Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting the details of an image to ensure privacy of the image by generating a protected image from an original image is disclosed. The method includes generating a preview image from an original image and applying 5 effects to the preview image so as to obscure the preview image. The original image is encrypted using an encryption key and stored as non-visual metadata of the preview image. The encryption key is encrypted using one or more key encryption key (KEK), and the encrypted encryption keys is also stored in the metadata of the preview image. Any image viewer will display the preview image. The key encryption 10 key is generated based on a passphrase or based on the encryption key of another protected image. Instances of the protected image called profile and cover images is used to provide logical groupings and share access to protected images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting the details of an image to ensure privacy of the image by generating a protected image from an original image is disclosed. The method includes generating a preview image from an original image and applying 5 effects to the preview image so as to obscure the preview image. The original image is encrypted using an encryption key and stored as non-visual metadata of the preview image. The encryption key is encrypted using one or more key encryption key (KEK), and the encrypted encryption keys is also stored in the metadata of the preview image. Any image viewer will display the preview image. The key encryption 10 key is generated based on a passphrase or based on the encryption key of another protected image. Instances of the protected image called profile and cover images is used to provide logical groupings and share access to protected images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a selling mechanism, in particular for connectivity. A trading engine may receive a seller request for a connectivity leg from a seller wherein the seller request includes a seller criteria. A routing engine may identify if the connectivity leg falls within a connectivity path for a buyer. The routing engine may determine if relevant criteria of the seller criteria for the connectivity leg are fulfilled and a reservation component may reserve the connectivity leg for said buyer based if the relevant criteria of the seller criteria are fulfilled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for buying connectivity. A routing engine may receive a buyer request for a connectivity path wherein the buyer request includes a buyer criteria. The routing engine may identify one or more connectivity paths wherein each identified connectivity path comprises one or more connectivity legs. The routing engine may determine one or more available connectivity paths based on the buyer criteria and the routing engine may select an optimal connectivity path from the determined available connectivity paths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for buying connectivity. A routing engine 103 may receive a buyer request for a connectivity path wherein the buyer request includes a buyer criteria. The routing engine 103 may identify one or more connectivity paths wherein each identified connectivity path comprises one or more connectivity legs. The routing engine 103 may determine one or more available connectivity paths based on the buyer criteria and the routing engine 103 may select an optimal connectivity path from the determined available connectivity paths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a selling mechanism, in particular for connectivity. A trading engine 102 may receive a seller request for a connectivity leg from a seller wherein the seller request includes a seller criteria. A routing engine 103 may identify if the connectivity leg falls within a connectivity path for a buyer. The routing engine 103 may determine if relevant criteria of the seller criteria for the connectivity leg are fulfilled and a reservation component 107 may reserve the connectivity leg for said buyer based if the relevant criteria of the seller criteria are fulfilled.