Apparatus, method and system for effecting information access in a peer environment

• US 20040122741A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Content Directions, Inc. (Linkstorm Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Content Directions, Inc. (Linkstorm Corp.)
• Inventors: Sidman, David
• Application Number:
  US10/470,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122741A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system to catalog, mark, facilitate searches, transfer, and validate information across a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. The present disclosure teaches how to discern and associate content referenced by a DOI with substantively similar copies of said content. Content that does not contain a DOI reference may be marked with its discerned and associated DOI to facilitate P2P transactions. By discerning that copies of said content across a P2P network are related to a publisher'"'"'s DOI referenced content, the availability and/or quality of content in a distributed network is improved. This improvement may be achieved by verifying that content obtained from search queries on a P2P network is the same as a publisher'"'"'s DOI referenced content. This results in content that is discerned and/or more easily discernable; i.e., it is easier to discern that any copies of originating content are of sufficient fidelity to be substantively related as compared to the originating content. The present disclosure further teaches that digital rights management may be enhanced by such discerned content by encouraging the propagation of content with embedded digital rights management materials when so desired by the publisher. As a result, the disclosure enables the distribution and propagation of a more uniform collection of content across a communications network. Furthermore, the disclosure enables standard DOI systems to operate in a P2P environment where multiple peers not controlled by content owners may affect the availability and access of content in either or both the handle system and P2P network.

Claims

1. A method for using a peer to access information, comprising:

determining if there is new information to catalog;

embedding an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

mining source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding UPUNI and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI, wherein the UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database;

resolving a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

verifying the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI, if verification is desired;

adding an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI;

providing data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

175. The apparatus of claim 171, further comprising:

a module to embed an UPUNI corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI.

176. The apparatus of claim 175, wherein the corresponding UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database.

2. A method for using a peer to catalog information, comprising:

mining source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

resolving a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

adding an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the local data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining if there is new information to catalog.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining if the new information contains an embedded unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI).

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

embedding an UPUNI corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the corresponding UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the resolution is a request to a digital rights clearinghouse to enable access of the information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

verifying the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the entry into the local data-structure includes location addresses of peers making the information available.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is of the UPUNI, if the new information is verified the information at a location referenced by the UPUNI.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the entry into the local data-structure occurs only if the new information is verified against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

16. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the aggregating peer catalogs provided information items including a reference to peers that provide the data from their local catalog.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for local peers.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for information items.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of local peers holding requested information items.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of information items available at the local peers.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein there may be multiple aggregating peers aggregating catalog data.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein there may be multiple centralized data-structures for aggregating catalog data.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the centralized data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

25. A method for using a peer to access information, comprising:

obtaining a request for desired information;

querying a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens;

obtaining an UPUNI for the desired information, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information;

searching for peers with the desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

obtaining search results;

identifying candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

requesting desired information from at least one candidate peer;

obtaining the desired information from at least one candidate peer;

verifying the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

26. A method for using a peer to access information, comprising:

searching for peers with an obtained unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) for desired information, which corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

obtaining search results;

identifying candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

requesting desired information from a candidate peer;

obtaining the desired information from the candidate peer.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

obtaining a request for desired information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the request for desired information is made with an UPUNI associated with the desired information.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the request for desired information is made with metadata query tokens regarding the desired information, the metadata query tokens being sent to the MUPUNI and resolved into an UPUNI.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

querying an (UPUNI) and metadata database (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

obtaining an UPUNI for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from a reference.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the reference is a hyperlink.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on an UPUNI resolution system.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on other peers.

38. The method of claim 26, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on peer-to-peer list collector.

39. The method of claim 26, wherein the searched for peers host the desired information.

40. The method of claim 26, wherein the searched for peers reference the desired information.

41. The method of claim 26, wherein the peer request for desired information is made to a plurality of candidate peers.

42. The method of claim 26, wherein the desired results are obtained from a plurality of candidate peers.

43. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

verifying the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

45. A method for using a peer to validate information, comprising:

identifying information to be validated;

obtaining an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the identified information;

requesting validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

obtaining the requested validating credentials;

comparing a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials,

wherein the representative digital verification values may include checksums, comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, and passwords, and

wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.

