Secure node identifier assignment in a distributed hash table for peer-to-peer networks

A network device comprising:

• a contribution generator for generating a first contribution;
• a join request module for sending a join request to an introducer node, where the join request seeks to obtain one or more contributions for generating the node identifier within an identifier space of an overlay network;
• an contribution collection module for receiving a plurality of contributions from the introducer node, wherein the contributions are bound to each other and the first contribution by a prior external multi-node commitment operation;
• and
• a node identifier generator for generating a node identifier as a function of the first contribution and the received contributions.

A network device comprising:

• means for generating a first contribution;
• means for sending a join request to an introducer node, where the join request seeks to obtain one or more contributions for generating the node identifier within an identifier space of an overlay network;
• means for receiving a plurality of contributions from the introducer node, wherein the contributions are bound to each other and the first contribution by a prior external multi-node commitment operation;
• and
• means for generating a node identifier as a function of the first contribution and the received contributions.

A processor including a processing circuit adapted to:

• generate a first contribution;
• send a join request to an introducer node, where the join request seeks to obtain one or more contributions for generating the node identifier within an identifier space of an overlay network;
• receive a plurality of contributions from the introducer node, wherein the contributions are bound to each other and the first contribution by a prior external multi-node commitment operation;
• and
• generate a node identifier as a function of the first contribution and the received contributions.

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions operational in a node for generating a node identifier within an overlay network, which when executed by one or more processors causes the processors to:

• generate a first contribution;
• send a join request to an introducer node, where the join request seeks to obtain one or more contributions for generating the node identifier within an identifier space of an overlay network;
• receive a plurality of contributions from the introducer node, wherein the contributions are bound to each other and the first contribution by a prior external multi-node commitment operation;
• and
• generate a node identifier as a function of the first contribution and the received contributions.

A method operational on an introducer node for assisting a joining node in generating a node identifier for a peer-to-peer overlay network, comprising:

• receiving a join request from the joining node seeking to obtain one or more contributions for generating a new node identifier within an identifier space for the overlay network;
• sending a plurality of contribution requests to a plurality of contributor nodes in the overlay network;
• receiving a plurality of commitment values from the contributor nodes, wherein each commitment value is a function of a corresponding contribution generated at each of the contributor nodes;
• distributing the plurality of commitment values to the contributor nodes;
• receiving the plurality of contributions and corresponding verification signatures in response to distributing the plurality of commitment values, wherein each verification signature is a function of the plurality of commitment values;
• and
• sending the plurality of contributions to the joining node, where the node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of the contributions.

A network device comprising:

• a request receiver for receiving a join request from a joining node seeking to obtain one or more contributions for generating a new node identifier within an identifier space for an overlay network;
• a contribution request module for sending a plurality of contribution requests to a plurality of contributor nodes in the overlay network;
• a commitment receiver for receiving a plurality of commitment values from the contributor nodes, wherein each commitment value is a function of a corresponding contribution generated at each of the contributor nodes;
• a commitment distributor for distributing the plurality of commitment values to the contributor nodes;
• a contribution collection module for receiving the plurality of contributions and corresponding verification signatures in response to distributing the plurality of commitment values, wherein each verification signature is a function of the plurality of commitment values;
• and
• a contribution distribution module for sending the plurality of contributions to the joining node, where a node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of the contributions.

A network device comprising:

• means for receiving a join request from a joining node seeking to obtain one or more contributions for generating a new node identifier within an identifier space for an overlay network;
• means for sending a plurality of contribution requests to a plurality of contributor nodes in the overlay network;
• means for receiving a plurality of commitment values from the contributor nodes, wherein each commitment value is a function of a corresponding contribution generated at each of the contributor nodes;
• means for distributing the plurality of commitment values to the contributor nodes;
• means for receiving the plurality of contributions and corresponding verification signatures in response to distributing the plurality of commitment values, wherein each verification signature is a function of the plurality of commitment values;
• and
• means for sending the plurality of contributions to the joining node, where a node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of the contributions.

