System and method for network security

• US 20040210773A1
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles Markosi III
• Original Assignee: Charles Markosi III
• Inventors: Markosi, Charles III
• Application Number:
  US10/826,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0078 Security; Fraud detection; Fraud prevention

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for use in combination with an Internet service provider or as a standalone system inside corporate boundaries for monitoring electronic communications conducted via the Internet/Intranet. The Internet service provider is provided in communication with a server for storing portions of electronic communications that are determined to be inappropriate based on predetermined criteria. The system allows for Internet/Intranet communications to be automatically and continuously monitored, and allows for predetermined entities to be automatically alerted when the monitored communications are determined to be inappropriate based on predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A system for use in combination with an Internet service provider for monitoring electronic communications conducted via the Internet/Intranet, the Internet service provider being in communication with a server, said system operative to store communications in the server and alert predetermined entities when the electronic communications between a user interface and the Internet are determined to be inappropriate based on predetermined criteria, said system comprising:

a user interface in communication with the Internet service provider, the Internet service provider operative to facilitate electronic communications between said user interface and the Internet;

a software program employed by the Internet service provider, said software program operative to monitor said electronic communications between said user interface and the Internet and to cause a portion of said electronic communications corresponding to inappropriate communications to be sent to the server when said electronic communications satisfy a predetermined criteria, the server operative to store said portion of electronic communications and further operative to generate a violation notice regarding said inappropriate communications; and

a content administrator in communication with the server, said content administrator operative to receive said violation notice from the server and to access said stored portion of electronic communications, said system operative to permit said content administrator to send complaint information to legal authorities when said content administrator determines said stored portion of electronic communications are inappropriate communications.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is an interface selected from the group consisting of a computer, a personal communications system, and a cell phone.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined criteria is a word or a group of words provided with said software program.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said predetermined criteria is further comprised of criteria selectively provided by said content administrator.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said software program is operative to selectively monitor communications at one of a plurality of security levels.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said content administrator is in communication with the Internet service provider to set up, modify, or disable said software program.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said content administrator sends complaint information to legal authorities electronically by clicking an electronic link provided in said violation notice.

8. A method for monitoring electronic communications via the Internet system for use in combination with an Internet service provider that monitors electronic communications conducted via the Internet, the Internet service provider being in communication with a server, said method operative to cause communications to be stored in the server and alert predetermined entities when the electronic communications between a user interface and the Internet are determined to be inappropriate based on predetermined criteria, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user interface in communication with the Internet service provider, the Internet service provider operative to facilitate electronic communications between the user interface and the Internet;

disposing a software program at the Internet service provider, the software program operative to monitor the electronic communications between the user interface and the Internet;

storing a portion of the electronic communications corresponding to inappropriate communications at the server when the electronic communications satisfy a predetermined criteria;

generating a violation notice regarding the inappropriate communications at the server;

sending the violation notice to a content administrator in communication with the server;

providing the content administrator access to the stored portion of electronic communications for review; and

permitting the content administrator to cause the server to generate and send complaint information to legal authorities when the content administrator determines the stored portion of electronic communications are inappropriate communications.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of permitting the content administrator to cause the server to generate and send complaint information further includes the step of providing an electronic link to the content administrator that facilitates the generation and sending of complaint information when selected by the content administrator.

10. A system for monitoring electronic communications via the Internet/Intranet, said system operative to store communications and alert predetermined entities when the electronic communications are determined to be inappropriate based on predetermined criteria, said system comprising:

a user interface in communication with the Internet/Intranet;

a software program disposed on said user interface, said software program operative to monitor communications between said user interface and the Internet and to generate a warning notice when said monitored communications are determined to be inappropriate communications based on a predetermined criteria;

a remote security server having a database and in communication with said user interface, said security server operative to receive and store said warning notice from said user interface and further operative to generate a violation notice in response to receiving said warning notice;

a content administrator in communication with said security server, said content administrator operative to receive said violation notice from said security server, said content administrator further operative to access and review said warning notice at said security server for determining whether said warning notice contains inappropriate communications; and

a complaint facilitator accessible by said content administrator, said complaint facilitator permits said content administrator to send a complaint to legal authorities when said warning notice contains inappropriate communications.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said first and second predetermined criteria is stored in said database.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said administrator is in communication with said security server via a computer connected to the Internet.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said security server starts recording said information after law enforcement has been notified.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said administrator is further operative to generate and send an investigation request to local authorities when said administrator determines said stored information is said inappropriate communications.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said security server is selectively accessible to a law enforcement agency.

16. A system for use within corporate boundaries for monitoring electronic communications conducted via the Internet/Intranet, said system including at least one server, said system operative to store communications in the at least one server and alert predetermined entities when the electronic communications between a user interface and the Internet/Intranet are determined to be inappropriate based on predetermined criteria, said system comprising:

a user interface in communication with a first server, the first server operative to facilitate electronic communications between said user interface and the Internet/Intranet;

a software program employed by the first server, said software program operative to monitor said electronic communications between said user interface and the Internet/Intranet and to cause a portion of said electronic communications corresponding to inappropriate communications to be sent to a second server when said electronic communications satisfy a predetermined criteria, the second server operative to store said portion of electronic communications and further operative to generate a violation notice regarding said inappropriate communications; and

a content administrator in communication with the second server, said content administrator operative to receive said violation notice from the second server and to access said stored portion of electronic communications, said system operative to permit said content administrator to send complaint information to legal authorities when said content administrator determines said stored portion of electronic communications are inappropriate communications.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second server are disposed a common corporate boundary.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second server are disposed at separate corporate boundaries that are remote from one another.