Network security
First Claim
1. A computer network monitoring means comprising a communications hub, management means and alarm means, whereinthe communications hub comprises a plurality of ports to which network devices may be connected, each port providing electrical connections arranged for the transmission and reception of data, and detection means associated with each of said ports and arranged to be responsive to an alteration in the electrical characteristics presented by at least a pair of said electrical connections, which alteration is indicative, in use, of the removal of a network device from connection to said port,the management means is arranged to receive, in use, indications from network devices connected to said communications hub of whether their removal is to be monitored, andthe alarm means is arranged to provide an indication in the event that said detection means detects the removal of a network device which has indicated to said management means that its removal is to be monitored.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An alarm or monitoring system for a computer network in which network devices are able to be "locked" onto the network, in which condition an alarm is raised if the device is removed. This occurs even when the device is switched off, as the monitoring of the presence of the device is performed by the network. Alternatively, the device may be "unlocked" from the network, in which condition no alarm is raised even if the device is removed. Control of whether a particular network device is subject to the alarm system is therefore in the hands of the user of the device and this is particularly useful for items such as lap-top computers which may quite legitimately be regularly connected to and disconnected from the network.
41 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A computer network monitoring means comprising a communications hub, management means and alarm means, wherein
the communications hub comprises a plurality of ports to which network devices may be connected, each port providing electrical connections arranged for the transmission and reception of data, and detection means associated with each of said ports and arranged to be responsive to an alteration in the electrical characteristics presented by at least a pair of said electrical connections, which alteration is indicative, in use, of the removal of a network device from connection to said port, the management means is arranged to receive, in use, indications from network devices connected to said communications hub of whether their removal is to be monitored, and the alarm means is arranged to provide an indication in the event that said detection means detects the removal of a network device which has indicated to said management means that its removal is to be monitored.
Specification