Patent ID: 7451483
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for analyzing a packet using a firewall which creates a plurality of trust levels for a plurality of computer networks, the method comprising: using a single router containing the firewall and a switch to service each of the plurality of computer networks by performing the steps of: determining a destination of the packet from a packet header; accessing a plurality of rules; determining the appropriate rules to use to analyze the packet; analyzing the packet using the rules; determining if the packet is permitted under the rules; responsive to a determination that the rules permit the packet, permitting the packet to pass to the destination only when the destination does not have a trust level higher than a trust level of a source of the packet; responsive to a determination that the rules deny the packet, denying the packet; wherein a trust level is a security level associated with a particular set of rules in the firewall; and wherein the trust level reduces the time required for the firewall to analyze and either permit or deny the packet.