Network asset tracker for identifying users of networked computers
First Claim
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1. A system for identifying users of a plurality of computers within a communications network, comprising:
- a database storing directory information for a plurality of users authorized to use the plurality of computers within the communications network;
a name discovery apparatus having at least one connection to a primary switch in the communications network for capturing inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic; and
a server, connected to said name discovery apparatus and having access to said database via the communications network, said server having a server process capable of joining said inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic captured by said name discovery apparatus and said directory information stored in said database, thereby identifying which of said plurality of users is using which of the plurality of computers.
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Abstract
A network attached apparatus, system, method and computer program product for identifying users of networked computers is provided. The apparatus is installed at core network uplink points and analyzes packets as they traverse the network and intelligently correlates the contents of the traffic with user contact and system access information. The resulting information is used to identify the user of the networked computer for security or accounting purposes.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for identifying users of a plurality of computers within a communications network, comprising:
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a database storing directory information for a plurality of users authorized to use the plurality of computers within the communications network;
a name discovery apparatus having at least one connection to a primary switch in the communications network for capturing inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic; and
a server, connected to said name discovery apparatus and having access to said database via the communications network, said server having a server process capable of joining said inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic captured by said name discovery apparatus and said directory information stored in said database, thereby identifying which of said plurality of users is using which of the plurality of computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for identifying users of a plurality of computers within a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:
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capturing inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic from at least one primary switch in the communications network;
extracting Internet Protocol addresses and electronic mail addresses from said captured inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic;
accessing a database of directory information for a plurality of users authorized to use the plurality of computers within the communications network, said database comprising a plurality of electronic mail addresses, each corresponding to one of said plurality of users; and
joining said extracted electronic mail addresses with said plurality of electronic mail addresses stored in said database, thereby mapping a subset of said extracted Internet Protocol addresses to a subset of said plurality of users. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to identify users of a plurality of terminals within a communications network, said control logic comprising:
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first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to capture inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic from at least one primary switch in the communications network;
second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to extract Internet Protocol addresses and electronic mail addresses from said captured inbound and outbound electronic mail traffic;
third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to access a database of directory information for a plurality of users authorized to use the plurality of terminals within the communications network, said database comprising a plurality of electronic mail addresses, each corresponding to one of said plurality of users; and
fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to join said extracted electronic mail addresses with said plurality of electronic mail addresses stored in said database, thereby mapping a subset of said extracted Internet Protocol addresses to a subset of said plurality of users. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification