Patent ID: 7296292
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for managing a distributed port firewall system, the method comprising: configuring a port for access by a specified user during a specified time interval and denying access to all other users during the specified time interval; deploying and starting a target endpoint firewall client on a target endpoint computing device; deploying and starting a source endpoint firewall client on the specified user's source endpoint computing device; responsive to a request by the specified user for access to the port and responsive to a determination that the requested port is assigned to the user for use at the time requested, returning the requested port to the specified user, wherein the request by the specified user for access to the port is from an application that the specified user is executing on the source endpoint computing device, wherein the specified user executable application is enabled to open the port on the target endpoint computing device wherein the step of deploying and starting a target endpoint firewall client is responsive to the specified user logging onto the target endpoint, the target endpoint firewall client being operative to query a port firewall database and responsive thereto, to selectively enable access to the requested resource by the application based on firewall properties maintained in the port firewall database.