Method for operating a network with interconnected terminals

A method for operating a network having a plurality of terminals connected through a plurality of nodes, wherein at least two of said plurality of terminals can link into a connection, said method comprising:

• first sending, from a first terminal of said plurality of terminals, a request to communicate confidentially with a second terminals of said plurality of terminals which is also linked to said connection;
• receiving said request at one of said plurality of nodes;
• forwarding said request from said one of said plurality of nodes to others of said plurality of nodes;
• disconnecting, at each of said plurality of nodes, any of said plurality of terminals links to said connection except said first and second terminals, responsive to receipt of said request;
• and
• replying with a confirmation signal, from each of said plurality of nodes, when those of said plurality of nodes that said each of said nodes forwarded said request to, reply with a confirmation signal.

A system for operating a network, comprising:

• a plurality of transmission nodes;
• a plurality of terminals, a first terminal and a second terminal of said plurality of terminals forming a connection through at least one of said plurality of transmission nodes and communicating through said connection, and other of said plurality of terminals linking into said connection;
• said first terminal issuing a request, to a first node of said plurality of nodes, to communicate confidentially with said second terminal;
• each of said plurality of nodes receiving the request and forwarding the request to other nodes of said plurality of nodes;
• each of said plurality of nodes replying with a confirmation after receiving a confirmation from each of said plurality of nodes sent the request by the respective node;
• said first node sending a disconnection signal to the remaining nodes of said plurality of nodes after receiving the confirmation from the nodes previously sent the request by said first node;
• and
• each of said plurality of nodes disconnecting any of said plurality of terminals linked to said connection except said first terminal and said second terminal after receiving the disconnection signal.

A system for operating a network, comprising:

• a plurality of transmission nodes;
• a plurality of terminals, a first terminal and a second terminal of said plurality of terminals forming a connection through at least one of said plurality of transmission nodes and communicating through the connection, and other of said plurality of terminals linking into said connection;
• said first terminal issuing a request, to a first node of said plurality of nodes, to communicate confidentially with said second terminal;
• each of said plurality of nodes receiving said request disconnecting any of said plurality of terminals linked to the connection except said first terminal and said second terminal after receiving the request, and forwarding the request to other nodes of said plurality of nodes;
• and
• each of said plurality of nodes replying with a confirmation signal after receiving the confirmation signal from said nodes sent the request by that respective node.