46. A method for using a peer to validate information, comprising:

obtaining an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for identified information;

requesting validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

obtaining the requested validating credentials;

comparing a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the UPUNI is embedded within the information.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the UPUNI is resolved from an UPUNI and metadata database.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the UPUNI is provided by a user.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the validating credentials request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein validating credentials may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

52. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

computing a representative digital verification value from the identified information.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the representative digital verification value computation may include:

comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, generation of checksums, generation of digital certificates, generation of digital fingerprints, generation of encryption keys, provision of passwords, and selecting portions of the identified information itself.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the selected portions may include the entirety of the identified information itself.

55. The method of claim 46, wherein the representative digital verification values may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

56. The method of claim 46, wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.

57. A memory for access by a program module to be executed on a processor, comprising:

a data structure stored in the memory, the data structure having associated data types, including,

a data type to store a unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI);

a data type to store location addresses of peers with information substantively similar to information referenced by the UPUNI.

58. A system for using a peer to access information, comprising:

means to determine if there is new information to catalog;

means to embed an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

means to mine source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding UPUNI and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI, wherein the UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database;

means to resolve a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

means to verify the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI, if verification is desired;

means to add an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI;

means to provide data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

59. A system for using a peer to catalog information, comprising:

means to mine source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

means to resolve a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

means to add an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the local data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

61. The system of claim 59, further comprising:

means to determine if there is new information to catalog.

62. The system of claim 59, further comprising:

means to determine if the new information contains an embedded unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI).

63. The system of claim 59, further comprising:

means to embed an UPUNI corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the corresponding UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database.

65. The system of claim 59, wherein the resolution is a request to a digital rights clearinghouse to enable access of the information.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

67. The system of claim 59, further comprising:

means to verify the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

69. The system of claim 59, wherein the entry into the local data-structure includes location addresses of peers making the information available.

70. The system of claim 59, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI.

71. The system of claim 59, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is of the UPUNI, if the new information is verified the information at a location referenced by the UPUNI.

72. The system of claim 59, wherein the entry into the local data-structure occurs only if the new information is verified against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

73. The system of claim 59, further comprising:

means to provide data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the aggregating peer catalogs provided information items including a reference to peers that provide the data from their local catalog.

75. The system of claim 73, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for local peers.

76. The system of claim 73, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for information items.

77. The system of claim 73, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of local peers holding requested information items.

78. The system of claim 73, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of information items available at the local peers.

79. The system of claim 73, wherein there may be multiple aggregating peers aggregating catalog data.

80. The system of claim 73, wherein there may be multiple centralized data-structures for aggregating catalog data.

81. The system of claim 73, wherein the centralized data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

82. A system for using a peer to access information, comprising:

means to obtain a request for desired information;

means to query a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens;

means to obtain an UPUNI for the desired information, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information;

means to search for peers with the desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

means to obtain search results;

means to identify candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

means to request desired information from at least one candidate peer;

means to obtain the desired information from at least one candidate peer;

means to verify the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

83. A system for using a peer to access information, comprising:

means to search for peers with an obtained unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) for desired information, which corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

means to obtain search results;

means to identify candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

means to request desired information from a candidate peer;

obtaining the desired information from the candidate peer.

84. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

obtaining a request for desired information.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the request for desired information is made with an UPUNI associated with the desired information.

86. The system of claim 84, wherein the request for desired information is made with metadata query tokens regarding the desired information, the metadata query tokens being sent to the MUPUNI and resolved into an UPUNI.

87. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

means to query an (UPUNI) and metadata database (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens.

89. The system of claim 87, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database.

90. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

means to obtain an UPUNI for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from a reference.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the reference is a hyperlink.

93. The system of claim 83, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on an UPUNI resolution system.

94. The system of claim 83, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on other peers.

95. The system of claim 83, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on peer-to-peer list collector.

96. The system of claim 83, wherein the searched for peers host the desired information.

97. The system of claim 83, wherein the searched for peers reference the desired information.

98. The system of claim 83, wherein the peer request for desired information is made to a plurality of candidate peers.

99. The system of claim 83, wherein the desired results are obtained from a plurality of candidate peers.

100. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

means to verify the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

149. The medium of claim 83, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on an UPUNI resolution system.

102. A system for using a peer to validate information, comprising:

means to identify information to be validated;

means to obtain an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the identified information;

means to request validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

means to obtain the requested validating credentials;

means to compare a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials,

wherein the representative digital verification values may include checksums, comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, and passwords, and

wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.

