Enabling surveillance of network connected device

• US 20020091813A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Levy-Abeqnoli, Eric, Thubert, Pascal, Lamberton, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 7,058,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227

Abstract

The invention enables the surveillance of computer-like devices while they are connected to a communications network. This latter includes a Network Surveillance Server (NSS). Upon joining said communications network, a device is first required to log-in to NSS. After which, NSS polls it while connected on the network so that an alarm can be issued, from NSS, to a central surveillance unit, if the device fails responding to polling. Hence, prior to leaving the communications network, the computer-like device is also required to log-out to NSS. Thus, as long as it is connected to the communications network, the computer-like device is watched.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling surveillance of a computer-like device connected to a communications network, said communications network including a Network Surveillance Server (NSS), said method including the steps of;

upon joining said communications network,

said computer-like device logging-in to said NSS;

said NSS polling, said computer-like device while connected on said communications network, said NSS issuing an alarm, from, to a central surveillance unit if said computer-like device fails responding to polling;

prior to leaving said communications network,

said computer-like device logging-out from said NSS; and

allowing said computer-like device to be watched by said NSS while being connected to said communications network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of more than one said NSS present in said communications network.

3. The method according to claim 2, said step of said computer-like device logging-in includes the steps of:

upon joining said communications network,

discovering at least one said NSS within said communications network [305];

selecting one of said at least one NSS to perform the surveillance of said computer-like device [310];

sending credentials to said selected NSS;

thereby, if accepted by said selected NSS [315],

completing log-in;

however, if not accepted [316],

aborting log in.

4. The method according to claim 1, said step of polling includes the step of:

said NSS checking if said computer-like device responds.

5. A method according to claim 1, said step of said computer-like device logging-out includes the steps of:

upon willing to leave said communications network,

said computer-like device sending credentials to said selected NSS,

thereby, if log-out is accepted by said NSS stops polling, said computer-like device thus, completing log-out;

however, if log-out is not accepted, said NSS keeps polling, said computer-like device thus failing to complete log-out.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said polling step includes collecting information about said computer-like device and a registered user of said computer-like device.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein said step of checking if said computer-like device responds, includes comparing if said collected information matches records, in said NSS, about said computer-like device and said registered user.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said collecting step and said comparing step are performed on top of said polling step and said checking step.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communications network is an IP network and said polling step utilizes the IP ‘

PING’

command.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said communications network is an IP network and said polling step utilizes the IP Address Resolution Protocol (ARP).

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer-like device is a mobile device.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said computer-like device is voice enabled.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said collected information about said registered user includes:

a typing speed over a keyboard;

a voice intonation.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said collected information about said computer-like device includes:

a current geographic location; and

an identification of a portal through which said communications network is accessed.

15. A method according to 1, claim, wherein said credentials includes:

knowing a personal identification number (PIN);

knowing a password; and

possessing a token or smartcard.

16. A system, in particular a system for enabling the surveillance of computer-like devices connected onto a network, comprising means adapted for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

17. A computer-like readable medium comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to claim 1.

18. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing enablement of surveillance of a computer-like device connected to a communications network, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of claim 1.

19. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for enabling surveillance a computer-like device connected to a communications network, said method steps comprising the steps of claim 1.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a system for causing enablement of surveillance of a computer-like device connected to a communications network, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the functions of claim 16.