Echo (one-to-all, one-to-one, or one-to-some distribution) is a group

communications protocol A communication protocol is a system of rules that allows two or more entities of a communications system to transmit information via any kind of variation of a physical quantity. The protocol defines the rules, syntax, semantics and synchro ...

where authenticated and

encrypted In cryptography, encryption is the process of encoding information. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Ideally, only authorized parties can decip ...

information is addressed to members connected to a node. Adaptive Echo, Full Echo, and Half Echo can be chosen as several modes of the encrypted Echo protocol. The Echo protocol offers three modes of operation: Adaptive Echo, Full Echo, and Half Echo.

Adaptive Echo

The Adaptive Echo distributes messages to parties that have shown awareness of a secret token. The graphic at the side shows the communication example of Hansel and Gretel. Referring to the old fairy tale, both highlight the trees with either "white pebbles" or "bread crumbs" to discover each other in the forest. They wish to communicate without the wicked witch knowing. How can Hansel and Gretel communicate without revealing their communications? The nodes in this example use the token "white pebbles". Because the wicked witch is unaware of the secret token, she will not receive communications from Hansel and Gretel unless, of course, she misbehaves.

Full Echo

Full Echo or simply Echo sends each message to every neighbor. Every neighbor does the same, unless it's the target node of a specific message. In smaller networks, the message should reach every peer.

Node In general, a node is a localized swelling (a "knot") or a point of intersection (a vertex). Node may refer to: In mathematics * Vertex (graph theory), a vertex in a mathematical graph * Vertex (geometry), a point where two or more curves, line ...

s can be

client Client(s) or The Client may refer to: * Client (business) * Client (computing), hardware or software that accesses a remote service on another computer * Customer or client, a recipient of goods or services in return for monetary or other valuabl ...

, server, or both.

Half Echo

The Half Echo sends the message only to a direct neighbor. If configured correctly, the target node will not disperse the received message to other nearby nodes. This allows two neighbors to communicate with each other on dedicated sockets. That is, data from other nodes will not traverse the restricted socket. Though always authenticated and encrypted, the nodes can exclude others from knowing about the communications.

Echo Accounts

Accounts allow for exclusive connections. A server node may establish accounts and then distribute the credentials' information. Accounts create an artificial web of trust without exposing the public encryption key and without attaching the key to an IP address.

References

External links

* Internet architecture Internet broadcasting Television terminology

Routing Routing is the process of selecting a path for traffic in a network or between or across multiple networks. Broadly, routing is performed in many types of networks, including circuit-switched networks, such as the public switched telephone netw ...

Multihoming Packets (information technology) {{compu-network-stub