103. A system for using a peer to validate information, comprising:

means to obtain an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for identified information;

means to request validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

means to obtain the requested validating credentials;

means to compare a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials.

104. The system of claim 103, wherein the UPUNI is embedded within the information.

105. The system of claim 103, wherein the UPUNI is resolved from an UPUNI and metadata database.

106. The system of claim 103, wherein the UPUNI is provided by a user.

107. The system of claim 103, wherein the validating credentials request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

108. The system of claim 103, wherein validating credentials may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

109. The system of claim 103, further comprising:

computing a representative digital verification value from the identified information.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein the representative digital verification value computation may include:

comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, generation of checksums, generation of digital certificates, generation of digital fingerprints, generation of encryption keys, provision of passwords, and selecting portions of the identified information itself.

111. The system of claim 110, wherein the selected portions may include the entirety of the identified information itself.

112. The system of claim 103, wherein the representative digital verification values may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

113. The system of claim 103, wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.

114. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:

a module to determine if there is new information to catalog;

a module to embed an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

a module to mine source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding UPUNI and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI, wherein the UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database;

a module to resolve a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

a module to verify the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI, if verification is desired;

a module to add an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI;

a module to provide data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

115. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:

a module to mine source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

a module to resolve a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

a module to add an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others.

116. The medium of claim 115, wherein the local data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

117. The medium of claim 115, further comprising:

a module to determine if there is new information to catalog.

118. The medium of claim 115, further comprising:

a module to determine if the new information contains an embedded unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI).

119. The medium of claim 115, further comprising:

a module to embed an UPUNI corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI.

120. The medium of claim 119, wherein the corresponding UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database.

121. The medium of claim 115, wherein the resolution is a request to a digital rights clearinghouse to enable access of the information.

122. The medium of claim 121, wherein the request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

123. The medium of claim 115, further comprising:

a module to verify the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

124. The medium of claim 123, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

125. The medium of claim 115, wherein the entry into the local data-structure includes location addresses of peers making the information available.

126. The medium of claim 115, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI.

127. The medium of claim 115, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is of the UPUNI, if the new information is verified the information at a location referenced by the UPUNI.

128. The medium of claim 115, wherein the entry into the local data-structure occurs only if the new information is verified against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

129. The medium of claim 115, further comprising:

a module to provide data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

130. The medium of claim 129, wherein the aggregating peer catalogs provided information items including a reference to peers that provide the data from their local catalog.

131. The medium of claim 129, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for local peers.

132. The medium of claim 129, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for information items.

133. The medium of claim 129, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of local peers holding requested information items.

134. The medium of claim 129, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of information items available at the local peers.

135. The medium of claim 129, wherein there may be multiple aggregating peers aggregating catalog data.

136. The medium of claim 129, wherein there may be multiple centralized data-structures for aggregating catalog data.

137. The medium of claim 129, wherein the centralized data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

138. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:

a module to obtain a request for desired information;

a module to query a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens;

a module to obtain an UPUNI for the desired information, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information;

a module to search for peers with the desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain search results;

a module to identify candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to request desired information from at least one candidate peer;

a module to obtain the desired information from at least one candidate peer;

a module to verify the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

139. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:

a module to search for peers with an obtained unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) for desired information, which corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain search results;

a module to identify candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to request desired information from a candidate peer;

obtaining the desired information from the candidate peer.

140. The medium of claim 139, further comprising:

obtaining a request for desired information.

141. The medium of claim 140, wherein the request for desired information is made with an UPUNI associated with the desired information.

142. The medium of claim 140, wherein the request for desired information is made with metadata query tokens regarding the desired information, the metadata query tokens being sent to the MUPUNI and resolved into an UPUNI.

