Network security
First Claim
1. A computer network arranged to interconnect a plurality of network devices, comprising:
- a communications hub comprising a plurality of ports to each of which a said network device 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 said electrical connections, which alteration is indicative, in use, of the removal of a network device from connection to the port, management means arranged to receive, in use, indications from users of network devices connected to said communications hub of whether the removal of specific ones of said network devices is to be monitored, and alarm means arranged to provide an indication in the event that said detection means detects the removal of a network device for which the management means has received an indication that its removal should 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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer network arranged to interconnect a plurality of network devices, comprising:
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a communications hub comprising a plurality of ports to each of which a said network device 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 said electrical connections, which alteration is indicative, in use, of the removal of a network device from connection to the port, management means arranged to receive, in use, indications from users of network devices connected to said communications hub of whether the removal of specific ones of said network devices is to be monitored, and alarm means arranged to provide an indication in the event that said detection means detects the removal of a network device for which the management means has received an indication that its removal should be monitored. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer network monitoring means for use in a computer network which interconnects a plurality of network devices and comprises a communications hub having a plurality of ports to each of which a said network device may be connected, each port providing electrical connections for the transmission and reception of data, the monitoring means comprising:
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detection means associated with ports in said communications hub and arranged to be responsive to an alteration in the electrical characteristics by said electrical connections at each respective port, which alteration is indicative, in use, of the removal of a network device from connection to the port, management means arranged to receive, in use, indications from users of network devices connected to said communications hub of whether the removal of specific ones of said network devices is to be monitored, and alarm means arranged to provide an indication in the event that said detection means detects the removal of a network device for which the management means has received an indication that its removal should be monitored. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer network to interconnect a plurality of network devices, comprising:
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a communications hub, including;
a plurality of ports to which said plurality of network devices may be coupled, each port of the plurality of ports providing electrical connections for at least one of transmission and reception of data; and
a detection circuit associated with the plurality of ports, and said detection circuit responsive to an alteration in electrical characteristics presented by said electrical connections, and said alteration is indicative of a removal of a network device of said plurality of network devices from connection to a corresponding one of said plurality of ports;
a management circuit coupled to said communications hub, and the management circuit for receiving indications, from users of said plurality of network devices, of whether the removal is to be monitored, and an alarm circuit to provide an indication in the event that said detection circuit detects the removal, for which the management circuit has received an indication that the removal should be monitored.
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Specification