Identifying unauthorized communication systems based on their memory contents
AssigneeAmerica Online, Inc.
InventorsRobert G. Watkins, Andrew L. Wick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An authorized client communication system seeking access to a host communication system may be identified by locating a memory segment within the client communication system that stores client software used to access the host computer system. The memory segment then is examined to determine whether the client software stored in the memory segment corresponds to client software for an official client communication system. Communications from the client communication system are terminated when the client software in the memory segment is determined to diverge from software for an official client communication system.
Claims42
A method for identifying an unauthorized client communication system seeking access to a host communication system, comprising:
- locating a memory segment within a client communication system that stores client software used to access a host communication system;
- determining whether the client software stored in the memory segment located corresponds to client software for an official client communication system;
- and
- identifying the client communication system as an unauthorized client communication system when the client software stored in the memory segment located does not correspond to the client software for an official client communication system.
A computer readable medium or propagated signal having embodied thereon a computer program for identifying an unauthorized client communication system seeking access to a host communication system, the computer program comprising:
- a locating code segment for locating a memory segment within a client communication system that stores client software used to access a host communication system;
- a determining code segment for determining whether the client software stored in the memory segment located corresponds to client software for an official client communication system;
- and
- an identifying code segment for identifying the client communication system as an unauthorized client communication system when the client software stored in the memory segment located does not correspond to the client software for an official client communication system.
An apparatus for identifying an unauthorized client communication system seeking access to a host communication system, the apparatus comprising:
- a locator structured and arranged to locate a memory segment within a client communication system that stores client software used to access a host communication system;
- a comparing device structured and arranged to determine whether the client software stored in the memory segment located corresponds to client software for an official client communication system;
- and
- an identifier structured and arranged to identify the client communication system as an unauthorized client communication system when the client software stored in the memory segment located does not correspond to the client software for an official client communication system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.