143. The medium of claim 139, further comprising:

a module to query an (UPUNI) and metadata database (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

144. The medium of claim 143, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens.

145. The medium of claim 143, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database.

146. The medium of claim 139, further comprising:

a module to obtain an UPUNI for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

147. The medium of claim 146, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from a reference.

148. The medium of claim 147, wherein the reference is a hyperlink.

150. The medium of claim 139, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on other peers.

151. The medium of claim 139, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on peer-to-peer list collector.

152. The medium of claim 139, wherein the searched for peers host the desired information.

153. The medium of claim 139, wherein the searched for peers reference the desired information.

154. The medium of claim 139, wherein the peer request for desired information is made to a plurality of candidate peers.

155. The medium of claim 139, wherein the desired results are obtained from a plurality of candidate peers.

156. The medium of claim 139, further comprising:

a module to verify the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

157. The medium of claim 156, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

158. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:

a module to identify information to be validated;

a module to obtain an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the identified information;

a module to request validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain the requested validating credentials;

a module to compare a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials,

wherein the representative digital verification values may include checksums, comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, and passwords, and

wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.

159. A program stored on a medium readable by a processor, the program, comprising:

a module to obtain an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for identified information;

a module to request validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain the requested validating credentials;

a module to compare a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials.

160. The medium of claim 159, wherein the UPUNI is embedded within the information.

161. The medium of claim 159, wherein the UPUNI is resolved from an UPUNI and metadata database.

162. The medium of claim 159, wherein the UPUNI is provided by a user.

163. The medium of claim 159, wherein the validating credentials request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

164. The medium of claim 159, wherein validating credentials may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

165. The medium of claim 159, further comprising:

computing a representative digital verification value from the identified information.

166. The medium of claim 165, wherein the representative digital verification value computation may include:

comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, generation of checksums, generation of digital certificates, generation of digital fingerprints, generation of encryption keys, provision of passwords, and selecting portions of the identified information itself.

167. The medium of claim 166, wherein the selected portions may include the entirety of the identified information itself.

168. The medium of claim 159, wherein the representative digital verification values may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

169. The medium of claim 159, wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.

170. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;

a program, stored in the memory, including,

a module to determine if there is new information to catalog;

a module to embed an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) corresponding to the new information within the new information, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

a module to mine source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding UPUNI and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI, wherein the UPUNI is obtained in response to the metadata query to the MUPUNI database;

a module to resolve a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

a module to verify the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI, if verification is desired;

a module to add an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI;

a module to provide data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

171. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;

a program, stored in the memory, including, a module;

a module to mine source identifying data as metadata from within new information and querying a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) with the mined metadata for an UPUNI corresponding to the mined metadata, if the new information has no embedded UPUNI;

a module to resolve a new information'"'"'s UPUNI to location addresses for accessing originating versions of the information;

a module to add an entry of the new information'"'"'s availability into a local data-structure to catalog information items available on a peer for transmission to others.

172. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein the local data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

173. The apparatus of claim 171, further comprising:

a module to determine if there is new information to catalog.

174. The apparatus of claim 171, further comprising:

a module to determine if the new information contains an embedded unique, persistent; and

universal name identifier (UPUNI).

177. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein the resolution is a request to a digital rights clearinghouse to enable access of the information.

178. The apparatus of claim 177, wherein the request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

179. The apparatus of claim 171, further comprising:

a module to verify the new information against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

180. The apparatus of claim 179, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

181. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein the entry into the local data-structure includes location addresses of peers making the information available.

182. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is keyed by UPUNI.

183. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein the entry into the local data-structure is of the UPUNI, if the new information is verified the information at a location referenced by the UPUNI.

184. The apparatus of claim 171, wherein the entry into the local data-structure occurs only if the new information is verified against information at location addresses resolved by the UPUNI.

185. The apparatus of claim 171, further comprising:

a module to provide data from the local catalog data-structure to a peer to aggregate catalog data into a centralized data-structure.

186. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein the aggregating peer catalogs provided information items including a reference to peers that provide the data from their local catalog.

187. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for local peers.

188. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein the centralized data-structure may be queried for information items.

189. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of local peers holding requested information items.

190. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein the aggregating peer may provide query results of information items available at the local peers.

191. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein there may be multiple aggregating peers aggregating catalog data.

192. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein there may be multiple centralized data-structures for aggregating catalog data.

