Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     In general, network security concerns private network perimeter protection. To such an end, firewalls and intrusion detection tools are often employed. Firewalls may be generally defined as exclusionary mechanisms, screening requests as they arrive and refusing access to users and protocols failing to establish access rights to trusted networks. In such environment, new users and applications often require new rules thereby increasing implementation complexity as network-enabled applications proliferate.  
         [0002]     To limit or eliminate direct communications between trusted and untrusted networks, organizations may employ demilitarized zone (DMZ) networks. A DMZ network may be characterized as one or more intermediary areas where application or user access to trusted networks is screened or authorized. In complex applications, such as encryption and authentication/authorization mechanisms, processing perimeter requests typically creates complexity and bottlenecks. As a result, performance degradation, user inconvenience and administration overhead plague secure applications needing to cross the perimeter. These and other problems are often exacerbated when multiple participants seek to cross the perimeter, each with their own security guidelines and architecture.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]     A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram depicting one embodiment of a communications system incorporating teachings of the present invention;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram depicting an alternate embodiment of a communications system incorporating teachings of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram depicting a further embodiment of a communications system incorporating teachings of the present invention; and  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram depicting an alternate embodiment of a communications system incorporating teachings of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts.  
         [0009]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a communications system, indicated generally at  10  is shown. Communication system  10  may include communication network  12  in communication with one or more gateway devices  14  and  16 . Input/output (I/O) devices  18  and  20  are each preferably in communication with respective gateway devices  14  and  16 . Accordingly, I/O devices  18  and  20  may be in selective communication with each other via gateway devices  14  and  16 , and communication network  12 .  
         [0010]     In one embodiment, communication network  12  may be a public switched telephone network (PSTN). In alternate embodiments, communication network  12  may include a cable telephony network, an IP (Internet Protocol) telephony network, a wireless network, a hybrid Cable/PSTN network, a hybrid IP/PSTN network, a hybrid wireless/PSTN network or any other suitable communication network or combination of communication networks.  
         [0011]     Gateways  14  and  16  preferably provide I/O devices  18  and  20  with an entrance to communication network  12  and may include software and hardware components to manage traffic entering and exiting communication network  12  and conversion between the communication protocols used by I/O devices  18  and  20  and communication network  12 . In some embodiments, gateways  14  and  16  may function as a proxy server and a firewall server for I/O devices  18  and  20 . In some embodiments, gateways  14  and  16  may be associated with a router (not expressly shown), operable to direct a given packet of data that arrives at gateway  14  or  16 , and a switch (not expressly shown), operable to provide a communication path in to and out of gateway  14  or  16 .  
         [0012]     In an exemplary embodiment, I/O devices  18  and  20  may include a variety of forms of communication equipment connected to communication network  12  and accessible to a user. I/O devices  18  and  20  may be telephones (wireline or wireless), dial-up modems, cable modems, DSL (digital subscriber line) modems, phone sets, fax equipment, answering machines, set-top boxes, televisions, POS (point-of-sale) equipment, PBX (private branch exchange) systems, personal computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), SDRs, other nascent technologies, or other types or combinations of communication equipment available to a user. I/O devices  18  and  20  may be equipped for connectivity to communication network  12  via a PSTN, DSL, cable network, wireless network, or other communications channel.  
         [0013]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an alternate embodiment of an exemplary communications system incorporating teachings of the present invention is shown. In the exemplary embodiment shown, communications system  22  includes untrusted network  24  in communication with demilitarized network (DMZ)  26 . DMZ network  26  is also shown in communication with secure or trusted network  28 . Accordingly, untrusted network  24  and trusted network  26  may be in selective communication with one another through DMZ network  26 .  
         [0014]     According to teachings of the present invention, trusted network  28  may differ from untrusted network in myriad respects. In an exemplary embodiment, input/output (I/O) devices included in trusted network  28  preferably have access and rights to modify privileged information. Such capability is unavailable to I/O devices in networks having a lower level of trust, such as untrusted network  24 . Variations in trusted and untrusted networks may be observed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0015]     Depending upon implementation, untrusted network  24  may be configured in myriad formats. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the exemplary embodiment of untrusted network  24  includes a plurality of components  30  and  32 . Components  30  and  32  may include client systems, server systems, combinations of client and server systems, as well as other network operable devices.  
         [0016]     Components  30  and  32 , as illustrated in exemplary untrusted network embodiment  24 , may be coupled to DMZ network  26  through one or more bridging networks  34 . For example, components  30  and  32  may be included in a private network that is coupled to external networks through one or more DMZ networks or other network arrangements. Other implementations and configurations of an untrusted network are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0017]     Like untrusted network  24 , DMZ network  26  may be implemented in a variety of configurations. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , DMZ network  26  is in communication with untrusted network  24  via front or first firewall bridge  36 . Similarly, DMZ network  26  is in communication with trusted network through back or second firewall bridge  38 .  
         [0018]     As described above, a DMZ network may be generally characterized as an intermediary area operable to screen or authorize applications or users seeking access to trusted networks. As shown in the exemplary embodiment of DMZ network  26  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of components  40  may be included therein. According to teachings of the present invention, among the components preferably included in DMZ network  26  is perimeter server  42 . Preferred capabilities of perimeter server  42  are discussed in greater detail below.  
         [0019]     As illustrated in to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , trusted network  28  preferably includes a plurality of components  44  and  46  and perimeter client  48 . Depending upon implementation, components  44 ,  46  and perimeter client  48  may be implemented as one or more clients, servers, other network compatible devices or some combination thereof. Also depending upon implementation, perimeter client  48  may be implemented within or hosted by one or more of trusted network components  44  and  46 . Preferred capabilities of perimeter client  48  are discussed in greater detail below. In addition, other configurations are available to effectively implement teachings of the present invention. For example, trusted network  28  may include one or more bridging networks, DMZ networks, or other communicative devices or arrangements.  
         [0020]     According to one implementation of teachings of the present invention, enhanced network security may be provided through the capabilities discussed herein and implemented in perimeter server  42  and perimeter client  48 . In an exemplary embodiment, perimeter client  48  is preferably implemented as a software module included on one or more components  44  and  46  included in trusted network  28 .  
         [0021]     In an exemplary embodiment of the teachings of the present invention, perimeter client  48  is preferably operable and/or configured to provide one or more socket programming application programming interfaces (API) for utilization by components  44  and  46  of trusted network  28  and, potentially, by one or more aspects of DMZ network  26 . In general, according to teachings of the present invention, TCP/IP-based communication protocol clients and/or servers in trusted network  28  preferably employ one or more services provided by perimeter client  48  to await inbound TCP/IP socket connections and initiate outbound TCP/IP socket connections as well as perform other operations. Perimeter server  42  is preferably operable and/or configured to enact socket requests received from trusted network components, via perimeter client  48 , through such operations as binding to ports, accepting externally-initiated connections and initiating connections to external hosts.  
         [0022]     In operation, socket operations and other communications are preferably relayed between perimeter client  48  and perimeter server  42  via an application-specific protocol P. Protocol P may assume a variety of forms. General guidelines for the capabilities recommended for a protocol P selection are discussed herein. At a minimum, protocol P preferably supports communication session multiplexing.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram depicting another exemplary embodiment of a communication system incorporating teachings of the present invention is shown. Exemplary communication system  50  of  FIG. 3 , similar to communication system  22  of  FIG. 2 , includes untrusted network  24  in communication with DMZ network  26 . In addition, communication system  50  also includes trusted network  28  in communication with DMZ network  26 . Accordingly, untrusted network  24  and trusted network  26  may be in selective communication with one another through DMZ network  26 .  
         [0024]     Within DMZ network  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , perimeter server  42  may be operating in association with one or more hosts or components  40 . In an alternate embodiment, perimeter server  42  may be implemented within one or more processes  52  operating on host or component  40 . Alternative configurations for the implementation of perimeter server  42  within DMZ network  26  are contemplated within the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0025]     Within trusted network  28 , as illustrated in exemplary communication system  50  of  FIG. 3 , perimeter client  48  may be operating in association with one or more trusted network components  44 . In one aspect, perimeter client  48  may be implemented within one or more processes  54  operating on trusted network host or component  44 . A plurality of additional trusted network components or applications, such as client or server components  56 ,  58  and  60 , may also be hosted by one or more processes  54  operating on trusted network host or component  44 . Alternative configurations for implementing or deploying perimeter client  48  within trusted network  28  are contemplated within the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0026]     In one aspect,  FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary configuration of the present invention with perimeter server  42  deployed in DMZ network  26  and an application utilizing perimeter client  48  deployed inside trusted network  28 . In the illustrated exemplar, arrows  62 ,  64  and  66  depict communication connections between components. It should be noted that the depicted communication connections are actually flowing over physical network components, such as bridging network  34 , front and back firewalls  36  and  38 , respectively, etc.  
