Security techniques for cooperative file distribution

Abstract

Security techniques are provided for cooperative file distribution. An encryption key or a nonce (or both) are generated for a package containing one or more files that are to be sent in a cooperative file distribution system. Random access encryption techniques can be employed to encrypt a package containing one or more files to be sent in a cooperative file distribution system. One or more storage proxies are allocated to a package to be transmitted in a cooperative file distribution system, based on load. Access to trackers in the cooperative file distribution system is controlled using security tokens. Content can automatically expire using a defined expiration period when the content is uploaded into the system. Variable announce intervals allow the tracker to control how often the tracker will receive a message, such as an announcement or a heartbeat message, from peers in the system.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates generally to communication methods and systems, and more particularly, to cooperative and secure methods and systems for sharing one or more files among users.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]The providers of popular, large digital files, such as software, music or video files, must keep pace with the ever increasing bandwidth demands for delivering such files. As the popularity of a file increases, a larger number of users are requesting the file and more bandwidth is required to deliver the file. With conventional Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) file delivery techniques, for example, the bandwidth requirements increase linearly with the number of requesting users, and quickly becomes prohibitively expensive.[0003]A number of techniques have been proposed or suggested for reducing the bandwidth demands of file delivery on the server, using peer-to-peer content sharing. In a peer-to-peer content sharing model, often refe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]According to further aspects of the invention, content, such as a package of one or more files, can automatically expire using a defined expiration period when the content is uploaded into the system. In addition, a variable announce interval mechanism is disclosed that allows the tracker to control how often the tracker will receive a message, such as an announcement or a heartbeat message, from peers in the system.

Problems solved by technology

With conventional Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) file delivery techniques, for example, the bandwidth requirements increase linearly with the number of requesting users, and quickly becomes prohibitively expensive.

While the BitTorrent file distribution system provides an effective mechanism for distributing large files in a cost effective manner, it suffers from a number of limitations, which if overcome, could further improve the utility and efficiency of cooperative file distribution.

In particular, if a BitTorrent receiver is offline, then the receiver is unable to obtain files from other users.

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