Abstract: The present invention provides a method for computing traffic between a pair of Points of Presence in an IP network by summing link utilization values measured for each link connecting a pair of Points of Presence and dividing the sum by the number of link utilization values included in the sum. The resulting average link utilization is the average link utilization of any link in the aggregate and may be multiplied by the number of active links connecting a pair of Points of Presence to reflect the total amount of traffic between the two Points of Presence. Future link utilization may be forecast by modeling the observed traffic between a pair of Points of Presence using wavelet multiresolution analysis to create an approximation curve that captures the long-term trend of link utilization and at least one detail curve that captures the short term deviation of link utilization around the long-term trend. A time series model of the approximation curve may then be constructed and used for forecasting.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for providing privacy guarantees with an improved privacy-accuracy trade-off. Dynamic data can be accessed from a database. A sum model is selected from window sum, exponential decay sum, and polynomial decay sum. An algorithm is initiated that produces polylogarithmic bounded error in the range of a sum function associated with the selected sum model and independent of time steps. The data can be assembled in a dyadic tree structure. A non-linearity component can be added to nodes of the dyadic tree structure. For example, this can be a noise components or a weight applied to the update. This can be done, for example, to different nodes differently. Differential private estimators can be constructed for fixed steps of time. The differential private estimators can be applied to a query means or filtering system to enhance privacy protection from potential adversaries.

Abstract: A method to obfuscate the accurate detection of demographic information of a new user who provides ratings to a digital content service having a recommender system includes training an inference engine to detect the 5 demographic information. The training set includes movie ratings and demographic information from a plurality of other users. The new user inputs ratings, such as movie ratings, and the inference engine determines the demographic information of the new user. An obfuscation engine then adds movie ratings to the recommender system which cause an inference engine in the recommender system to fail to accurately detect the demographic information of the new user.

Abstract: A method and system for privacy-preserving ridge regression using partially homomorphic encryption and masks is provided. The method includes the steps of requesting a garbled circuit from a crypto service provider, collecting data from multiple users that has been formatted and encrypted using partially homomorphic encryption, summing the data that has been formatted and encrypted using partially homomorphic encryption, applying a prepared masks to the summed data, receiving garbled inputs corresponding to prepared mask from the crypto service provider using oblivious transfer, and evaluating the garbled circuit from the crypto service provider using the garbled inputs and masked data.

Abstract: A hybrid approach to privacy-preserving ridge regression is presented that uses both homomorphic encryption and Yao garbled circuits. Users in the system submit their data encrypted under a linearly homomorphic encryption. The linear homomorphism is used to carry out the first phase of the algorithm that requires only linear operations. The output of this phase generates encrypted data, in a form that is independent of the number of users n. In a second phase, a Yao garbled circuit that first implements homomorphic decryption and then does the rest of the regression algorithm (as shown, an optimized realization can avoid decryption in the garbled circuit) is evaluated. For this step a Yao garbled circuit approach is much faster than current fully homomorphic encryption schemes. Thus the best of both worlds is obtained by using linear homomorphisms to handle a large data set and using garbled circuits for the heavy non-linear part of the computation.

Abstract: A method and system for privacy-preserving ridge regression using masks is provided. The method includes the steps of requesting a garbled circuit from a crypto service provider, collecting data from multiple users that has been formatted and encrypted using homomorphic encryption, summing the data that has been formatted and encrypted using homomorphic encryption, applying prepared masks to the summed data, receiving garbled inputs corresponding to prepared mask from the crypto service provider using oblivious transfer, and evaluating the garbled circuit from the crypto service provider using the garbled inputs and masked data.

Abstract: A method to determine demographic information of a new user utilizing only ratings includes training an inference engine informed with a training data set which includes ratings and demographic information from a plurality of other users. The new user inputs ratings, such as movie ratings, and an inference engine determines demographic information of the new user. The demographic information of the new user can then be used to provide recommendations or to provide targeted advertisements to the new user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for computing traffic between a pair of Points of Presence in an IP network by summing link utilization values measured for each link connecting a pair of Points of Presence and dividing the sum by the number of link utilization values included in the sum. The resulting average link utilization is the average link utilization of any link in the aggregate and may be multiplied by the number of active links connecting a pair of Points of Presence to reflect the total amount of traffic between the two Points of Presence. Future link utilization may be forecast by modeling the observed traffic between a pair of Points of Presence using wavelet multiresolution analysis to create an approximation curve that captures the long-term trend of link utilization and at least one detail curve that captures the short term deviation of link utilization around the long-term trend. A time series model of the approximation curve may then be constructed and used for forecasting.

