How to Securely Pass Data Packets Within a Trusted Network
A method for tagging data packets with verified properties so that internal network nodes can trust the data without re-verifying it themselves.
Original patent title: “Border property validation for named data networks”
A method for tagging data packets with verified properties so that internal network nodes can trust the data without re-verifying it themselves. Granted to Palo Alto Research Center Inc in 2016 with 27 claims and 3 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to make networks faster and more secure by using a 'property vector.' When a message enters a trusted network, an ingress node verifies specific details about it, like its priority or authenticity. It creates a digital tag called a property vector and signs it with a shared secret key. Other nodes in the network can then check this signature to confirm the data is valid without having to perform the heavy lifting of re-verifying the original properties themselves.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover verification methods that rely on individual node-to-node public key infrastructure.
- Does not cover networks that do not use hierarchically structured names for data identification.
- Does not cover systems where intermediate nodes are required to perform full re-verification of the message properties.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
By bundling verified properties into a signed vector at the edge of the network, the system turns a complex, multi-step verification process into a single, lightweight signature check for all internal nodes.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Content-Centric Networking (CCN) routers
Named Data Networking (NDN) testbeds
Secure enterprise data distribution systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
In content-centric networks, data is retrieved by name rather than by location. This patent helps solve a major bottleneck in these networks: the computational cost of constantly verifying security and policy metadata as packets hop across multiple routers. By creating a 'trust domain' where nodes share a secret, the system allows for high-speed, secure routing.
Filed
May 21, 2014
Granted
March 1, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) has been a primary driver of Named Data Networking research. Various academic and government-funded research projects continue to build on these concepts to create more resilient, data-centric internet architectures.
Market impact
This technology supports the transition toward information-centric networking, which aims to make the internet more efficient for modern data consumption. It provides a mechanism for managing security policies at scale, which is essential for the adoption of next-generation network architectures.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to make networks faster and more secure by using a 'property vector.' When a message enters a trusted network, an ingress node verifies specific details about it, like its priority or authenticity. It creates a digital tag called a property vector and signs it with a shared secret key. Other nodes in the network can then check this signature to confirm the data is valid without having to perform the heavy lifting of re-verifying the original properties themselves.
The clever bit
By bundling verified properties into a signed vector at the edge of the network, the system turns a complex, multi-step verification process into a single, lightweight signature check for all internal nodes.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover verification methods that rely on individual node-to-node public key infrastructure.
- Does not cover networks that do not use hierarchically structured names for data identification.
- Does not cover systems where intermediate nodes are required to perform full re-verification of the message properties.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
12/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
18/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$55K – $175K
Midpoint $109K · 7.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
27 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Mosko, M. E. (2016). How to Securely Pass Data Packets Within a Trusted Network (U.S. Patent No. 9,276,922). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9276922/facebook-safety-check
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US9276922"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Telecom & Wireless
US 5347632 · 1994 · Prodigy Services Co
Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping
US 3906166 · 1975 · Motorola Inc
How Early Cell Phones Handled Calls Across Different Towers
US 4063220 · 1977 · Xerox Corp
How Multiple Computers Share a Network Cable Without Crashing
US 4200770 · 1980 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How to Create a Secret Code Key Without Meeting First
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Securely Pass Data Packets Within a Trusted Network cover?
A method for tagging data packets with verified properties so that internal network nodes can trust the data without re-verifying it themselves.
Who owns patent US 9276922?
Palo Alto Research Center Inc owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 1, 2036, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9276922 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
In content-centric networks, data is retrieved by name rather than by location. This patent helps solve a major bottleneck in these networks: the computational cost of constantly verifying security and policy metadata as packets hop across multiple routers. By creating a 'trust domain' where nodes share a secret, the system allows for high-speed, secure routing.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover verification methods that rely on individual node-to-node public key infrastructure.
Patent monitoring