System and method for concurrent sessions in a peer-to-peer hybrid communications network

• US 20060218624A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Damaka, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Damaka, Inc.
• Inventors: Gundabathula, Satish, Ravikumar, Sivakumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,050,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks

Abstract

An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method provides for concurrent sessions to be maintained by multiple endpoints.

Claims

1. A method for execution in a peer-to-peer hybrid network comprising:

logging a first endpoint into the network, wherein the login associates the first endpoint with unique user identification information required for authentication with the network;

determining that the unique user identification information is concurrently associated with a second endpoint currently logged into the network; and

sending a message directly from the first endpoint to the second endpoint to notify the second endpoint that the first endpoint is logged into the network using the unique user identification information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising designating one of the first and second endpoints as a slave endpoint and designating the other of the first and second endpoints as a master endpoint.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising identifying the first or second endpoint designated as the master endpoint as the endpoint associated with the unique user identification information that is visible to a third endpoint on the network, wherein the third endpoint is not associated with the unique user information of the first and second endpoints.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising sending a message directly from the first or second endpoint designated as the master endpoint to the third endpoint to notify the third endpoint that the first or second endpoint designated as the master endpoint is logged into the network, wherein the third endpoint is not notified that the first or second endpoint designated as the slave endpoint is logged into the network.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising sending a login notification from a fourth endpoint directly to the first or second endpoint designated as the master endpoint when the fourth endpoint logs into the network after the first and second endpoints, wherein the fourth endpoint is not associated with the unique user information of the first and second endpoints, and wherein the login notification is not sent to the first or second endpoint designated as the slave endpoint.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising sending a login notification from the fourth endpoint directly to the third endpoint.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising sending a login notification from a fifth endpoint directly to the first and second endpoints when the fifth endpoint logs into the network using the unique user information of the first and second endpoints, wherein the login notification is not sent to the third endpoint.

8. A method for applying a policy to a message in a hybrid peer-to-peer network comprising:

receiving a message by a first endpoint, wherein the first endpoint is associated with unique user identification information required for authentication with the network;

determining whether the message is received from a second endpoint that is authenticated with the network using the unique user identification information of the first endpoint or from a third endpoint that is authenticated with the network using unique user identification information different from the unique user identification information of the first endpoint; and

applying a policy based on whether the message is from the second endpoint or the third endpoint.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein applying the policy includes forwarding the message to all endpoints that are authenticated with the network using the unique user identification information of the first endpoint.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising determining whether the policy requires forwarding of the message.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining whether a forwarding destination is provided in the policy if forwarding is required.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising forwarding the message to the provided destination if forwarding is required.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising identifying an active endpoint if a forwarding destination is not provided.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein identifying an active endpoint includes sending the message to the second endpoint, wherein the second endpoint displays the most recent activity of all endpoints that are authenticated with the network using the unique user identification information of the first endpoint.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the message is from the second endpoint and includes a request for file access to an endpoint that is authenticated with the network using the unique user identification information of the first endpoint.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing the second endpoint with the file access.

17. A method for routing a message in a peer-to-peer hybrid network comprising:

retrieving a profile and a routing table from an access server by a first endpoint during an authentication process, wherein the profile identifies a second endpoint as an endpoint with which the first endpoint has permission to communicate, and the routing table contains address information needed for the first endpoint to communicate directly with the second endpoint;

receiving, by the second endpoint, a message sent directly from the first endpoint;

identifying, by the second endpoint, information associated with the message to be used in routing the message, wherein the information does not identify a specific destination; and

sending the message from the second endpoint directly to at least a third endpoint based on the application of a policy to the identified information.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

assigning the third endpoint to a group of endpoints based on a skill of a user associated with the third endpoint; and

selecting the third endpoint when application of the policy to the identified information identifies the skill as needed by a user of the first endpoint.

19. A peer-to-peer hybrid system comprising:

a master endpoint and a slave endpoint concurrently logged into a network using a first set of login information;

an outside endpoint logged into the network using a second set of login information;

a first profile associated with the master and slave endpoints, wherein the first profile designates the master endpoint as being able to communicate directly with other endpoints not part of the concurrent login using the first set of login information, and designates the slave endpoint as being able to communicate directly only with the master endpoint and other endpoints part of the concurrent login using the first set of login information; and

a second profile associated with the outside endpoint, wherein the second profile designates the outside endpoint as being able to communicate directly only with the master endpoint and other endpoints not part of the concurrent login using the first set of login information, wherein the slave endpoint is not available for direct communication with the outside endpoint.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a routing table associated with the master, slave, and outside endpoints, wherein the routing table for the master endpoint contains address information needed for the master endpoint to communicate directly with the slave and outside endpoints, and wherein the routing table for the slave and outside endpoints contains address information needed for each of the slave and outside endpoints to communicate directly with the master endpoint but not with each other.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein each of the master and slave endpoints is associated with a tag different from the other endpoint, wherein the tags enable the master and slave endpoints to be differentiated on the network.