Distributed network system

Abstract

A method of storing data from a first node on a peer-to-peer network. The method includes creating a public and private key pair from a data item. The method also includes determining a hash value for the public key and assigning the hash value as a user identifier for the user of the node. The method also includes storing the public key within a distributed hash table of the peer-to-peer network. The user identifier corresponds to the key for the public key within the distributed hash table.

1 . A method of storing data from a first node on a peer-to-peer network, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating a public and private key pair from a data item;   determining a hash value for the public key;   assigning the hash value as a user identifier for the user of the node; and   storing the public key within a distributed hash table of the peer-to-peer network, wherein the user identifier corresponds to the key for the public key within the distributed hash table.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data item comprises at least a first portion of information specific to the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a second portion of information specific to the user is never transmitted to the peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of digitally signing the user identifier using the created private key. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of using the signed user identifier to authenticate access to the peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of using a second remote node to:
 receive the user identifier;   retrieve a validation record associated with the user identifier within the distributed hash table of the peer-to-peer network; and   transmit the retrieved validation record to the node.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of using the first node to:
 decrypt the validation record using the private key to obtain decrypted information; and   authenticate access to data on the peer-to-peer network using the decrypted information.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a second portion of information specific to the user is used to decrypt the validation record. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the decrypted information comprises an address on the peer-to-peer network for at least a first portion of the user data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of storing the user's data on a plurality of remote nodes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of splitting the user data into a plurality of data chunks, wherein at least one chunk is stored on a different remote node from another of the at least one the chunks. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of encrypting each chunk before storage on the peer-to-peer network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of obfuscating the user's data before storage on the network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the node comprises a device capable of processing, communicating and storing information. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the node comprises a personal computer.