Network connection identification

• US 20070130468A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation), Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, David, Thaler, David, Begorre, Bill, Cunningham, Aaron, Sinha, Alok, Watson, Marieke, Miner, Patrice
• Application Number:
  US11/296,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20070130468A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

Discovery of a network to which a device is in communication and classifying the network is disclosed. The network may be classified as a network already known or a new network signature may be created where the network signature is made up of a network id, a link id and a hop id.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a network to which a device connects comprising:

obtaining a network signature from a network to which a device connects;

determining whether the network signature is recognized by the device;

if the network signature is not recognized determining whether the network signature is managed;

if it is determined that the signature is not managed, attempting to obtain a signature matching network ID and link ID;

if it is determined that the signature is managed, attempting to obtain a signature matching network ID;

determining whether a matching network signature is found;

if a matching network signature is not found, creating a new profile for the new network signature;

if a matching network signature is found, merging the new network signature with the found network signature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating network signature status if a network signature is recognized by the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein updating network signature status comprises updating whether a network signature was connected or not.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein updating network signature status comprises updating whether a network signature was authenticated or not.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a network signature comprises a network ID, a link ID and a hop ID.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a network ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a site.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a link ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a subnet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a hop ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a segment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a managed network comprises a network with a domain controller.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein an unmanaged network comprises a network without a domain controller.

11. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instruction for a method of analyzing and classifying a network connection for an apparatus based on a decision as to the ultimate connection of the apparatus, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

obtaining a network signature from a network to which a device connects wherein the network signature comprises a network ID, a link ID and a hop ID;

determining whether the network signature is recognized by the device;

if the network signature is not recognized determining whether the network signature is managed;

if it is determined that the signature is not managed, attempting to obtain a signature matching network ID and link ID;

if it is determined that the signature is managed, attempting to obtain a signature matching network ID;

determining whether a matching network signature is found;

if a matching network signature is not found, creating a new profile for the new network signature;

if a matching network signature is found, merging the new network signature with the found network signature.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising computer executable instructions for updating network signature status if a network signature is recognized by the device.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein updating network signature status comprises updating whether a network signature was connected or not.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein updating network signature status comprises updating whether a network signature was authenticated or not.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein a network ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a site, wherein a link ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a subnet and wherein a hop ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a segment.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein a managed network comprises a network with a domain controller and wherein an unmanaged network comprises a network without a domain controller.

17. A computer system comprising a processor, a memory and an input-output device, the processor being programmed to execute instructions for analyzing and classifying a network connection for an apparatus based on a decision as to the ultimate connection of the apparatus, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions for:

obtaining a network signature from a network to which a device connects wherein the network signature comprises a network ID, a link ID and a hop ID;

determining whether the network signature is recognized by the device;

if the network signature is not recognized determining whether the network signature is managed;

if it is determined that the signature is not managed, attempting to obtain a signature matching network ID and link ID;

if it is determined that the signature is managed, attempting to obtain a signature matching network ID;

determining whether a matching network signature is found;

if a matching network signature is not found, creating a new profile for the new network signature;

if a matching network signature is found, merging the new network signature with the found network signature.

18. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising computer executable instructions for updating network signature status if a network signature is recognized by the device.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein updating network signature status comprises updating whether a network signature was connected or not, wherein updating network signature status comprises updating whether a network signature was authenticated or not, and wherein a managed network comprises a network with a domain controller and wherein an unmanaged network comprises a network without a domain controller.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein a network ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a site, wherein a link ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a subnet and wherein a hop ID comprises a unique ID corresponding to a segment.