Vpnet Technologies, Inc.

Quentin C Liu

Henk J Bots

William E Hunt

Leslie J Arrow

Russell C Jones

Mark R Hoke

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for establishing a virtual private network that operates over a public data network. One embodiment of the present invention includes a system that selects a plurality of entities coupled to the public data network to include in the virtual private network. The system next assembles a plurality of identifiers for the plurality of entities. These identifiers are used to identify communications between the plurality of entities, so that these communications can be transferred securely over the public data network. A variation on this embodiment includes defining encryption, authentication and compression parameters for the virtual private network. In another variation, selecting the plurality of entities includes, assembling entities coupled to the public data network into groups, and selecting groups of entities to include in the virtual private network. Another variation includes defining access control rules specifying types of communications that are allowed to pass through virtual private network units. These virtual private network units are typically used to couple local area networks to the public network so that secure communications on the public network pass through the virtual private network units. Yet another variation on this embodiment includes defining address translation rules for virtual private network units coupled to the public data network. These address translation rules are used to translate local network addresses to public network addresses.

Method and apparatus for configuring a virtual private network

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for managing a virtual private network operating over a public data network. This public data network has been augmented to include a plurality of virtual private network gateways so that communications across the virtual private network are channeled through the virtual private network gateways. One embodiment of the present invention includes a system that operates by receiving a command specifying an operation on the virtual private network. The system determines which virtual private network gateways are affected by the command. The system then automatically translates the command into configuration parameters for virtual private network gateways affected by the command. These configuration parameters specifying how the virtual private network gateways handle communications between specific groups of addresses on the public data network. The system then transmits the configuration parameters to the virtual private network gateways affected by the command, so that the virtual private network gateways are configured to implement the command.

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Quentin C Liu