Verified device locations in a data network

• US 7,606,938 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enterasys Networks Incorporated (Extreme Networks, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harrington, David, Frattura, David, Graham, Richard W., Roese, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdullahi, Salad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Todd, Gregory G
• Application Number:
  US10/377,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20030217137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 709/220, 709/223, 709/225, 709/229, 709238-244, 701213-216, 701300-302
• US Class Current: 709/242
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0492 by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 : Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 : Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 : Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access

Abstract

One or more trusted network devices within a data network infrastructure determine a physical location of a client device requesting access to the data network infrastructure. A trusted physical location is generated and associated with the client device. The approach can include determining whether a candidate network device is a trusted network device based on a likelihood that the candidate network device can be modified to provide false physical location data. The approach also can include determining a response for an access request by the client and controlling network resources provided to the client based on the trusted physical location.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a connection between a client device and a data network infrastructure;

receiving a first network physical location identifier concerning the client device from one or more trusted network devices within the data network infrastructure;

receiving a first device location identifier from the client device;

processing the first network physical location identifier and the first device location identifier to define a first trusted physical location for the client device associated with the established connection;

associating the first trusted physical location with the established connection;

providing the first trusted physical location to one or more network entry devices or central switching devices within the data network infrastructure, wherein at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices provide a plurality of connections for client devices on dedicated or shared media and are capable of switching and routing data;

switching or routing one or more data packets provided to or received from the client device, by at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices, based at least in part upon the first trusted physical location;

upon receiving either a second network physical location identifier concerning the client device from one or more trusted network devices within the data network infrastructure, or a second device location identifier from the client device,

defining a second trusted physical location for the client device associated with the established connection by processing at least two of;

the first network physical location identifier, the first device location identifier, the second network physical location identifier, and the second device location identifier, wherein one of the at least two is the second network physical location identifier or the second device location identifier;

associating the second trusted physical location with the established connection;

providing the second trusted physical location to one or more network entry devices or central switching devices within the data network infrastructure, wherein at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices provide the plurality of connections for client devices on dedicated or shared media and are capable of switching and routing data; and

switching or routing one or more data packets to or from the client device, by at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices, based at least in part upon the second trusted physical location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the network entry device or central switching device within the data network infrastructure is a trusted network device according to a probability that the network entry device or central switching device can be modified to provide false physical location data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising limiting access to the data network infrastructure based, at least in part, upon the trusted physical location.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more trusted network devices are each associated with a level of trust not less than a threshold.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the threshold depends on a type of request by the client device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the trusted physical location is associated with a level of trust.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining the level of trust of the trusted physical location using levels of trust of the one or more trusted network devices.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the level of trust comprises determining the level of trust based on a method of communication between the data network infrastructure and the client device.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising policing network activities of the client device using the trusted physical location.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a response for an access request by the client device using the trusted physical location.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling network resources provided to the client device using the trusted physical location.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein controlling network resources includes restricting access to the network resources.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the trusted physical location to an emergency response authority.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing information to the client device using the trusted physical location.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein providing information comprises selecting the information using the trusted physical location.

16. A system comprising:

a client device;

a data network infrastructure;

wherein the system is configured to perform operations comprising;

establishing a connection between the client device and the data network infrastructure;

receiving a first device location identifier from the client device;

processing the first network physical location identifier and the first device location identifier to define a first trusted physical location for the client device associated with the established connection;

associating the first trusted physical location with the established connection;

providing the first trusted physical location to one or more network entry devices or central switching devices within the data network infrastructure, wherein at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices provide a plurality of connections for client devices on dedicated or shared media and are capable of switching and routing data; and

switching or routing one or more data packets provided to or received from the client device, by at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices, based at least in part upon the first trusted physical location;

upon receiving either a second network physical location identifier concerning the client device from one or more trusted network devices within the data network infrastructure, or a second device location identifier from the client device,

defining a second trusted physical location for the client device associated with the established connection by processing at least two of;

the first network physical location identifier, the first device location identifier, the second network physical location identifier, and the second device location identifier, wherein one of the at least two is the second network physical location identifier or the second device location identifier;

associating the second trusted physical location with the established connection;

providing the second trusted physical location to one or more network entry devices or central switching devices within the data network infrastructure, wherein at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices provide the plurality of connections for client devices on dedicated or shared media and are capable of switching and routing data; and

switching or routing one or more data packets provided to or received from the client device, by at least one of the one or more network entry devices or central switching devices, based at least in part upon the second trusted physical location.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is further configured to perform operations comprising determining whether the network entry device or central switching device within the data network infrastructure is a trusted network device according to a probability that the network entry device or central switching device can be modified to provide false physical location data.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is further configured to perform operations comprising limiting access to the data network infrastructure based, at least in part, upon the trusted physical location.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is further configured to perform operations comprising policing network activities of the client device using the trusted physical location.