Abstract: A method and system for a context based search recommendations is provided. A context based search can be facilitated for the construction of cold start recommender systems. Contextual information can be mined from review texts from sources such as websites, and analyzed for common traits per context group. From this context information the most applicable reviews for the user can be provided. One embodiment provides a method for providing recommendations. The method includes the steps of preprocessing one or more reviews based on features of the one or more reviews, obtaining context information about user; and determining score for user based on obtained user context information and features of the one or more reviews.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and reducing botnet activity includes tracking the number of connections to a destination address over predetermined periods of time. A persistence value is assigned to the destination address based on the number of time periods during which the destination address was connected. The persistence value is compared to a threshold value and an alert is generated if the persistence value is greater than the threshold value. Known safe destinations may be entered into a whitelist.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for providing privacy guarantees with an improved privacy-accuracy trade-off. Dynamic data can be accessed from a database. A sum model is selected from window sum, exponential decay sum, and polynomial decay sum. An algorithm is initiated that produces polylogarithmic bounded error in the range of a sum function associated with the selected sum model and independent of time steps. The data can be assembled in a dyadic tree structure. A non-linearity component can be added to nodes of the dyadic tree structure. For example, this can be a noise components or a weight applied to the update. This can be done, for example, to different nodes differently. Differential private estimators can be constructed for fixed steps of time. The differential private estimators can be applied to a query means or filtering system to enhance privacy protection from potential adversaries.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods for increasing the rank of the routing matrix of an IP network by systematically altering link weights in the IP network. A full rank routing matrix may be used with further methods in accordance with the present invention to estimate the mean traffic of the IP network based upon the full rank routing matrix and measured link utilization values. Example methods in accordance with the present invention for estimating mean traffic and covariance of traffic are described for both stationary and non-stationary link utilization data.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and reducing botnet activity includes tracking the number of connections to a destination address over predetermined periods of time. A persistence value is assigned to the destination address based on the number of time periods during which the destination address was connected. The persistence value is compared to a threshold value and an alert is generated if the persistence value is greater than the threshold value. Known safe destinations may be entered into a whitelist.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods for increasing the rank of the routing matrix of an IP network by systematically altering link weights in the IP network. A full rank routing matrix may be used with further methods in accordance with the present invention to estimate the mean traffic of the IP network based upon the full rank routing matrix and measured link utilization values. Example methods in accordance with the present invention for estimating mean traffic and covariance of traffic are described for both stationary and non-stationary link utilization data.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and reducing botnet activity includes tracking the number of connections to a destination address over predetermined periods of time. A persistence value is assigned to the destination address based on the number of time periods during which the destination address was connected. The persistence value is compared to a threshold value and an alert is generated if the persistence value is greater than the threshold value. Known safe destinations may be entered into a whitelist.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods for increasing the rank of the routing matrix of an IP network by systematically altering link weights in the IP network. A full rank routing matrix may be used with further methods in accordance with the present invention to estimate the mean traffic of the IP network based upon the full rank routing matrix and measured link utilization values. The mean traffic and the covariance of the traffic may be iteratively estimated until the estimates coverage. Example methods in accordance with the present invention for estimating mean traffic and covariance of traffic are described for both stationary and non-stationary link utilization data.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and reducing botnet activity includes tracking the number of connections to a destination address over predetermined periods of time. A persistence value is assigned to the destination address based on the number of time periods during which the destination address was connected. The persistence value is compared to a threshold value and an alert is generated if the persistence value is greater than the threshold value. Known safe destinations may be entered into a whitelist.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods for increasing the rank of the routing matrix of an IP network by systematically altering link weights in the IP network. A full rank routing matrix may be used with further methods in accordance with the present invention to estimate the mean traffic of the IP network based upon the full rank routing matrix and measured link utilization values. The mean traffic and the covariance of the traffic may be iteratively estimated until the estimates coverage. Example methods in accordance with the present invention for estimating mean traffic and covariance of traffic are described for both stationary and non-stationary link utilization data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for computing traffic between a pair of Points of Presence in an IP network by summing link utilization values measured for each link connecting a pair of Points of Presence and dividing the sum by the number of link utilization values included in the sum. The resulting average link utilization is the average link utilization of any link in the aggregate and may be multiplied by the number of active links connecting a pair of Points of Presence to reflect the total amount of traffic between the two Points of Presence. Future link utilization may be forecast by modeling the observed traffic between a pair of Points of Presence using wavelet multiresolution analysis to create an approximation curve that captures the long-term trend of link utilization and at least one detail curve that captures the short term deviation of link utilization around the long-term trend. A time series model of the approximation curve may then be constructed and used for forecasting.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying optimal mapping of logical links to the physical topology of a network is provided. Upon obtaining one or more mapping options for mapping multiple logical links between two or more pairs of network nodes onto physical paths that are as at least relatively disjoint and a priority order of the network node pairs, the mapping options are correlated with the priority order of the network nodes to identify optimal mapping of logical links to the physical topology of a network.