Network and method for identifying entities sharing a common network location
First Claim
1. A computerized method for identifying entities accessing locations in a communications network, comprising:
- associating a unique identification and a private identification with each entity accessing the network;
maintaining a known list for each entity, each entry in the known list for a particular entity including the unique identification and private identification of other entities known to the particular entity;
maintaining a location list where each entry in the location list includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having shared a common location in the network; and
generating a message only if at least two unique identifications of a particular entry of the location list are identical to at least two unique identifications found in the known list of the particular entity, the message including the associated private identifications of the at least two identical unique identifications.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computerized method identifies entities accessing locations in a communications network. A unique identification is associated with a private identification for each entity accessing the network. A known list is maintained for each entity. Each entry in the known list for a particular entity includes the unique identification and private identification of other entities known to the particular entity. A location list is maintained. Each entry in the location list includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having shared a common location in the network. A message is generated only if at least two unique identifications of a particular entry of the location list are identical to at least two unique identifications found in the known list of the particular entity. The message includes the associated private identifications of the at least two identical unique identifications.
230 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A computerized method for identifying entities accessing locations in a communications network, comprising:
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associating a unique identification and a private identification with each entity accessing the network;
maintaining a known list for each entity, each entry in the known list for a particular entity including the unique identification and private identification of other entities known to the particular entity;
maintaining a location list where each entry in the location list includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having shared a common location in the network; and
generating a message only if at least two unique identifications of a particular entry of the location list are identical to at least two unique identifications found in the known list of the particular entity, the message including the associated private identifications of the at least two identical unique identifications. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
broadcasting the unique identification of each device via a public communications channel;
receiving the unique identification of the other entities having shared the common shared location via the public communications channel.
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7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device use a short-range radio frequency signal to broadcast the unique identification.
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8. The method of claim 4 wherein devices exchange the unique and private identifications using a private point-to-point communications channel.
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9. The method of claim 1 wherein the virtual network locations are identified by Universal Resource Locators.
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10. The method of claim 1 wherein the private identification is a name of the entity.
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11. A communications network for identifying entities accessing locations in the network, comprising:
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means for associating a unique identification and a private identification with each entity accessing the network;
means for maintaining a known list for each entity, each entry in the known list for a particular entity including the unique identification and private identification of other entities known to the particular entity;
means for maintaining a location list where each entry in the location list includes a plurality of unique identifications of other entities having shared a common location in the network; and
means for generating a message only if at least two unique identifications of a particular entry of the location list are identical to at least two unique identifications found in the known list of the particular entity, the message including the associated private identifications of the at least two identical unique identifications. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification