Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-09
2003-11-04
Wiley, David (Department: 2143)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
C709S220000, C709S217000, C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06643694
ABSTRACT:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent application contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. Software for carrying out some of the methods and systems described herein has been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office herewith in the form of a microfiche appendix including numerous frames, one of which being a title frame. This software may be included as part of a chip, disc, or other machine-readable memory according to certain embodiments of this invention. The microfiche appendix is entitled A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING A PROXY SERVER, AN E-MAIL SERVER, AND A DHCP SERVER, WITH A GRAPHIC INTERFACE and includes one (1) microfiche and sixty two (62) total frames.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and method for integrating a proxy server, an e-mail server, and a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, with a graphic interface. The present invention also relates to subsystems thereof, such as a subsystem adapted to provide e-mail searching via a graphic user interface, a subsystem adapted to provide internet access monitoring via a graphic interface, a subsystem adapted to provide internet access control via a graphic interface, and/or a subsystem adapted to configure a DHCP server via a graphic user interface. The present invention also relates to a method of searching e-mail, a method of providing internet access monitoring and/or control, and/or a method of configuring a DHCP server via a graphic user interface.
DHCP servers are generally known, as are proxy servers and e-mail servers. These servers can be implemented via software or firmware that is programmed into one computer or a distributed group of computers in a network.
Typical computer networks use TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol) as the basic communications protocol. In the context of a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), it is common for the computer IP addressing scheme to be static. When a static IP addressing scheme is used, an IP address is assigned to each of the various computers throughout the network. This address remains associated with that computer regardless of how often the computer is used. The static IP addresses then are used to designate the source and/or origin of data transmissions between computers on the network.
Static IP addressing, however, is not always the most practical addressing scheme. When network renumbering becomes desirable or necessary, for example, someone typically must enter configuration changes at every computer on the network. This is daunting task and usually requires a highly skilled network administrator.
Some of the problems associated with static addressing were alleviated by DHCP servers. DHCP servers advantageously are not limited to use of static IP addresses only. Instead, they are able to assign IP addresses randomly. A previously assigned IP address, for example, becomes available for reassignment when the IP address has remained inactive for a predetermined period of time. IP addresses typically are distributed randomly as client computers on the network are turned on and connected to the network.
DHCP servers, however, are not without their disadvantages. Most conventional DHCP servers are provided with few, if any, tools. It therefore is usually difficult to determine which IP address has been assigned (or leased) to a computer on the network. It is especially difficult for those who are not highly skilled in the art of reading a DHCP configuration database. Such databases can be rather cryptic, as demonstrated by Frames 9-1 1 of the attached Microfiche Appendix. Frames 9-11 are hard-copies of an exemplary DHCP configuration database. Because of the difficulty in visually interpreting the information in DHCP databases (and knowing where such databases are stored), there is no convenient way for anyone who is not highly skilled in the art of network management to determine the availability of IP addresses on a network, much less which IP addresses have been assigned to which client computers.
In addition, the initial configuration of the DHCP server on a network typically requires a network manager that is highly skilled in the art of generating configuration files. An exemplary DHCP server program is available from ISC (Internet Software Consortium). The ISC DHCP server program can be downloaded at www.isc.org. Once downloaded, a network manager typically must generate a configuration file for the DHCP server. This typically must be done from scratch because the program arrives with no configuration file (or one that is empty). Configuration files, however, can be rather complicated to create from scratch. An exemplary excerpt from a DHCP configuration file is shown in Frames 12 to 20 of the attached Microfiche Appendix. Generating such a file is a daunting, if not impossible, task for one who is not highly skilled in the art of writing configuration files. Thus, a highly skilled network manager typically is required.
The need for a highly skilled network manager, however, does not end when the initial configuration file is generated. To the contrary, similar needs arise when the network is reconfigured or additional subnetworks are added or reconfigured. Again, the configuration file must be modified to accommodate the changes. Since it may be excessively expensive, especially for small businesses, to consult a highly skilled network manager every time a network is reconfigured, there is a need in the art for a convenient and user-friendly way of facilitating the creation and modification of DHCP configuration files and/or databases.
Likewise, it can be damaging to the reputation of a business or other organization to have e-mail messages sent from its network with objectionable, rude, or otherwise inappropriate content. There is consequently a need for a way of monitoring e-mail messages that have been sent out via the network. Since some incoming messages may contain objectionable, rude or otherwise inappropriate language, a need also exists for a convenient way of monitoring the content of e-mail messages that have been received by a network. Examples include inappropriate jokes or comments that might be circulated through an office if not detected by management, or language associated with corporate espionage, bribery and the like.
Typically, there is no convenient way for a network manager to search e-mail messages for certain text strings of interest. Even the e-mail server programs that do create an archive of e-mail messages (e.g., the SEND MAIL e-mail server program available from www.sendmail.com) do not arrange the contents in such a way that they can be searched manually in a convenient manner. Nor are there any readily available tools that can be used by a network manager to limit a search through e-mail archives to desired text strings, fields of the e-mail, time periods, or the like.
There also is a need for a way of controlling (e.g., selectively denying and allowing) and/or monitoring internet usage by clients of a network. Heretofore there was no convenient way to monitor internet usage, especially in a DHCP server environment and on a per-IP address basis. While the Apache web/proxy server (available from www.Apache.org) does create proxy logs, there is no convenient way to search or access such proxy logs for desired information (e.g, by text string, by IP address, and the like). Monitoring of internet usage, however, can be very useful in determining the demand for internet resources, determining whether certain users of the network are accessing inappropriate web sites, determining whether too much time is being spent on non-work-related web sites, and the like. There is consequently a need for a user-friendly graphic user interface that facilitates such monitoring of internet usage.
Along with the n
Liniak, Berenato & White, LLC
Nguyen Phuoc H.
Wiley David
LandOfFree
System and method for integrating a proxy server, an e-mail... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for integrating a proxy server, an e-mail..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for integrating a proxy server, an e-mail... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3175252