Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encrypting and storing data. The methods and apparatus provide different levels of security and usability. The methods and apparatus generate two or more keys based on a shared secret made available to a user equipment and a server. The two or more keys comprise at least one perfect forward secrecy key, and at least one limited forward secrecy key. The methods and apparatus encrypt data using at least one of the two or more keys. The methods and apparatus store the encrypted data in a memory of the user equipment and/or transmit the data from the user equipment to the server.

Abstract: A system and method for managing content data transfers in a peer-to-peer communications network is described. The system includes a hierarchical arrangement of tracker modules, each tracker module being responsible for managing a tracker domain of network elements. Each tracker module has stored therein a content table including a record of content data available to the network elements within its respective tracker domain. Each tracker module responsible for a tracker domain containing end user peers is configured so that, if a content data request is received from a requesting peer in its respective tracker domain and the requested content is held by other peers in that tracker domain, a list of peers having the content data stored thereon is sent to the requesting peer. If the requested content is not held by enough other peers in that tracker domain, the content data request is transferred to the next tracker module up in the hierarchy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for encrypting and storing data. The methods and apparatus provide different levels of security and usability. The methods and apparatus generate two or more keys based on a shared secret made available to a user equipment and a server. The two or more keys comprise at least one perfect forward secrecy key, and at least one limited forward secrecy key. The methods and apparatus encrypt data using at least one of the two or more keys. The methods and apparatus store the encrypted data in a memory of the user equipment and/or transmit the data from the user equipment to the server.

Abstract: A method of controlling access to content comprises receiving, at a domain gateway (3) of a domain (4), a request from a device (5) in the domain for access to the content. It is determined at the domain gateway whether the number of devices in the domain currently accessing the content is equal to a specified maximum number of devices that may simultaneously access the content. The maximum number of devices that may simultaneously access the content is independent of the number of devices in the domain. If the determination is that the number of devices in the domain currently accessing the content is less than the specified maximum number the request is allowed, otherwise it is refused.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system hardware for ingesting media content in a peer-to-peer network from a data stream. The data stream is made up of a sequence of packets of media data, and each packet is identified by a sequence identifier. The method includes commencing caching of the data packets from the data stream. A missing data packet is identified using the sequence identifiers of the packets and the size of the missing data packet is determined. A portion of the memory medium is skipped to provide a skipped portion of medium having no data cached therein. The skipped portion has a size corresponding to the determined size of the missing data packet. The missing data packet is then retrieved and inserted into the skipped portion of the memory medium.

Abstract: A method of key management in a communication network that includes a plurality of groups with each group including one or several members authorized to have access to key-protected services is provided by an apparatus. The method includes determining when a member starts a switching action from one service to another. A time dependent quantity starting from the switching action is determined. The method includes determining that the member is a member of a switching group when the quantity is less than a threshold value is made, and when the quantity is larger than the threshold, determining that the member has decided to join a new group, and changing the appropriate access key(s).

Abstract: A system and method for managing content data transfers in a peer-to-peer communications network is described. The system includes a hierarchical arrangement of tracker modules, each tracker module being responsible for managing a tracker domain of network elements. Each tracker module has stored therein a content table including a record of content data available to the network elements within its respective tracker domain. Each tracker module responsible for a tracker domain containing end user peers is configured so that, if a content data request is received from a requesting peer in its respective tracker domain and the requested content is held by other peers in that tracker domain, a list of peers having the content data stored thereon is sent to the requesting peer. If the requested content is not held by enough other peers in that tracker domain, the content data request is transferred to the next tracker module up in the hierarchy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of key management and to an apparatus (200) of communication network (100) comprising a plurality of groups (141, 142, 143), each group (141) including one or several members (132A, 132B, 132C) authorized to have access to key-protected services provided by the apparatus. According to the method, it is determined when a member (132A) starts a switching action from one service to another and it is determined a time dependent quantity starting from the switching action. The method further comprises, determining that the member (132A) is a member of a switching group (150) when the quantity is less than a threshold value, and when the quantity is larger than the threshold, determining that the member (132A) has decided to join a new group (142), and changing the appropriate access key(s).

Abstract: A method of controlling access to content comprises receiving, at a domain gateway (3) of a domain (4), a request from a device (5) in the domain for access to the content. It is determined at the domain gateway whether the number of devices in the domain currently accessing the content is equal to a specified maximum number of devices that may simultaneously access the content. The maximum number of devices that may simultaneously access the content is independent of the number of devices in the domain. If the determination is that the number of devices in the domain currently accessing the content is less than the specified maximum number the request is allowed, otherwise it is refused.