Active firewall system and methodology
US6550012B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/20
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
System and methodology providing automated or “proactive” network security (“active” firewall) are described. The system implements methodology for verifying or authenticating communications, especially between network security components thereby allowing those components to share information. In one embodiment, a system implementing an active firewall is provided which includes methodology for verifying or authenticating communications between network components (e.g., sensor(s), arbiter, and actor(s)), using cryptographic keys or digital certificates. Certificates may be used to digitally sign a message or file and, in a complementary manner, to verify a digital signature. At the outset, particular software components that may participate in authenticated communication are specified, including creating a digital certificate for each such software component. Upon detection by a sensor that an event of interest that has occurred in the computer network system, the system may initiate authenticated communication between the sensor component and a central arbiter (e.g., “event orchestrator”) component, so that the sensor may report the event to the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.