Patent ID: 6070242
Filing Date: 2000-05-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a computer network including at least one registration server, a client device, an allocation server for assigning a network address to the client device, and a computer system, a method for controlling the registration of the client device in the computer network, the method comprising the steps, performed by the computer system, of:detecting the assignment of a network address from the allocation server to the client device;establishing an unregistered enabled packet filter in the computer network when the assignment of the network address is detected, the unregistered enabled packet filter discarding all IP packets that originate at the client device and that are not directed at the registration server, thereby allowing a user of the client device to register the client device through the computer network while preventing the client device from sending IP packets to other devices in the computer network; andreplacing, if the registration server authenticates the client device, the unregistered enabled packet filter with a registered enabled packet filter, the registered enabled packet filter selectively forwarding IP packets that originate at the client device and that are directed at one or more devices included in the computer network.