Sequel Technology Corporation

Websense, Inc.

Mark G Grieve

Todd A Barnes

Dalen Matthew Abraham

Thomas P Bougetz

Paul F Bouche

Robert C Allison

Michael S Nikkel

Brent A Langdon

Tracy A Gosselin

Stuart Rosove

Dalen M Abraham

In accordance with the present invention, a network management program () is provided that manages the communication of data packets between an intranetwork () and an internetwork (). An operator of a computer connected to the intranetwork () inputs vital information regarding users of computers connected to the intranetwork (), mapping information regarding computers connected to the intranetwork (), and policies to be applied against those users and computers, using a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI () communicates the vital user information, mapping information and policies to a database () which stores and organizes the vital user information, mapping information and policies. A filter executive () optimizes the policies stored in the database () into a set of rules for each user and passes the rules to a filter engine (). The filter engine () filters all outbound data packets transmitted from the intranetwork () to the internetwork () and verifies all inbound data packets from the internetwork () according to the rules provided by the filter executive (). The filter executive () also communicates the mapping information stored in the database () to a naming service manager () which further updates the mapping information and returns the updated mapping information to the filter executive (). Consequently, the filter executive () filters the data packets according to the most recent mapping information.

Method and apparatus for managing internetwork and intranetwork activity

In accordance with the present invention, a network management program (80) is provided that manages the communication of data packets between an intranetwork (44) and an internetwork (40). An operator of a computer connected to the intranetwork (44) inputs vital information regarding users of computers connected to the intranetwork (44), mapping information regarding computers connected to the intranetwork (44), and policies to be applied against those users and computers, using a graphical user interface (GUI 70). The GUI (70) communicates the vital user information, mapping information and policies to a database (72) which stores and organizes the vital user information, mapping information and policies. A filter executive (76) optimizes the policies stored in the database (72) into a set of rules for each user and passes the rules to a filter engine (78). The filter engine (78) filters all outbound data packets transmitted from the intranetwork (44) to the internetwork (40) and verifies all inbound data packets from the internetwork (40) according to the rules provided by the filter executive (76). The filter executive (76) also communicates the mapping information stored in the database (72) to a naming service manager (74) which further updates the mapping information and returns the updated mapping information to the filter executive (76). Consequently, the filter executive (78) filters the data packets according to the most recent mapping information.

A naming service manager (46) is provided for resolving mapping information regarding a plurality of computers connected to a local area network (LAN 24) and their users. The naming service manager 46 collects mapping information, i.e., user login names, domain names, computer names and IP addresses, from a plurality of naming service agents 50 located on the LAN (24) and correlates the mapping information into a current computer-to-user assignment or 'mapping' for each user of the LAN 24 and/or a current IP address-to-computer assignment or 'mapping' for each computer connected to the LAN 24. The naming service manager (46) serves the correlated mapping information to a plurality of naming service applications (48) which process the correlated mapping information in accordance with their own needs and requirements.

Method and apparatus for resolving network users to network computers

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Mark G Grieve