Virus immunization using entity-sponsored bypass network

• US 20070271615A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D., Wood, Lowell L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1441 Countermeasures against malicious traffic countermeasures against attacks on cryptographic mechanisms H04L9/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/145 the attack involving the propagation of malware through the network, e.g. viruses, trojans or worms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols

Abstract

An apparatus, device, method, computer program product, and system are described that in some instances may provide access to at least one bypass network, provide distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, and provide an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing access to at least one bypass network;

providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network; and

providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

providing access to the at least one bypass network, based on a service level agreement with a distributing entity of the anti-viral agent to whom the access is provided.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

providing fee-based access to the at least one bypass network.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

providing access to the at least one bypass network, the at least one bypass network including at least two bypass networks having entity-sponsored assurance of transmission therebetween.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, comprises:

providing prioritized routing of the anti-viral agent, relative to communications data of the communications network.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a lower transmission latency of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher transmission speed of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher quality of service of transmission of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher security transmission of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher transmission reliability of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a faster point-to-point delivery time of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

36. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a faster end-to-end delivery time of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

entering an agreement with a distributing entity of the anti-viral agent.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing a guarantee of the transmission characteristic to a distributing entity of the anti-viral agent.

39. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing a consequence of a failure to sufficiently provide the transmission characteristic during the distribution of the anti-viral agent.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

providing an assurance of a result of the distribution of the anti-viral agent.

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41. A computer program product comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing;

(a) one or more instructions for providing access to at least one bypass network;

(b) one or more instructions for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network; and

(c) one or more instructions for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution.

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45. A system comprising:

means for providing access to at least one bypass network;

means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network; and

means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

means for providing access to the at least one bypass network, based on a service level agreement with a distributing entity of the anti-viral agent to whom the access is provided.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

means for obtaining authorization and/or authentication information for the access; and

means for providing the access based on the authorization and/or authentication.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

means for providing fee-based access to the at least one bypass network.

51. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

means for providing access to the at least one bypass network to a virus detection service.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

means for providing access to the at least one bypass network, the at least one bypass network being at least partially logically separate from the communications network.

55. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

means for providing access to the at least one bypass network, the at least one bypass network including a managed network.

56. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing access to at least one bypass network comprises:

means for providing access to the at least one bypass network, the at least one bypass network including at least two bypass networks having entity-sponsored assurance of transmission therebetween.

61. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, comprises:

means for allowing a distributing entity of the anti-viral agent to distribute the anti-viral agent based on response rules of the distributing entity.

63. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, comprises:

means for providing the distribution of the anti-viral agent based on distribution logic of a sponsoring entity providing the entity-sponsored assurance.

65. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, comprises:

means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with the virus, the virus being transmitted on the communications network.

66. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, comprises:

means for providing distribution of the anti-viral agent to a network device of the communications network in advance of an infection of the network device by the virus, using the at least one bypass network.

69. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, comprises:

means for providing distribution of the anti-viral agent onto the communications network using the at least one bypass network, using a network traffic management device that is operable to implement rules governing the distributing of the anti-viral agent onto the communications network.

70. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, comprises:

means for providing prioritized routing of the anti-viral agent, relative to communications data of the communications network.

74. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a lower transmission latency of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

75. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher transmission speed of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

76. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher quality of service of transmission of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

77. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher security transmission of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

78. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a higher transmission reliability of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

79. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a faster point-to-point delivery time of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

80. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing the entity-sponsored assurance of the transmission characteristic, the transmission characteristic including a faster end-to-end delivery time of the anti-viral agent on the at least one bypass network relative to transmission of the virus on the communications network.

81. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for entering an agreement with a distributing entity of the anti-viral agent.

82. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing a guarantee of the transmission characteristic to a distributing entity of the anti-viral agent.

83. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing a consequence of a failure to sufficiently provide the transmission characteristic during the distribution of the anti-viral agent.

84. The system of claim 45, wherein the means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution comprises:

means for providing an assurance of a result of the distribution of the anti-viral agent.

85. The system of claim 45, further comprising:

a computing device including at least one of a server, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cell phone, a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer; and

said computing device operably coupled with at least one of said means for providing access to at least one bypass network, said means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, and/or said means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution.

86. The system of claim 45, further comprising:

a computing device operable to provide the anti-viral agent to the communications network and prevent, reduce, or inhibit propagation of the virus thereon, using the at least one bypass network; and

said computing device operably coupled with at least one of said means for providing access to at least one bypass network, said means for providing distribution of an anti-viral agent onto a communications network associated with a virus, using the at least one bypass network, and/or said means for providing an entity-sponsored assurance of a transmission characteristic of the at least one bypass network with respect to the providing the distribution.

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