NETWORK ASSET TRACKER

• US 20090287788A1
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ETelemetry, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Etelemety
• Inventors: SCHUNEMANN, Alan J.
• Application Number:
  US12/468,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1425 Traffic logging, e.g. anomaly detection

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.

Claims

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.