IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,978,101
Granted Patent B2
US 8,978,101 · App. 13/747,030 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Systems and methods for security tiering in peer-to-peer networking

Inventors: Douglas M. Anson (Dripping Springs, TX); Carlton A. Andrews (Austin, TX); Charles D. Robison (Round Rock, TX); David Konetski (Austin, TX); Frank H. Molsberry (Georgetown, TX); Yuan-Chang Lo (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H04L63/105H04L63/126H04L63/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,978,101
App. No.
13/747,030
Filed
Jan 22, 2013
Granted
Mar 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2492
USPC
726/3
Abstract

A method may also include receiving from each of one or more of potential peer information handling systems a connection request comprising a peer minimum acceptable security level for the peer information handling system. The method may additionally include comparing the peer minimum acceptable security level to a security level of the information handling system. The method may further include completing a peer-to-peer connection between the information handling system and the peer information handling system if the minimum acceptable security level is not higher than that of the security level of the information handling system.

Claims (56)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor having stored thereon a peer-to-peer agent comprising one or more instructions, the instructions for causing the processor to, when read and executed by the processor:

determine, based on published messages from one or more of other information handling systems indicative of availability of the one or more other information handling systems for peer-to-peer networking, one or more potential peer information handling systems of the other information handling systems to which the information handling system may potentially couple for peer-to-peer networking;

receive from each of one or more of the potential peer information handling systems a connection request comprising a peer minimum acceptable security level for the peer information handling system;

compare the peer minimum acceptable security level to a security level of the information handling system; and

complete a peer-to-peer connection between the information handling system and the peer information handling system if the peer minimum acceptable security level is equal to that or below that of the security level of the information handling system.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the peer minimum acceptable security level is validated by a management authority common to the information handling system and the peer information handling system.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein receiving the connection request comprises verifying a digital signature to the peer minimum acceptable security applied by the management authority.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , the peer-to-peer agent configured to publish, to other information handling systems communicatively coupled to the information handling system, availability of the information handling system for peer-to-peer networking.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , the peer-to-peer agent configured to issue, to one or more of the potential peer information handling systems, a connection request comprising a minimum acceptable security level for the information handling system.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the security level is based on at least one parameter associated with the information handling system.

7. The information handling system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:

software stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the information handling system;

data stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the information handling system;

model number of an information handling resource of the information handling system;

unique identifier of an information handling resource of the information handling system;

information representing a current operational state of the information handling system;

information representing a current location of the information handling system;

information representing a current time associated with the information handling system;

information representing a current orientation of the information handling system; and

information communicated from one or more sensors of the information handling system.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the minimum acceptable security level is based on at least one parameter associated with the potential peer information handling system.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:

software stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the potential peer information handling system;

data stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the potential peer information handling system;

model number of an information handling resource of the potential peer information handling system;

unique identifier of an information handling resource of the potential peer information handling system; and

information communicated from one or more sensors of the potential peer information handling system.

10. A method comprising:

determining, at an information handling system based on published messages from one or more of other information handling systems remotely coupled to the information handling system and indicative of availability of the one or more other information handling systems for peer-to-peer networking, one or more potential peer information handling systems of the other information handling systems to which the information handling system may potentially couple for peer-to-peer networking;

receiving from each of one or more of the potential peer information handling systems a connection request comprising a peer minimum acceptable security level for the peer information handling system;

comparing the peer minimum acceptable security level to a security level of the information handling system; and

completing a peer-to-peer connection between the information handling system and the peer information handling system if the peer minimum acceptable security level is equal to that or below that of the security level of the information handling system.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the peer minimum acceptable security level is validated by a management authority common to the information handling system and the peer information handling system.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the connection request comprises verifying a digital signature to the peer minimum acceptable security applied by the management authority.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising publishing, by the information handling system to the one or more other information handling systems, availability of the information handling system for peer-to-peer networking.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising issuing, by the information handling system to one or more of the potential peer information handling systems, a connection request comprising a minimum acceptable security level for the information handling system.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the security level is based on at least one parameter associated with the information handling system.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:

software stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the information handling system;

data stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the information handling system;

model number of an information handling resource of the information handling system;

unique identifier of an information handling resource of the information handling system;

information representing a current operational state of the information handling system;

information representing a current location of the information handling system;

information representing a current time associated with the information handling system;

information representing a current orientation of the information handling system; and

information communicated from one or more sensors of the information handling system.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the minimum acceptable security level is based on at least one parameter associated with the potential peer information handling system.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:

software stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the potential peer information handling system;

data stored on a computer-readable medium associated with the potential peer information handling system;

model number of an information handling resource of the potential peer information handling system;

unique identifier of an information handling resource of the potential peer information handling system; and

information communicated from one or more sensors of the potential peer information handling system.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2013
From: ANSON, DOUGLAS M.; ANDREWS, CARLTON A.; ROBISON, CHARLES D.; KONETSKI, DAVID; MOLSBERRY, FRANK H.; LO, YUAN-CHANG
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 029671/0839 →
Continuity (1)
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