         [0027]     According to teachings of the present invention, one or more protocol clients and servers, such as trusted network components  56 ,  58  and  60 , preferably utilize perimeter client  48  and its associated one or more socket APIs to initiate or otherwise facilitate communication connections with one or more untrusted network components. Requests for the initiation of a communication session from a trusted network component are sent to perimeter client  48  and preferably converted to protocol P by perimeter client  48  before being sent to perimeter server  42  for processing as described herein. In addition, the one or more trusted network protocol clients and servers may utilize perimeter client  48  and its associated socket APIs to present passive sockets to which one or more untrusted network components, such as components  30  and  32 , may initiate or accept communication connections with one or more trusted network components. In an exemplary embodiment of a perimeter services solution incorporating teachings of the present invention, the one or more protocol clients and servers are preferably co-resident with perimeter client  48 .  
         [0028]     Upon initiation of process  54  and/or associated perimeter client  48 , a plurality of TCP/IP sessions are preferably established. In a preferred embodiment, perimeter client  48 , upon initiation and not requiring an initiation of external communication request from a trusted network component, establishes a predetermined number of TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/Internet protocol) sessions with perimeter server  42 , as indicated at arrow  66 . In addition, in an exemplary embodiment, the TCP/IP sessions initiated by perimeter client  48  are preferably substantially continuously maintained, i.e., they are substantially persistent. The directionality of arrow  66  suggests that TCP/IP sessions are established from perimeter client  48  to perimeter server  42 , not in the other direction.  
         [0029]     In one aspect, pre-establishing substantially persistent communication connections between perimeter client  48  and perimeter server  42  and carrying perimeter client requests, perimeter server responses, and subsequent session data over the same connections, reduces or eliminates situations where perimeter server  42 , within less trusted DMZ network  26 , exposes one or more items of privileged or secure data to initiate a connection to a component within trusted network  28 . This limited or restricted exposure of sensitive data is in harmony with network security best practices, and also minimizes configuration requirements in firewall bridge  38 .  
         [0030]     According to teachings of the present invention, in addition to communication session initiation requests, untrusted network originating contact requests and responses flowing between perimeter client  48  and perimeter server  42 , subsequent communication session data flows, in both directions, preferably take place over the same pre-established, substantially persistent TCP/IP communication sessions initiated by perimeter client  48 . In one embodiment, this communication session data may include application level protocols implemented by one or more protocol clients and/or servers as well as one or more protocols implemented by software resident on one or more of the communicating untrusted network components. Example application level protocols include secure FTP (file transfer protocol), HTTP/S (hypertext transfer protocol over secure socket layer).  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 3 , for example, trusted network component  56  might implement a HTTP/S server and trusted network component  58  might implement a secure FTP server. Through the one or more socket APIs available from perimeter client  48 , substantially any TCP/IP-based protocol, client or server, may be implemented so as to benefit from the perimeter services configuration teachings of the present invention.  
         [0032]     In operation, at the TCP/IP protocol layer, there are preferably a fixed number of sessions between perimeter client  48  and perimeter server  42 . In accordance with teachings of the present invention, this number of sessions preferably does not grow one-to-one with the number of sessions between perimeter server  42  and the one or more untrusted network components communicating with one or more trusted network components. For these teachings of the present invention to be effected, it must be true that each communication session between perimeter server  42  and perimeter client  48  is capable of managing the communication connections for a plurality of communication sessions between perimeter server  42  and a plurality of untrusted network components. In other words, the communication connection ratio between perimeter client  48  to perimeter server  42  connections and perimeter server  42  to untrusted network connections is a one-to-many ratio.  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an alternate embodiment of a telecommunication system incorporating teachings of the present invention is shown. As shown in  FIG. 4 , arrow  66  illustrates a single communication session between perimeter client  48  and perimeter server  42 . According to teachings of the present invention, and as generally described above, single communication session  66  is preferably operable to carry, potentially, many “virtualized” TCP/IP communication sessions. It is, in part, by these means that end-to-end connectivity may be established between a plurality of untrusted network components and one or more trusted network components  56 ,  58  and  60 , such as protocol client/servers. The ability of protocol P to carry more than one communication session per physical communication connection between perimeter server  42  and perimeter client  48  is often termed session multiplexing.  
         [0034]     In network communications, generally, sockets are a precious resource. If protocol P were not able to multiplex communication sessions, perimeter server  42  would be required to maintain a socket connection for each TCP/IP communication session from perimeter server  42  to an untrusted network component and a socket connection for each communication connection between perimeter server  42  and perimeter client  48 . As such, without the benefit of teachings of the present invention, each physical TCP/IP session consumes two sockets, one for the appropriate protocol client/server  56  or  58  and one for its associated untrusted network component  30 ,  32  or  74 . Accordingly, without session multiplexing, two sockets would be consumed on perimeter server  42  for each communication session with untrusted network components  30 ,  32 , etc. In addition, one socket would be consumed on perimeter client  48  for each communication session with the one or more untrusted network components  30 ,  32 , etc. In all, that is three sockets for each communication session between an untrusted network component and a trusted network component. However, with session multiplexing, only one socket need be consumed on perimeter server  42  per untrusted network component communication session. As implemented in the present invention, many untrusted network component communication sessions share each multiplexed communication connection between perimeter server  42  and perimeter client  48 , amortizing the cost of those sockets. Again, as mentioned above, enabling a one-to-many relationship between the number of sockets required between perimeter client  48  and perimeter server  42  and between perimeter server  42  and between perimeter server  42  and a plurality of untrusted network components.  
