System and method for protecting privacy and anonymity of parties of network communications
US6986036B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/329
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method is provided for handling network communications between a client and a target server on the Internet to protect the privacy and anonymity of the client. For a session between the client and the target server, a routing control server sets up a routing chain using a plurality of Web servers randomly selected from a pool of participating Web servers as routers for routing messages between the client and the target server. To prevent traffic analysis, an “onion encryption” scheme is applied to the messages as they are forwarded along the routing chain. A payment service cooperating with the routing control server allows a user to pay for the privacy protection service without revealing her real identity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.