A processor including a processing circuit adapted to:

• receive a join request from a joining node seeking to obtain one or more contributions for generating a new node identifier within an identifier space for an overlay network;
• send a plurality of contribution requests to a plurality of contributor nodes in the overlay network;
• receive a plurality of commitment values from the contributor nodes, wherein each commitment value is a function of a corresponding contributions generated at each of the contributor nodes;
• distribute the plurality of commitment values to the contributor nodes;
• receive the plurality of contributions and corresponding verification signatures in response to distributing the plurality of commitment values, wherein each verification signature is a function of the plurality of commitment values;
• and
• send the plurality of contributions to the joining node, where a node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of the contributions.

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions operational in a node for assisting a joining node in generating a node identifier for a peer-to-peer overlay network, which when executed by one or more processors causes the processors to:

• receive a join request from a joining node seeking to obtain one or more contributions for generating a new node identifier within an identifier space for an overlay network;
• send a plurality of contribution requests to a plurality of contributor nodes in the overlay network;
• receive a plurality of commitment values from the contributor nodes, wherein each commitment value is a function of a corresponding contribution generated at each of the contributor nodes;
• distribute the plurality of commitment values to the contributor nodes;
• receive the plurality of contributions and corresponding verification signatures in response to distributing the plurality of commitment values, wherein each verification signature is a function of the plurality of commitment values;
• and
• send the plurality of contributions to the joining node, where a node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of the contributions.

A method operational on a contributor node for assisting a joining node in generating a node identifier for a peer-to-peer overlay network, comprising:

• receiving a contribution request for a contribution, the contribution request including a hashed initial contribution from the joining node;
• obtaining a first contribution;
• generating a commitment value from the first contribution;
• sending the commitment value to at least one other contributor node;
• receiving other commitment values from the at least one other contributor node;
• generating a verification signature based on the received commitment values and the hashed initial contribution;
• and
• sending the first contribution and the verification signature to the joining node after receiving the other commitment values, where the node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of at least the first contribution and the initial contribution.

A contributor node device, comprising:

• a contribution request receiver for receiving a contribution request for a contribution, the contribution request including a hashed initial contribution from a joining node;
• a number generator for obtaining a first contribution;
• a commitment generator for generating a commitment value from the first contribution;
• a commitment distributor for sending the commitment value to at least one other contributor node;
• a contribution collection module for receiving other commitment values from the at least one other contributor node;
• a verification signature generator for generating a verification signature based on the received commitment values and the hashed initial contribution;
• and
• a contribution distribution module for sending the first contribution and the verification signature to the joining node after receiving the other commitment values, where the node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of at least the first contribution and the initial contribution.

A contributor node device, comprising:

• means for receiving a contribution request for a contribution, the contribution request including a hashed initial contribution from a joining node;
• means for obtaining a first contribution;
• means for generating a commitment value from the first contribution;
• means for sending the commitment value to at least one other contributor node;
• means for receiving other commitment values from the at least one other contributor node;
• means for generating a verification signature based on the received commitment values and the hashed initial contribution;
• and
• means for sending the first contribution and the verification signature to the joining node after receiving the other commitment values, where the node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of at least the first contribution and the initial contribution.

A processor including a processing circuit adapted to:

• receive a contribution request for a contribution, the contribution request including a hashed initial contribution from a joining node;
• obtain a first contribution;
• generate a commitment value from the first contribution;
• send the commitment value to at least one other contributor node;
• receive other commitment values from the at least one other contributor node;
• generate a verification signature based on the received commitment values and the hashed initial contribution;
• and
• send the first contribution and the verification signature to the joining node after receiving the other commitment values, where the node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of at least the first contribution and the initial contribution.

A machine-readable medium comprising instructions operational in a node for assisting a joining node in generating a node identifier for a peer-to-peer overlay network, which when executed by one or more processors causes the processors to:

• receive a contribution request for a contribution, the contribution request including a hashed initial contribution from a joining node;
• obtain a first contribution;
• generate a commitment value from the first contribution;
• send the commitment value to at least one other contributor node;
• receive other commitment values from the at least one other contributor node;
• generate a verification signature based on the received commitment values and the hashed initial contribution;
• and
• send the first contribution and the verification signature to the joining node after receiving the other commitment values, where the node identifier is generated by the joining node as a function of at least the first contribution and the initial contribution.