Selective prevention of undesired communications within a computer network
First Claim
1. An access-prevention device for controlling communication-access between a computer network and either a computer or a modem that has a given port for bi-directional communication by the computer or the modem with the network, the access-prevention device consisting ofa first connector for connection to the given port,a second connector for connection to the network,hardware-implemented electrically powered switching means connected in series between the first and second connectors and operable in response to a given control signal for preventing receipt by the first connector of any network communications from the second connector and/or for preventing receipt by the second connector of any network communications from the first connector, anda control terminal connected to the switching means for providing said given control signal to the switching means from an external source.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling communication-access within a computer network, includes an access-prevention device connected in series with a computer'"'"'s bi-directional network-communication port for preventing the computer from receiving and/or transmitting any communications from and/or to another computer within the network; and a control device for selectively controlling the access-prevention device. Such an access-prevention device including a control terminal for connection to the control device is disposed within a communication-access control apparatus that may be connected between the computer network and the computer. Alternatively, the access-prevention device is disposed within the computer chassis, the modem, an external network-access terminal or a firewall device. The control device includes a manual switch actuator disposed on a chassis containing the access-prevention device, or a remote-control device, or a computer keyboard or a mouse, or a presence detector, or an inactivity detector.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An access-prevention device for controlling communication-access between a computer network and either a computer or a modem that has a given port for bi-directional communication by the computer or the modem with the network, the access-prevention device consisting of
a first connector for connection to the given port, a second connector for connection to the network, hardware-implemented electrically powered switching means connected in series between the first and second connectors and operable in response to a given control signal for preventing receipt by the first connector of any network communications from the second connector and/or for preventing receipt by the second connector of any network communications from the first connector, and a control terminal connected to the switching means for providing said given control signal to the switching means from an external source.
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10. An access-prevention device for controlling communication-access between a computer network and either a computer or a modem that has a given port for bi-directional communication by the computer or the modem with the network, the access-prevention device consisting of
a first connector for connection to the given port, a second connector for connection to the network, and hardware-implemented switching means connected in series between the first and second connectors for preventing receipt by the first connector of any network communications from the second connector and/or for preventing receipt by the second connector of any network communications from the first connector.
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11. A combination of an access-prevention device and a control device for controlling communication-access within a computer network to a given computer that has a given port for bi-directional communication by the given computer with another computer within the network, said combination comprising:
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an access-prevention device connected in series with the given port for preventing the given computer from receiving and/or transmitting any communications from and/or to said another computer within the network; and a control device for controlling the access-prevention device; wherein the access-prevention device consists of a first connector for connection to the given port, a second connector for connection to the network, hardware-implemented electrically powered switching means connected in series between the first and second connectors and operable in response to a given control signal for preventing receipt by the first connector of any network communications from the second connector and/or for preventing receipt by the second connector of any network communications from the first connector, and a control terminal connected to the switching means for providing said given control signal to the switching means from the control device; and wherein the access-prevention device is disposed within a chassis that contains the given computer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Within a computer network that includes a given computer having a given port for bi-directional communication by the given computer with another computer within the network, and a modem connected to the given port for processing said bi-directional communication by the given computer with said another computer within the network, a combination of an access-prevention device and a control device for controlling communication-access between the given computer and said another computer, the combination comprising:
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an access-prevention device connected in series with the given port and the modem for preventing the given computer from receiving and/or transmitting any communications from and/or to said another computer within the network; and a control device for controlling the access-prevention device; wherein the access-prevention device consists of a first connector for connection to the given port, a second connector for connection to the network, hardware-implemented electrically powered switching means connected in series between the first and second connectors and operable in response to a given control signal for preventing receipt by the first connector of any network communications from the second connector and/or for preventing receipt by the second connector of any network communications from the first connector, and a control terminal connected to the switching means for providing said given control signal to the switching means from the control device; and wherein the access-prevention device is disposed within a chassis that contains the modem. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. Within a computer network that includes a given computer having a given port for bi-directional communication by the given computer with another computer within the network, and an external network-access terminal connected in series with the given port for enabling said bi-directional communication by the given computer with another computer within the network, a combination of an access-prevention device and a control device for controlling communication-access between the given computer and said another computer, the combination comprising:
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an access-prevention device connected in series with the given port and the external network-access terminal for preventing the given computer from receiving and/or transmitting any communications from and/or to said another computer within the network; and a control device for controlling the access-prevention device; wherein the access-prevention device consists of a first connector for connection to the given port, a second connector for connection to the network, hardware-implemented electrically powered switching means connected in series between the first and second connectors and operable in response to a given control signal for preventing receipt by the first connector of any network communications from the second connector and/or for preventing receipt by the second connector of any network communications from the first connector, and a control terminal connected to the switching means for providing said given control signal to the switching means from the control device; and wherein the access-prevention device is disposed within a housing that contains the external network-access terminal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. Within a computer network that includes a given computer having a given port for bi-directional communication by the given computer with another computer within the network, and an external firewall device connected to the given port for providing firewall protection for the given computer, a combination of an access-prevention device and a control device for controlling communication-access between the given computer and said another computer, the combination comprising:
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an access-prevention device connected in series with the given port and the external firewall device for preventing the given computer from receiving and/or transmitting any communications from and/or to said another computer within the network; and a control device for controlling the access-prevention device; wherein the access-prevention device consists of a first connector for connection to the given port, a second connector for connection to the network, hardware-implemented electrically powered switching means connected in series between the first and second connectors and operable in response to a given control signal for preventing receipt by the first connector of any network communications from the second connector and/or for preventing receipt by the second connector of any network communications from the first connector, and a control terminal connected to the switching means for providing said given control signal to the switching means from the control device; and wherein the access-prevention device is disposed within a housing that contains the external firewall device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification