Communications network with smart card
View Patent ↗Methods and systems are disclosed to enable a smart card having relatively low data rate and low computational power to control a high data rate communications channel without degradation of performance. The smart card and an associated monitor/interface, which can be implemented in a network access device, are interposed between transmitting and receiving nodes in a network, and configured to intervene when conditions of rules stored in the smart card are met. For example, the smart card can intervene when a packet header indicates sufficient change in information, such as the exceeding of a predefined threshold or a requirement for user authorization/authentication. In one mode of regulating packet flow, the smart card selectively enables or disables packet transmission, reception, or both, according to the rules stored therein.
1. A method comprising:
storing a contingency rule in a smart card; and
regulating, using the smart card, an information packet in a communication network, wherein the regulating is based on a predefined change in the information packet from a previous information packet, the predefined change satisfying the contingency rule.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contingency rule comprises a predefined threshold of changes in a header of the information packet.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein regulating the information packet comprises disabling an information packet transmitter.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein regulating the information packet comprises disabling an information packet receiver.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information packet comprises a data block, and wherein regulating the information packet comprises:
intercepting the information packet;
modifying the data block; and
re-transmitting the information packet with the modified data block.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein modifying the data block comprises decrypting the data block.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information packet comprises a header block, and wherein regulating the information packet comprises:
intercepting the information packet;
modifying the header block; and
re-transmitting the information packet with the modified header block.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein modifying the header block comprises decrypting the header block.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that an authorization code is required;
receiving the authorization code in response to a determination that the authorization code is required; and
transferring the information packet in response to a determination that the authorization code is the correct authorization code.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transferring the information packet in response to a determination that the authorization code is not required.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising rejecting the information packet in response to a determination that the authorization code is not the correct authorization code.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein rejecting the information packet comprises disabling an information packet transmitter.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein rejecting the information packet comprises modifying the information packet.
14. A method comprising:
receiving packet header information at a monitor;
determining, at the monitor, whether the packet header information indicates that a packet header is compressed;
determining, at the monitor, that a rejection rule associated with a smart card has been satisfied in response to a determination that the packet header is not compressed; and
taking an action, by the monitor, regarding a packet associated with the packet header information in response to a determination that the rejection rule has been satisfied.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the rejection rule comprises a reference to an improper access site.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein taking an action comprises preventing a network access device from transmitting the packet.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein taking an action packet comprises:
altering the packet such that the altered packet is in a usable form; and
transmitting the altered packet.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein altering the packet comprises altering a header of the packet.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein altering the packet comprises altering data of the packet.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein altering the packet comprises decrypting the packet.