Programmable data alarm

• US 5,508,690 A
• Filed: 02/08/1994
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: E-Systems LLC
• Inventors: Shur, Kenneth J., Trapane, Karen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/193,520
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 340/825.37, 340/825.44, 340/825.52, 340/505, 340/506, 340/507, 340/657, 340/825.16, 379/57, 379/165
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212

Abstract

A programmable data alarm containing a dedicated microprocessor serially interfaced with a data communications network is configured to monitor the network'"'"'s data transmission lines for transmission of preselected characters. A number of preselected character strings may be input into the data alarm through data terminals coupled to the communications network and stored in a non-volatile memory. The microprocessor compares each character string transmitted over the communications network to the stored preselected character strings and outputs an audible and visual alarm signal when a match between the transmitted and stored strings occurs. The microprocessor may also be configured to monitor the handshake lines of the data communications network for signal transitions that will trigger the alarm signal.

Claims

1. A programmable alarm to be interfaced with a data terminal in a computer network for monitoring the network for preselected character strings, comprising:

means for storing preselected character strings;

input means interfaced with a data terminal in a computer network for receiving strings transmitted over a communications link of the computer network;

a processor coupled to the means for storing character strings for comparing each character string received to each stored character string;

means coupled to the processor and the input means for responding to a user actuated input over the communications link and switching between an alarm programming mode wherein user preselected character strings are received from the communications link and stored in the means for storing and an alarm operating mode wherein character strings are received from the communications link of the computer network and compared to the stored preselected character strings; and

means for outputting an alarm signal in response to a comparison between one of the character strings received from the communications link and one of the stored preselected character strings.

2. The programmable alarm as in claim 1 wherein the input means comprises:

interface means for monitoring the communications link for transmission of character strings.

3. The programmable alarm as in claim 1 wherein the input means comprises:

interface means for monitoring the communications link for handshake signals.

4. The programmable alarm as in claim 3 further including:

means for coupling the processor to the interface means for detecting a handshake signal on the communications link; and

means for outputting the alarm signal in response to the detection of the handshake signal.

5. A programmable alarm to be interfaced with a data terminal in a computer network for monitoring the network for preselected character strings, comprising:

processor control means for selecting between an alarm programming mode and an alarm operating mode and for generating a mode selection signal indicative thereof;

storage means for storing preselected character strings;

means for interfacing the data terminal and the storage means with a communications link of the computer network;

means coupled to the interfacing means for transmitting received character strings from the communications link to the storage means wherein the means coupled to the interfacing means responds to a user actuated input of preselected character strings over the communications link;

a processor connected to the storage means and the means coupled to the interfacing means, said processor having first means responsive to the mode selection signal for operating the processor in the alarm programming mode to receive user preselected data strings transmitted from the communications link to the storage means and to store the user preselected character string in the storage means, and having second means responsive to the mode selection signal for operating the processor in the alarm operating mode to monitor the transmission of character strings over the communications link and compare each monitored character string transmitted over the communications link with each stored user preselected character string; and

means for generating an alarm when a monitored character string matches a stored user preselected character string.

6. A programmable alarm to be interfaced with a data terminal in a computer network for monitoring the network for preselected character strings, comprising:

means for interfacing with the data terminal and a communications link of the computer network to receive both character string and handshake data strings transmitted thereon;

storage means for storing user preselected character strings;

means coupled to the means for interfacing for transmitting received user preselected character strings from the communications link to the storage means wherein the means for transmitting responds to a user actuated input transmitted over the communications link;

means responsive to an alarm signal for signalling an alarm; and

a processor coupled to the means for interfacing, means for transmitting, said storage means and said means for signalling, said processor having;

means for receiving from the communications link in a first operating mode a transmitted alarm operation selection comprising a handshake data signal monitor selection or a character string data signal monitor selection; and

means for monitoring character signal transmissions over the communications link via the means for interfacing in a second operating mode, said means for monitoring including;

means responsive to the receipt of the string data signal monitor selection in the first operating mode for outputting the alarm signal when a character string matching one of the stored user preselected strings is transmitted over the communications link; and

means responsive to the receipt of the handshake signal monitor selection in the first operating mode for outputting the alarm signal when a handshake data string is transmitted over the communications link.

7. The programmable alarm as in claim 6 wherein the processor further includes means for receiving string data signals transmitted by said configuring means from the communications link in the first operating mode and storing received string data signals in the means for storing.