Patent ID: 6044402
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network connection blocker for monitoring connections between host computers in a computer network and blocking unwanted ones of the monitored connections, the host computers transmitting monitored connection packets over the computer network that are addressed to each other and, in accordance with a connection oriented transport layer protocol, establish, provide network services with, and close the monitored connections, the network connection blocker comprising:a central processing unit;a network interface configured to receive the transmitted monitored connection packets over the computer network without blocking their reception by the host computers; anda blocking module running on the central processing unit and configured to (a) process the received monitored connection packets to detect the unwanted connections, and (b) generate blocking connection packets that are addressed to those of the host computers that have the detected unwanted connections therebetween and, in accordance with the connection oriented transport layer protocol, cause the detected unwanted connections to be closed by the host computers that have the unwanted connections therebetween;the network interface being further configured to transmit the generated blocking connection packets over the computer network to the host computers that have the detected unwanted connections therebetween.