Patent ID: 6643698
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
An apparatus for communicating on a network having a plurality of secured users utilizing multi-level network security devices, and unsecured users, wherein a first user selected from said plurality attempts to transmit a message to a second user selected from said plurality, when either said first user is a secured user, and said second user is an unsecured user, or when said first user is an unsecured user, and said second user is a secured user, the apparatus comprising:means for intercepting said message with a multi-level network security device; means for determining whether network security parameters will be breached by said message; and, means for transmitting said message to said second user if network security parameters will not be breached by said message; and when both said first and second users are secured users: means for intercepting said message with a multi-level network security device utilized by said first user; means for determining whether network security parameters will be breached by said message; means for encrypting said message using said multi-level network security device utilized by said first user if network security parameters will not be breached by transmission of said message; means for transmitting said encrypted message to a second multi-level network security device utilized by said second user if network security parameters will not be breached by transmission of said message; means for decrypting said encrypted message using said multi-level network security device utilized by said second user if network security parameters will not be breached by transmission of said message; and, means for transmitting said message to said second user.