Distributed indexing of identity information in a peer-to-peer network
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a network; and
a plurality of peer nodes coupled to the network and configured to;
store identity information for authenticating user identifiers in a distributed index, wherein each peer node stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store identity information for a subset of the user identifiers at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of the subset of user identifiers;
receive from a node on the network a request for authentication, wherein the request for authentication comprises a user identifier;
generate a hash of the user identifier;
determine if identity information is stored at a location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier;
wherein to determine if identity information is stored at a location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier, the plurality of peer nodes is further configured to;
determine a zone of the distributed index corresponding to a subset of the user identifiers indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
determine if the identity information is stored at a location in the zone indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
if identity information is stored at the location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier, send a request for additional identity information to the node.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a distributed index mechanism for indexing and searching for identity information in peer-to-peer networks. In one embodiment, a distributed index may be used to store identity information in a decentralized manner on a plurality of peer nodes. The identity information may be used, for example, to authenticate users. Distributed indexes may allow identity information to be spread across multiple peer nodes so that the load is spread among the various peer nodes. In one embodiment, the distributed index may be a distributed hash table. One embodiment of a distributed index of identity information may be implemented in peer-to-peer networks implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform including one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a network; and
a plurality of peer nodes coupled to the network and configured to;store identity information for authenticating user identifiers in a distributed index, wherein each peer node stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store identity information for a subset of the user identifiers at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of the subset of user identifiers;
receive from a node on the network a request for authentication, wherein the request for authentication comprises a user identifier;
generate a hash of the user identifier;
determine if identity information is stored at a location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier;
wherein to determine if identity information is stored at a location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier, the plurality of peer nodes is further configured to;determine a zone of the distributed index corresponding to a subset of the user identifiers indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
determine if the identity information is stored at a location in the zone indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
if identity information is stored at the location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier, send a request for additional identity information to the node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
- a plurality of peer nodes coupled to a network storing identity information for authenticating user identifiers in a distributed index, wherein each of the plurality of peer nodes stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store identity information for a subset of the user identifiers at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of the subset of user identifiers;
receiving from a node on the network a request for authentication, wherein the request for authentication comprises a user identifier;
generating a hash of the user identifier;
determining if identity information is stored at a location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier;
wherein said determining comprises;
determining a zone of the distributed index corresponding to a subset of the user identifiers indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
determining if the identity information is stored at a location in the zone indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
if identity information is stored at the location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier, sending a request for additional identity information to the node. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a plurality of peer nodes coupled to a network storing identity information for authenticating user identifiers in a distributed index, wherein each of the plurality of peer nodes stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store identity information for a subset of the user identifiers at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of the subset of user identifiers;
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17. A computer-accessible storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are configured to implement:
- a plurality of peer nodes storing identity information for authenticating user identifiers in a distributed index, wherein each of the plurality of peer nodes stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store identity information for a subset of the user identifiers at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of the subset of user identifiers;
receiving from a node on the network a request for authentication, wherein the request for authentication comprises a user identifier;
generating a hash of the user identifier;
determining if identity information is stored at a location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier;
wherein said determining comprises;
determining a zone of the distributed index corresponding to a subset of the user identifiers indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
determining if the identity information is stored at a location in the zone indicated by the hash of the user identifier; and
if identity information is stored at the location in the distributed index indicated by the hash of the user identifier, sending a request for additional identity information to the node. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a plurality of peer nodes storing identity information for authenticating user identifiers in a distributed index, wherein each of the plurality of peer nodes stores a zone of the distributed index configured to store identity information for a subset of the user identifiers at locations in the zone indicated by hashes of the subset of user identifiers;
Specification