Patent ID: 8448220
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a computer coupled to a computer network, the computer operable to execute a merge rule wizard operable to generate one or more displayable dialog boxes that include selectable criteria for merging a plurality of sets of security rules into a single security rule base; the computer including at least one input device operable to allow a user to make a selection of one or more selectable fields displayed in at least one of the one or more displayable dialog boxes, the selectable fields corresponding to a merge criteria and associated with a field from a security rule, wherein the security rule comprises a plurality of fields with values; wherein a first displayable dialog box generated by the merge rule wizard includes at least one selectable merge criteria, the at least one selectable merge criteria associated with a value of a field of a plurality of the security rules in the single security rule base; and wherein upon receiving an indication that the selection of the one or more selectable fields has been completed, the merge rule wizard is operable to run a query on the single security rule base based on the selection of the at least one selectable merge criteria, and to automatically generate and display a listing of any located candidate merge rules.