Granted Patent B1

US 7,672,992 · App. 10/460,079 · Granted Mar 2, 2010

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A method for monitoring a computer system for modem use, the method comprising:

starting a background application on a computer system;

monitoring, via the background application, a communication port on the computer system for communication data;

determining whether the communication data is a modem instruction; and

preparing a notification to be sent to an administrative system via a computer network if the communication data is a modem instruction, the notification including identification information relating to the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the notification to the administrative system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the background application comprises a service.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the background application further comprises a device driver.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the device driver is a filter driver.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the background application comprises a daemon.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the background application uses a Remote Access Service (RAS).

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the background application uses a Telephony Application Programming Interface (TAPI).

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring the communication port for communication data comprises analyzing the communication data for writes and/or reads.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring the communication port for communication data comprises analyzing the communication data for an AT command.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein monitoring the communication port for communication data comprises analyzing the communication data for a Received Line Signal Detect (RLSD) change.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identification information comprises a communication identification, an address of the computer system and a user identification.

13. A computer-storage media comprising executable instructions for:

starting a background application on a computer system;

monitoring, via the background application, a communication port on the computer system for communication data;

determining whether the communication data is a modem instruction;

preparing a notification to be sent to an administrative system via a computer network if the communication data is a modem instruction; and

sending the notification to the administrative system, wherein the notification comprises identification information relating to the computer system.

14. The computer-storage media of claim 13 , wherein the identification information comprises a communication identification, an address of the computer system and a user identification.

15. The computer-storage media of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions comprise a background application.

16. The computer-storage media of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions comprise a service and a device driver.

17. The computer-storage media of claim 13 , wherein the executable instructions comprise a daemon.

18. A system for monitoring modem use, the system comprising:

a computing device;

a computer-storage media that is part of the computing device or in electronic communication with the computing device, the computer-storage media comprising executable instructions, the instructions being executable to:

start a background application on the system;

monitor, via the background application, a communication port on the system for communication data;

determine whether the communication data is a modem instruction;

prepare a notification to be sent to an administrative system if the communication data is a modem instruction; and

send the notification to the administrative system, wherein the notification comprises identification information, the identification information relating to the system.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the identification information comprises a communication identification, and an address of the computer system and a user identification.

Assignments (26)