Distributed identities

A system comprising:

• a plurality of nodes operable to couple to a network;
• wherein at least a subset of the plurality of nodes are each configured to store reputation information for one or more of the other nodes, wherein the reputation information corresponding to a particular node is configured for use by others of the plurality of nodes to determine a reputation of the particular node during a transaction with the particular node;
• wherein each of the plurality of nodes is configured to:
• determine a reputation for another of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the other node stored on at least one of the at least a subset of the nodes;
• and
• distribute the determined reputation to one or more of the at least a subset of the nodes.

A peer node, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces for coupling to a network;
• a memory comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable within the peer node to:
• request reputation information for another peer node on the network, wherein the reputation information is configured for use by the peer node in determining a reputation of the other peer node during transactions involving the other peer node;
• receive one or more responses to said request for reputation information for the other peer node from at least one other peer node on the network, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the other peer node each includes reputation information corresponding to the other peer node;
• determine a reputation of the other peer node from the received reputation information;
• and
• distribute the determined reputation of the other peer node to one or more other peer nodes on the network.

A method, comprising:

• distributing reputation information for two or more nodes on a network among a plurality of nodes on the network, wherein the reputation information is configured for use by nodes receiving the information in determining a reputation of one or more of the two or more nodes during transactions involving the one or more of the two or more nodes;
• requesting reputation information for a node on the network;
• receiving one or more responses to said requesting reputation information for the node from at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the node each includes reputation information corresponding to the node;
• and
• determining a reputation of the node from the received reputation information.

A method comprising:

• distributing reputation information for each of a plurality of nodes on a network among the plurality of nodes on the network, wherein the reputation information is configured for use by the nodes in determining a reputation of particular ones of the plurality of nodes during transactions between two of the plurality of nodes;
• determining a reputation for a node of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the node stored on one or more of the at least two of the plurality of nodes;
• and
• distributing the determined reputation among the plurality of nodes.

An article of manufacture, comprising software instructions executable to implement:

• distributing reputation information for two or more nodes on a network among a plurality of nodes on the network, wherein the reputation information is configured for use by nodes receiving the information to determine a reputation of one or more of the two or more nodes during a transaction involving the one or more nodes;
• requesting reputation information for a node on the network;
• receiving one or more responses to said requesting reputation information for the node from at least one of the plurality of nodes, wherein the responses to said request for reputation information for the node each includes reputation information corresponding to the node;
• and
• determining a reputation of the node from the received reputation information.

An article of manufacture comprising software instructions executable to implement:

• distributing reputation information for each of a plurality of nodes on a network among the plurality of nodes on the network, wherein the reputation information is configured for use by the nodes in determining a reputation of particular ones of the plurality of nodes during transactions between two of the plurality of nodes;
• determining a reputation for a node of the plurality of nodes from reputation information corresponding to the node stored on one or more of the at least two of the plurality of nodes;
• and
• distributing the determined reputation among the plurality of nodes.