Patent ID: 8099420
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method implemented at least in part by hardware in combination with software, the method comprising the steps of: (A) obtaining a plurality of identifiers, each of said identifiers in said plurality of identifiers corresponding to at least one of a plurality of data items, each of said identifiers in said plurality of identifiers being based, at least in part, on a first given function of at least some of the data that comprise the contents of a corresponding one of the plurality of data items, wherein two identical data items of said plurality of data items have identical identifiers; (B) responsive to a request, the request including at least a specific name for a particular sequence of bits, the specific name having been determined, at least in part, using a second given function of the particular sequence of bits, wherein two identical sequences of bits have the same name as determined using the second given function, and wherein the first given function is the same as the second given function that was used to determine the specific name for the particular sequence of bits, hardware in combination with software, ascertaining whether or not the specific name for the particular sequence of bits corresponds to an identifier in said plurality of identifiers; and, (C) based at least in part on said ascertaining in step (B), selectively permitting at least one copy of the particular sequence of bits to be distributed across or accessed by or from a plurality of computers in a network, wherein a copy of the particular sequence of bits is not permitted to be distributed or accessed without authorization, as determined based, at least in part, on whether or not the specific name for the particular sequence of bits corresponds to an identifier in said plurality of identifiers.