193. The apparatus of claim 185, wherein the centralized data-structure is in an UPUNI resolution system.

194. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;

a program, stored in the memory, including, a module;

a module to obtain a request for desired information;

a module to query a database holding unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) and metadata (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens;

a module to obtain an UPUNI for the desired information, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information;

a module to search for peers with the desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain search results;

a module to identify candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to request desired information from at least one candidate peer;

a module to obtain the desired information from at least one candidate peer;

a module to verify the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

195. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;

a program, stored in the memory, including, a module;

a module to search for peers with an obtained unique, persistent, and universal name identifiers (UPUNI) for desired information, which corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain search results;

a module to identify candidate peers from which to obtain desired information that corresponds to the obtained UPUNI;

a module to request desired information from a candidate peer;

obtaining the desired information from the candidate peer.

196. The apparatus of claim 195, further comprising:

obtaining a request for desired information.

197. The apparatus of claim 196, wherein the request for desired information is made with an UPUNI associated with the desired information.

198. The apparatus of claim 196, wherein the request for desired information is made with metadata query tokens regarding the desired information, the metadata query tokens being sent to the MUPUNI and resolved into an UPUNI.

199. The apparatus of claim 195, further comprising:

a module to query an (UPUNI) and metadata database (MUPUNI database) for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

200. The apparatus of claim 199, wherein the MUPUNI query is based on metadata query tokens.

201. The apparatus of claim 199, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from query results from the MUPUNI database.

202. The apparatus of claim 195, further comprising:

a module to obtain an UPUNI for desired information, if an associated UPUNI is unknown for the desired information.

203. The apparatus of claim 202, wherein the UPUNI is obtained from a reference.

204. The apparatus of claim 203, wherein the reference is a hyperlink.

205. The apparatus of claim 195, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on an UPUNI resolution system.

206. The apparatus of claim 195, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on other peers.

207. The apparatus of claim 195, wherein the searched for peers is conducted on peer-to-peer list collector.

208. The apparatus of claim 195, wherein the searched for peers host the desired information.

209. The apparatus of claim 195, wherein the searched for peers reference the desired information.

210. The apparatus of claim 195, wherein the peer request for desired information is made to a plurality of candidate peers.

211. The apparatus of claim 195, wherein the desired results are obtained from a plurality of candidate peers.

212. The apparatus of claim 195, further comprising:

a module to verify the obtained information against information at a location address resolved by the obtained UPUNI.

213. The apparatus of claim 212, wherein the verification is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

214. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;

a program, stored in the memory, including, a module;

a module to identify information to be validated;

a module to obtain an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for the identified information;

a module to request validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain the requested validating credentials;

a module to compare a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials,

wherein the representative digital verification values may include checksums, comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, and passwords, and

wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.

215. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, communicatively connected to the processor;

a program, stored in the memory, including, a module;

a module to obtain an unique, persistent, and universal name identifier (UPUNI) for identified information;

a module to request validating credentials for the identified information from an UPUNI resolution system with the obtained UPUNI;

a module to obtain the requested validating credentials;

a module to compare a representative digital verification value against the obtained validating credentials.

216. The apparatus of claim 215, wherein the UPUNI is embedded within the information.

217. The apparatus of claim 215, wherein the UPUNI is resolved from an UPUNI and metadata database.

218. The apparatus of claim 215, wherein the UPUNI is provided by a user.

219. The apparatus of claim 215, wherein the validating credentials request is achieved by way of an enhanced DOI grammar request.

220. The apparatus of claim 215, wherein validating credentials may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

221. The apparatus of claim 215, further comprising:

computing a representative digital verification value from the identified information.

222. The apparatus of claim 221, wherein the representative digital verification value computation may include:

comparisons of information, comparisons of information tags, generation of checksums, generation of digital certificates, generation of digital fingerprints, generation of encryption keys, provision of passwords, and selecting portions of the identified information itself.

223. The apparatus of claim 222, wherein the selected portions may include the entirety of the identified information itself.

224. The apparatus of claim 215, wherein the representative digital verification values may include:

checksums, digital certificates, digital fingerprints, encryption keys, the identified information itself, passwords, values resulting from comparisons of information, and values resulting from comparisons of information tags.

225. The apparatus of claim 215, wherein the identified information is validated if the comparison against obtained validating credentials results in matching values.