the node;

receiving one or more responses to said requesting reputation information for each of the at least one of the plurality of nodes from one or more others of the plurality of nodes, wherein each of the one or more responses to said request for reputation information corresponds to a particular node and includes reputation information corresponding to the particular node; and

adjusting the reputation of the other node using the received reputation information corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of nodes which provided responses to said request for reputation information for the node.

59. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 51, further comprising distributing the reputation of the node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

60. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 51, wherein the nodes are peer nodes participating in a peer-to-peer environment on the network.

61. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 51, wherein the plurality of nodes is configured to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, perform the transactions, and share content in the peer-to-peer environment.

62. An article of manufacture comprising software instructions executable to implement:

distributing reputation information for each of a plurality of nodes on a network among the plurality of nodes on the network, wherein the reputation information is configured for use by the nodes in determining a reputation of particular ones of the plurality of nodes during transactions between two of the plurality of nodes;

determining a reputation for a node of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the node stored on one or more of the at least two of the plurality of nodes; and

distributing the determined reputation among the plurality of nodes.

63. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 62, wherein, in said determining a reputation for a node of the plurality of nodes, the software instructions are further executable to implement:

requesting the reputation information for the node on the network; and

receiving one or more responses to said request for reputation information for the node from at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the node each includes reputation information corresponding to the node.

64. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 62, wherein the software instructions are further executable to implement:

performing a transaction with the node if the reputation meets or exceeds a reputation threshold for the transaction; and

not performing the transaction with the node if the reputation does not meet or exceed the reputation threshold for the transaction.

65. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 64, wherein the software instructions are further executable to implement modifying the reputation of the node after said transaction in accordance with a result of the transaction and a reputation of the node prior to the transaction.

66. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 64, wherein the software instructions are further executable to implement distributing information corresponding to the transaction including the reputation of the node to at least a subset of the plurality of nodes.

67. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 64, wherein the software instructions are further executable to implement:

dividing information corresponding to the transaction into two or more segments; and

distributing the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction among two or more of the plurality of nodes.

68. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 67, wherein the software instructions are further executable to implement:

obtaining the two or more segments of the information corresponding to the transaction from the two or more nodes; and

reconstructing the information corresponding to the transaction from the obtained two or more segments.

69. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 62, wherein, in said determining for a node of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the node stored on one or more of the at least two of the plurality of nodes, the software instructions are further executable to implement adjusting the reputation of the node from reputation information corresponding to the at least two of the plurality of nodes.

70. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 62, wherein the nodes are peer nodes participating in a peer-to-peer environment on the network.

71. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 62, wherein the plurality of nodes is configured to implement a peer-to-peer environment on the network according to a peer-to-peer platform comprising one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling the plurality of nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, perform the transactions, and share content in the peer-to-peer environment.