Control of communication session attributes in network employing firewall protection
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an attribute associated with a communication session in a data communication network, comprising the steps of:
- selecting at a first computing device one or more monitoring points and one or more firewall control points distributed in the data communication network, wherein the first computing device functionally serves as a centralized controller;
monitoring at the first computing device the attribute associated with the communication session, wherein the first computing device monitors the attribute via one or more messages received from the one or more selected monitoring points;
determining at the first computing device which computing devices in the data communication network are to be made aware of the monitored attribute, wherein at least one of the computing devices to be made aware of the monitored attribute comprises at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points; and
sending a message from the first computing device to each computing device identified in the determining step, wherein the first computing device controls the at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points via the sent message.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for centralized control of one or more attributes associated with a communication session in a network containing firewalls. By way of example, a technique for controlling an attribute associated with a communication session in a data communication network includes the following steps. The attribute associated with the communication session is monitored at a first computing device, wherein the first computing device includes a functionally centralized controller. The first computing device determines which computing devices in the data communication network are to be made aware of the monitored attribute. At least one of the computing devices to be made aware of the monitored attribute includes a firewall. The first computing device sends a message to each computing device identified in the determining step.
14 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an attribute associated with a communication session in a data communication network, comprising the steps of:
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selecting at a first computing device one or more monitoring points and one or more firewall control points distributed in the data communication network, wherein the first computing device functionally serves as a centralized controller; monitoring at the first computing device the attribute associated with the communication session, wherein the first computing device monitors the attribute via one or more messages received from the one or more selected monitoring points; determining at the first computing device which computing devices in the data communication network are to be made aware of the monitored attribute, wherein at least one of the computing devices to be made aware of the monitored attribute comprises at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points; and sending a message from the first computing device to each computing device identified in the determining step, wherein the first computing device controls the at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points via the sent message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19)
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9. Apparatus for controlling an attribute associated with a communication session in a data communication network, comprising:
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a memory; and at least one functionally centralized processor coupled to the memory and operative to;
(i) select one or more monitoring points and one or more firewall control points distributed in the data communication network;
(ii) monitor the attribute associated with the communication session via one or more messages received from the one or more selected monitoring points;
(iii) determine which computing devices in the data communication network are to be made aware of the monitored attribute, wherein at least one of the computing devices to be made aware of the monitored attribute comprises at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points; and
(iv) send a message to each computing device identified in the determining operation, so as to control the at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points via the sent message. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for controlling an attribute associated with a communication session in a data communication network, comprising:
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means for selecting at a first computing device one or more monitoring points and one or more firewall control points distributed in the data communication network, wherein the first computing device functionally serves as a centralized controller; means for monitoring at the first computing device the attribute associated with the communication session, wherein the first computing device monitors the attribute via one or more messages received from the one or more selected monitoring points; means for determining at the first computing device which computing devices in the data communication network are to be made aware of the monitored attribute, wherein at least one of the computing devices to be made aware of the monitored attribute comprises at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points; and means for sending a message from the first computing device to each computing device identified by the determining means, wherein the first computing device controls the at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points via the sent message.
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17. Apparatus for controlling an attribute associated with a communication session in a data communication network, comprising:
- a functionally centralized server comprising a memory, the server being operative to;
(i) select one or more monitoring points and one or more firewall control points distributed in the data communication network;
(ii) monitor the attribute associated with the communication session via one or more messages received from the one or more selected monitoring points;
(iii) determine which computing devices in the data communication network are to be made aware of the monitored attribute, wherein at least one of the computing devices to be made aware of the monitored attribute comprises at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points; and
(iv) send a message to each computing device identified in the determining operation, so as to control the at least one of the one or more selected firewall control points via the sent message.
- a functionally centralized server comprising a memory, the server being operative to;
Specification