Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In a distributed digital data network comprising a plurality of interconnected control nodes with one of more workstations connected to each control node, the control nodes being responsive to requests entered at the workstations by operators, each of whom has logged on to the network by identifying himself and providing a password matching a password prestored for him, the control nodes being located in controlled-access trusted facilities and the workstations being located in untrusted facilities, a method of enhancing network security comprising the steps of: entering and storing a prestored password for an operator at a trusted facility; and forwarding from a workstation to a control node at a trusted facility a password provided by an operator attempting to log on and performing comparison with a password prestored for that operator within the control node at the trusted facility.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
The method recited in claim 1 wherein further each control node is controlled by software organized as a plurality of processes, and a first certain process in each control node receives requests from workstations and forwards requests to second processes for disposition and wherein the method further includes the steps of storing with each operators prestored password his account number, his user identification, and his corporate affiliation; retrieving each operators password, user account number, user identification, and corporate affiliation responsive to the first certain process upon its receipt of a request from an operator; forwarding to the second process the user account number, user identification, and corporate affiliation along with a request from an operator; and verifying in the second process that the action requested is appropriate to the user account number, user identification, and corporate affiliation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
258 words
In a distributed digital data network comprising a plurality of interconnected control nodes with one of more workstations connected to each control node, the control nodes being responsive to requests entered at the workstations by operators, each of whom has logged on to the network by identifying himself and providing a password matching a password prestored for him, the control nodes being located in controlled-access trusted facilities and the workstations being located in untrusted facilities, each control node is controlled by software organized as a plurality of processes, and a first certain process in each control node receives requests from workstations and forwards requests to second processes for disposition, a method of enhancing network security comprising the steps of: entering and storing a prestored password for an operator at a trusted facility; forwarding from a workstation to a control node at a trusted facility a password provided by an operator attempting to log on and performing comparison with a password prestored for that operator within the control node at the trusted facility; storing with each operators prestored password his account number, his user identification, and his corporate affiliation; retrieving each operators password, user account number, user identification, and corporate affiliation responsive to the first certain process upon its receipt of a request from an operator; forwarding to the second process the user account number, user identification, and corporate affiliation along with a request from an operator; and verifying in the second process that the action requested is appropriate to the user account number, user identification, and corporate affiliation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method recited in claim 1, wherein further: each control node notes times at which requests are received from each workstations connected to it, and each control node logs off operators at workstations from which no requests are received for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method recited in claim 2, wherein further: each control node notes times at which requests are received from each workstations connected to it, and each control node logs off operators at workstations from which no requests are received for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method recited in claim 3, wherein further: each control node notes times at which requests are received from each workstations connected to it, and each control node logs off operators at workstations from which no requests are received for a predetermined period of time.