Local firewall apparatus and method

• US 7,127,738 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Jackson, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Minh
• Application Number:
  US09/691,549
• Time in Patent Office: 2,197 Days
• Field of Search: 713150-154, 713/201, 713/300, 713/310, 713/340, 709/225, 709/229, 439/620, 380/52, 380/59, 340/310.01
• US Class Current: 439/620.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

A firewall that may be used in a power integrated network having a plurality of computer systems is powered by the power integrated network. To that end, the firewall includes an input module that receives data addressed to a given computer system in the power integrated network, a security module for determining if the data received at the input module can be forwarded tot he given computer system, and a power module to power both the input module and the security module. The power module receives its power from the power integrated network.

Claims

1. A computer cable for connecting a first computer system with a second computer system in a power integrated network, the cable comprising:

a data channel for transmitting data between the first computer system and the second computer system;

a power channel for transmitting power between the first computer system and the second computer system; and

a firewall coupled with the data channel and the power channel, the firewall being energized by power received from the power channel.

2. The computer cable as defined by claim 1 wherein for bi-directional communication, the data channel includes at least one data wire.

3. The computer cable as defined by claim 1 wherein the power channel includes at least one power wire.

4. The computer cable as defined by claim 1 further comprising a power converter that converts power received from the power channel into a power level that is capable of energizing the firewall.

5. The computer cable as defined by claim 1 wherein the computer cable has two ends, the computer cable further comprising:

a first coupler for coupling the first computer system with a first of the two ends of the computer cable; and

a second coupler for coupling the second computer system with a second of the two ends of the computer cable.

6. The computer cable as defined by claim 1 further comprising a containment layer circumscribing the data channel, the firewall, and the power channel.