Method and system for obscuring user access patterns using a buffer memory
US7277961B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/0407
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for obscuring user requests for information in a computer network. A user request for information, aimed at another network member, is routed to a first cache memory. If the first cache memory contains the requested information, the cache returns the requested information in response to the user request without releasing the user request to the network member. If the first cache memory does not contain the requested information, a first reference editing function edits user identity information contained in the request, resulting in an edited request with obscured identity information. The edited request is then released to the network member and the requested information is received by the user from the network member. A copy of the requested information is stored in the first cache memory. In this method and system, user privacy is enhanced because user requests for information that can be satisfied by information stored in the cache memory are not revealed to other network members, and user requests that cannot be satisfied by the cache memory are obscured by the reference editing function prior to release to other network members. A software program and syst…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.