         [0035]     Implementing a communications system in accordance with the perimeter services teachings of the present invention enables critical security functionality to be effected entirely inside trusted network  28  instead of inside less trusted DMZ network  26 . In addition, transport-level security such as that provided by Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Later Security (TLS) can be implemented above the APIs of perimeter client  48 . Many positive performance and security ramifications flow from enabling such a configuration.  
         [0036]     Continuing with  FIG. 4 , three end-to-end communication sessions are generally shown. A first end-to-end communication session between untrusted network component  30  and trusted network component  56  is depicted generally at arrows  68  and  69 . A second end-to-end communication session between untrusted network component  74  and trusted network component  58  is depicted generally at arrows  70  and  71 . A third end-to-end communication session between untrusted network component  32  and trusted network component  60  is depicted generally at arrows  72  and  73 .  
         [0037]     According to teachings of the present invention, a communication session between one or more untrusted network components and one or more trusted network components may employ a variety of communication protocols. For example, the communication session indicated by arrows  68  and  69  may be facilitated by one or more TCP/IP protocols between perimeter server  42  and untrusted network component  30  at arrow  68 , via protocol P at arrow  69  between perimeter server  42  and perimeter client  48  and via a third protocol between perimeter client  48  and trusted network component  56 . The communication sessions depicted generally by arrows  70  and  71  as well as by  72  and  73  may be similarly implemented. Other implementations are sequences of communication protocols may be used in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0038]     Communication session depicted by arrows  68  and  69  and  70  and  71  represent protected communication sessions between untrusted network components  30  and  74  and trusted network components  56  and  58 , respectively. Represented as solid lines, communication sessions  68  and  69  and  70  and  71  are preferably subjected to at least transport layer cryptography. For example, communication sessions  68  and  69  and  70  and  71  may be implemented as encrypted sessions subjected to SSL or TLS security. Communication sessions  68  and  69  and  70  and  71  and/or their respective data flows may also be subjected to additional cryptographic operations.  
         [0039]     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, perimeter server  42  serves as a conduit for communications authorized or permitted to occur between untrusted network  24  and perimeter client  48 . In such a capacity, perimeter server  42  determines whether an untrusted network component communication should be passed to perimeter client  48  and, in some instances, wraps or packages the untrusted network component communication in protocol P before passing the untrusted network component communication to perimeter client  48  for processing in accordance therewith. As such, as described above, in a communications system implemented in accordance with teachings of the present invention, no cryptographic operations are performed on communication sessions by perimeter server  42  or perimeter client  48 . Instead, cryptographic operations may be performed at the end-points of a communication session, e.g., at either the trusted network component or untrusted network component participating in a particular communication session. In this manner, computing resources may be conserved and the exposure of security certificates  76  is confined within trusted network  28  instead of less trusted DMZ network  26 .  
         [0040]     According to teachings of the present invention, security certificates  76  represent one of many possible types of sensitive information and services securely manipulable by a trusted network component, such as protocol client or server  56 ,  58  or  60 . Other examples of sensitive information which may be further protected in accordance with teachings of the present invention include, without limitation, database management systems and enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications. With the perimeter services teachings of the present invention in place, secure, efficient, manageable bridges between trusted network services/components and untrusted network services/components may be established.  
         [0041]     Communication session arrows  72  and  73 , represented with dashed lines, indicates a communication session unencrypted at the transport layer. As there is no transport layer security implemented on flows communication session  72  and  73 , no cryptographic operations are performed on that session&#39;s data by perimeter server  42  or perimeter client  48 . Although communication session  72  and  73  is not subjected to transport layer security, the data flows communicated thereon may be subject to one or more data level security measures. In such an implementation, a recipient trusted network component and/or untrusted network component is preferably operable to perform any cryptographic operations necessary to access the data.  
         [0042]     The present invention substantially alleviates performance, congestion, and security and administration issues in situations where communications need to traverse the perimeter of trusted networks. Teachings of the present invention are substantially protocol independent and its implementation and configurations are comprehensible to persons familiar with the art. The present invention may be used as a component in proprietary products as well as in conjunction with other applications, including proxies and hardware firewalls.  
         [0043]     Although the disclosed embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit and scope.

Technology Category: 5