Patent ID: 6550012
Filing Date: 2003-04-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a computer network system comprising a plurality of software components, a method for providing network security using authenticated communication between software components of the system, the method comprising:specifying first, second, and third software components that may participate in authenticated communication, including creating a digital certificate for each software component; detecting by the first component a security-related event of interest that occurs in the system; initiating authenticated communication between the first software component and the second software component, so that the first software component may report the event to the second software component; initiating authenticated communication between the second software component and the third software component, so that the second software component may indicate to the third software component how to handle the event; and handling the event at the third software component in the manner indicated by the second software component, so that the event is automatically handled by the system.