Patent ID: 6163844
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method for granting accesses to information in a distributed computer system, comprising the steps of:coupling a plurality of data processing devices to one another in inter-network fashion with transfer protocols;providing selective access to data packets independently of location at which said data packets are stored;protecting said data packets against random access by allocation of said data packets to a security class for which properties of an accessing party are defined;enabling access to said data packets given a request by an accessing party having a corresponding security class as a requested data packet;allocating said data packets to at least three security classes, said at least three security classes including:a first security class which grants unrestricted access to a data packet and a second security class and a third security class which grant conditional access to a data packet;defining a plurality of properties that are allocated to said data packets in data-packet-specific fashion;checking presence of said properties allocated to a data packet before enabling access to said data packet; andrequesting an accessing party to communicate the accessing party's properties when the properties of the accessing party are unknown for data packets of said second security class.