Mcafee, Inc.

Networks Associates Technology, Inc.

Secure Resolutions, Inc.

Daniel Melchione

Victor Kouznetsov

Charles Leslie Vigue

Martin Fallenstedt

Michael Chin-Hwan Pak

Ricky Y Huang

Oyland Wong

Nicholas C W Hogle

Ian Shaughnessy

A system and method for secure and verified sharing of resources in a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate efficient use of bandwidth are disclosed. The method for securely sharing resources over a peer-to-peer network generally comprises broadcasting a request by a requesting peer for a resource over the peer-to-peer network where the resource is identified with a resource version identifier, receiving a response from a responding peer on the peer-to-peer network indicating that the responding peer has the requested resource, retrieving the requested resource from the responding peer, and verifying the retrieved resource by ensuring the retrieved resource contains the version identifier embedded therein. Preferably, the verifying also includes verifying a digital signature, such as a 1024-bit VeriSign digital certificate, of the retrieved resource to ensure integrity of the retrieved resource.

System and method for secure and verified sharing of resources in a peer-to-peer network environment

A system and method for distributed function discovery with third party responses in a peer-to-peer network to facilitate efficient use of bandwidth and resources are disclosed. The method for secure automatic selection of a designated service provider in a peer-to-peer network generally comprises broadcasting a digitally signed election initiating packet containing a value for at least one criteria by a sending node, awaiting response time-out period expiry or receipt of a response election packet, broadcasting a digitally signed election result packet indicating the sending node is the designated service provider if response time-out period expiry occurs prior to receipt of a response election packet, and awaiting for, verifying, and storing election result in an election result broadcast if receipt of a response election packet occurs prior to expiry of response time-out period. The election result broadcast may contain a value for the at least one criteria such that verifying the election result includes verifying that the value for at least one criteria in the response election packet wins over the value for at least one criteria in the initiating election packet. The criteria may be, for example, node name, MAC (media access control) address, Internet access, bandwidth, operating system, and processor speed.

System and method for automatic selection of service provider for efficient use of bandwidth and resources in a peer-to-peer network environment

Software can be administered via an application service provider scenario. An administrator can specify configuration directives to be implemented at nodes in a network. The nodes can be organized into groups. The configuration directives can be organized into policies. The administration functions can be performed via an application service provider scenario. For example, a browser-based user interface can be used to configure nodes and indicate appropriate settings, software, or behavior for the nodes. Agent software at a node can query a data center to discover and implement the configuration directives. More than one organization can be serviced by an application service provider.

Software administration in an application service provider scenario via configuration directives

A system, method and computer program product are provided for efficient on-access computer virus scanning of files. Initially, a process for accessing files is identified. Thereafter, virus detection actions are selected based at least in part on the process. The virus detection actions are then performed on the files.

Process-based selection of virus detection actions system, method and computer program product

A system and method for providing Web browser-based remote network appliance configuration in a distributed computing environment is described. A query message is broadcast from an applet executing within a Web browser to one or more network appliances. The network appliances are interconnected within a bounded network domain defined by a common network address space. A response message containing network settings, including a physical network address, is received by the applet from at least one such network appliance responsive to the query message and processed. A configuration packet is generated and sent using the physical network address for each at least one such network appliance sending a response message and requiring configuration.

System and method for providing web browser-based secure remote network appliance configuration in a distributed computing environment

A system and method for securely confirming performance of a task by a peer in a peer-to-peer network environment using signed receipts are disclosed. The method generally comprises broadcasting a request over the network by a requesting peer for a task with respect to a remote non-local backend server, receiving a response containing a local alias URL pointing to a destination on a responding server node, forwarding the task to the local alias URL for performance by the responding server node, and verifying a digital signature of any receipt packet received from the responding server node to ensure that the receipt packet is from the remote non-local backend server. The method may also include placing the server node in a black list of the requesting peer if the verifying is unsuccessful.

System and method to securely confirm performance of task by a peer in a peer-to-peer network environment

Software can be automatically distributed in stages. An administrator can specify a stage indicating software to be distributed to nodes in a network. The nodes can be organized into groups. Administration functions can be performed via an application service provider scenario. For example, a browser-based user interface can be used to configure nodes and indicate an appropriate software stage for the nodes. Agent software at a node can query a data center to discover what software is appropriate. Software of the proper stage can be provided and installed. The software can be provided via an application service provider scenario, and automatic installation can be achieved even if the nodes are behind a firewall. A versionless arrangement can be implemented.

Software distribution via stages

A system and method for providing a framework for network appliance management in a distributed computing environment is disclosed. A status report periodically received from each of a plurality of network appliances is recorded. Each status report contains health and status information and application-specific data for each network appliance. Configuration settings for each network appliance progressively assembled concurrent to providing installable components are maintained. A catalog listing currently installable components for each network appliance based on the configuration settings is dynamically provided.

System and method for providing a framework for network appliance management in a distributed computing environment

A system and method for verifying that a peer is a trusted peer using signed receipts in a peer-to-peer network environment are disclosed. The method generally comprises broadcasting a request over the network by a requesting peer for a task with respect to a remote non-local backend server, receiving a response to the request from the service-providing server, verifying a digital certificate of the response issued by the remote non-local backend server indicating that the responding service-providing server is trusted for the requested task, and forwarding the task to a local alias URL of the responding peer for performance of the task by the responding server if the verifying is successful. The digital certificate may be a 1024-bit VeriSign digital certificate. The verifying ensures that the local alias URL is approved by the non-local backend server for the requested task.

System and method to verify trusted status of peer in a peer-to-peer network environment

A system and method for distributed function discovery with third party responses in a peer-to-peer network to facilitate efficient use of bandwidth and resources are disclosed. The method for facilitating distributed function discovery in a peer-to-peer network generally comprises receiving a broadcast request for a service function from a peer client at a peer server, locating information regarding a location remote to the peer server having the requested service function using a stored list of service functions locally stored at the peer server, and responding to the peer client with a response containing the location remote to the peer server if information on the requested service function is located.

Growing community of inventors

Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Daniel Melchione