Peer-to-Peer File Sharing with Metadata Authentication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing file sharing solutions in enterprise environments face challenges in ensuring secure access and efficient file distribution while maintaining security and compliance with access restrictions, particularly when files are stored in uncontrolled repositories.
Innovation Solution
A peer-to-peer file sharing mechanism that allows client devices to directly transfer files among themselves, leveraging metadata and authentication protocols to enforce access rights and compliance rules, without relying on a central file repository, while ensuring secure and compliant file transfer sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If files are stored in a central file repository, then file accessibility is improved, but security control and compliance enforcement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the file storage function from the central repository and places it on peer devices. Each device stores files locally, eliminating the single-point security vulnerability of central repositories while maintaining accessibility through peer-to-peer sharing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the centralized file storage system into distributed peer devices. Instead of one central repository, multiple peer devices each hold copies of files, distributing both accessibility and security control across the network.
2Reliability
If peer-to-peer file sharing is implemented, then security and compliance control are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces authentication intermediaries that verify device identities and file access permissions before allowing peer-to-peer transfers. This mediator layer enforces security and compliance rules without requiring complex implementation at each peer device, managing system complexity centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where peer devices report their security posture and compliance status to the network. This allows dynamic adjustment of access permissions and security policies based on real-time device states, simplifying compliance enforcement through automated feedback loops.
3Ease of operation
If files are transferred from a central repository, then access control is simplified, but transfer efficiency and speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments file transfers into multiple parallel peer-to-peer connections instead of single centralized transfers. Files can be divided into chunks and transferred simultaneously through multiple peers, increasing overall transfer efficiency while maintaining access control at each peer level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements file copying across multiple peer devices so that files exist in multiple locations simultaneously. This eliminates the single-point bottleneck of central repositories, allowing any authorized peer to access and transfer files directly, improving transfer speed while distributing access control responsibilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating the distribution of files from a file repository. Files from a file repository can be distributed via peer to peer transmissions where the peer devices can perform authentication functions. The authentication can be performed based upon metadata associated with the files as well as based upon authentication requests submitted to an authentication server.