Patent ID: 7337219

Claim:
A method for regulating access based on a device class of a user device in a home network, the method comprising: receiving, at a proxy in a home network, a message from a device in the home network that includes a request for a network address for use by the device from which the message was sent; in response to receiving the message from the device, assigning a network address for the device; determining, based on information included in the received message, a device class for the device; associating the assigned network address and the device class determined for the device with the device; storing the association between the device and the assigned network address and the device class determined for the device; receiving, at the proxy in the home network, a request from the device to access a destination system, the request including an indication that the request was sent from the assigned network address; in response to receiving the request, accessing the stored association of the assigned network address and the device class determined for the device; based on the indication that the request was sent from the assigned network address and the stored association of the assigned network address and the device class determined for the device, identifying the device class of the device; and regulating access to the destination system based on the device class identified for the device.