Patent ID: 7263558

Claim:
A method for use in a detector device for controlling access to information on a network including a plurality of interconnected devices, the detector device coupled to the network between a first device and a second device, the method comprising: monitoring, independent of the first device and the second device, a plurality of request signals between the first device and the second device in the network, at least one request signal including a user identification parameter; determining whether a user identified by the user identification parameter in the at least one request signal is permitted access to data being requested; comparing a predetermined parameter associated with the user with a predetermined parameter associated with the data to determine permission to access the data; and generating a response to the request signal to alter communications between the first device and the second device in response to the comparison providing a first result and to not alter communications between the first device and the second device in response to the comparison providing a second result, the detector device allowing the plurality of request signals to pass uninterrupted between the first device and the second device regardless of the first result or the second result in response to the detector device transmitting a non-impedance signal to the first device or the second device, the non-impedance signal transmitted in response to an operational failure of the detector device, the operational failure comprising a non-functioning operation.