Patent ID: 7996539

Claim:
A method of anonymously communicating data between a first node and a second node coupled via a network, comprising the steps of: at the first node, (a) using a first algorithm to select from among a first plurality of different network addresses each of which is mapped in the network to the first node, and using each selected network address in a header of a packet that is transmitted from the first node over the network to the second node; (b) evaluating the headers of received packets received at the first node to determine whether each header contains a network address that conforms to a second algorithm used by the second node to select from among a second plurality of different network addresses each of which is mapped in the network to the second node, (c) upon determining that the header of a received packet received at the first node contains a network address that conforms to the second algorithm, accepting the received packet for processing; and upon determining that the header does not contain a network address that conforms to the second algorithm, rejecting the received packet for further processing; and (d) wherein each selected network address is selected by hopping among the first plurality and second plurality of different network addresses so that the network addresses selected in each header of received packet appears random; and wherein the first and second algorithms select each network address on a quasi-random basis.