Abstract: A method for enhanced quality of identification in a data communications network includes obtaining a user identifier that includes an identification server ID and an identification randomized ID. The identification server ID identifies an identification server peer group. The identification server peer group includes at least one server that maintains a mapping between an identification randomized ID and a user authentication peer group capable of authenticating a user associated with a particular randomized ID, and a mapping between the identification randomized ID and user information. The method also includes requesting authorization of the user by presenting the user identifier to a corresponding identification server peer group. Each server in the identification server peer group is configured to search for one or more matching entries including the randomized ID.

Abstract: A technique for indexing data is provided. A method for compressing an index to obtain a compressed index that is easily stored and transmitted is provided. The invention also provides for the decompression of such a compressed index. One embodiment of the invention maintains a separate index for each document, thereby allowing easy updating of indexes in response to changes in documents and easy transmission of indexes, which allows distributed searching. The technique provides very compact indexing information, but allows the indexing information to be very rapidly processed.