Patent ID: 9137138
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for a first network to receive a packet from a second network, comprising: a) a router at the first network receiving the packet from the second network; the packet addressed to a client reachable through the first network wherein the packet is transmitted over a route wherein there is an agreed peer-to-peer low-spam overlay between at least one of i) the first network and the second network and ii) adjacent networks between the first network and the second network through which the packet is transmitted; b) the router recognizing if the packet is via the route and inspecting a designated digital signature field of the packet for a digital signature provided by the second network (“source digital signature”); c) if the digital signature is present and is verified by the router, adding a lookup key pointing to the second network in the packet; adding a “recipient” digital signature to the packet, the source digital signature and the recipient digital signature forming a signature pair, and transmitting the packet to the client; and d) otherwise, if the source digital signature is not present and verified by the router, thereby confirming receipt of packet over a low-spam overlay, dropping the packet, and wherein there are a plurality of networks between the second network and the first network, each network being party to at least one peer-to-peer low-spam overlay and wherein each network adds a digital signature pair if steps b) and c), in respect to respective routers at each network, above are satisfactorily completed such that the route taken by the packet can be traced back in linear time; and wherein i) a router at at least one intermediate network (intermediate router) receives the packet from the second network; ii) the intermediate router recognizing if the packet is via the route and inspecting a designated digital signature field of the packet for a digital signature provided by the second network (“source digital signature”); and iii) if the digital signature is present and is verified by the router, adding a lookup key pointing to the second network in the packet; adding an “intermediate” digital signature to the packet, the source digital signature and the intermediate digital signature forming a signature pair, thereby increasing a total number of signature pairs in the packet by one and thereafter transmitting the packet to a subsequent network.