System and method for detecting computer port inactivity
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a first interface to a local area network connection to an end-user computer;
a second interface to a wide area network connection to a distributed computer network;
detection logic responsive to the first interface, the detection logic to detect user inactivity at the end-user computer; and
blocking logic responsive to the detection logic, the blocking logic to selectively initiate a blocking signal to disable communications received from the second interface from being sent over the first interface to the end-user computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting an idle or inactive data port connection on a personal computer (PC) and blocking external access, e.g., Wide Area Network (WAN) access to an end-user PC is presented. The system provides for added security for unattended PCs having broadband connections. The idle time period for detection/blocking logic initiation of a blocking signal to disable communications, e.g., Ethernet port access to the PC, may be for a fixed time period or may be determined by a user of the end-user PC.
13 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a first interface to a local area network connection to an end-user computer;
a second interface to a wide area network connection to a distributed computer network;
detection logic responsive to the first interface, the detection logic to detect user inactivity at the end-user computer; and
blocking logic responsive to the detection logic, the blocking logic to selectively initiate a blocking signal to disable communications received from the second interface from being sent over the first interface to the end-user computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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establishing a broadband connection, the broadband connection including a first local data connection between an end-user computer and routing equipment and a second wide area network data connection between the routing equipment and an internet service provider;
detecting at the routing equipment that the end-user computer has been idle for an idle time greater than an idle time inactivity threshold and determining an inactivity event at the routing equipment; and
blocking data originating from the second wide area network data connection from being communicated to the first local data connection to establish a blocking condition. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of routing data at digital subscriber line routing equipment, the method comprising:
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establishing a first portion of a digital subscriber line connection, the first portion of the digital subscriber line connection including a local Ethernet data connection between an end-user computer and digital subscriber line routing equipment, the first portion of the digital subscriber line connection terminating at a first port of the digital subscriber line routing equipment;
establishing a second portion of the digital subscriber line connection, the second portion of the digital subscriber line connection including a wide area data connection between the digital subscriber line routing equipment and internet service provider equipment, the second portion of the digital subscriber line connection terminating at a second port of the digital subscriber line routing equipment;
detecting at the first port of the digital subscriber line routing equipment an indication that the end-user computer has been idle for an idle time greater than an idle time inactivity threshold; and
during a first period of time, blocking data received from the second port of the digital subscriber line routing equipment from being communicated by the first port of the digital subscriber line routing equipment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification