Patent ID: 9161229
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling access to a communication network, comprising: receiving a request from a communication device to connect to the communication network, the request including a substantially unique identifier of the communication device; determining whether the identifier is contained in a local device database of the network; and where the identifier is not contained in the local device database: authorizing the communication device to connect to the network; at a subsequent update of the local device database, determining a status of the identifier from a shared device database; and updating the status of the identifier in the local device database, wherein the local device database comprises: a white-list of device identifiers authorized to connect to the network; a black list of device identifiers not authorized to connect to the network; and a gray-list of device identifiers authorized to connect to the network but to be monitored; in which authorizing the communication device to connect to the network comprises determining whether the communication device is authorized to connect to the network by way of the identifier.