Network isolation system and method

• US 20030208606A1
• Filed: 05/04/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Larry Dean Maguire, Victor Jay Castellucci
• Original Assignee: Larry Dean Maguire, Victor Jay Castellucci
• Inventors: Maguire, Larry Dean, Castellucci, Victor Jay
• Application Number:
  US10/139,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208606A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/554 involving event detection and direct action
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/85 interconnection devices, e.g. bus-connected or in-line devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones

Abstract

A system and method of selectively isolating a computerized device from a network may selectively decouple a network client from the network responsive to a signal transmitted from an appropriate sensor, for example. A switch or other selectively activated circuit element may disable data communications between the network client and other network nodes via the network, preventing network access to confidential data resident on the isolated network client.

Claims

1. A network isolation apparatus comprising:

a communications interface selectively allowing data communication between a device and a network; and

a switching component coupled to said communications interface and operative selectively to isolate said device from said network at said communications interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an input port operative to receive a signal affecting operation of said switching component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a logic component operative to configure said apparatus in accordance with communication control parameters.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor operative to transmit a signal affecting operation of said switching component.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said switching component is responsive to a signal transmitted from a sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said switching component is responsive to a signal transmitted from said device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said signal is generated by communications control logic resident at said device.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sensor is an infra-red sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensitive sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sensor is a motion sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switching component is operative selectively to disable said data communication.

13. A network isolation system comprising

a network client;

an access device coupling said network client to a network; and

an isolation apparatus operative selectively to isolate said network client from said network.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a sensor operative to transmit a signal to said isolation apparatus and wherein said isolation apparatus is responsive to said signal.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said sensor is an infra-red sensor.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensitive sensor.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said sensor is a motion sensor.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said isolation apparatus is responsive to a control signal transmitted from said network client.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said control signal is generated by communications control logic resident at said network client.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein said isolation apparatus is configured in accordance with communication control parameters.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein said isolation apparatus comprises a switching component operative selectively to decouple said network client from said network.

23. A method of isolating a computerized device from a network;

said method comprising;

providing a communication interface selectively enabling data communication between said device and said network;

monitoring communication control parameters; and

selectively disabling said data communication responsive to said monitoring.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said monitoring comprises determining whether a user is present in the vicinity of said device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said determining comprises receiving a signal from a sensor.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said monitoring further comprises utilizing communication control logic.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said selectively disabling comprises delaying said disabling in accordance with said logic.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said selectively disabling comprises preventing access of data resident at said device from a remote network node.

29. A network isolation apparatus comprising:

a communications interface selectively allowing data communication between a device and a network; and

isolation means for selectively isolating said device from said network.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said isolation means comprises:

a switching component operative to disable said data communication; and

an input port operative to receive a signal affecting operation of said switching component.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a logic component operative to configure said isolation means in accordance with communication control parameters.

32. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said input port is coupled to a sensor and wherein said switching component is responsive to a signal transmitted from said sensor.

33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said input port is coupled to said device and wherein said switching component is responsive to a signal transmitted from said device.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said signal is generated by communications control logic resident at said device.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said sensor is an infra-red sensor.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensitive sensor.

37. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said sensor is an optical sensor.

38. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said sensor is a motion sensor.