Method, system and apparatus for monitoring and controlling data transfer in communication networks

摘要

A method of monitoring and controlling data transfer between user terminals ( 4 ) coupled to a first communication network ( 7 ) and a second communication network ( 10 ) via a gateway ( 6 ) and a firewall ( 8 ) includes the user terminals ( 4 ) sending access requests to the gateway ( 6 ), the gateway ( 6 ) reading each access request, modifying access rules in the firewall ( 8 ) to permit access for each user terminal requesting access based on an authenticated IP address of each user terminal and monitoring simultaneously at the firewall ( 8 ) the transfer of data between each user terminal ( 4 ) and the second communication network ( 10 ). Bandwidth allocation to the terminals may be dynamically controlled on a global or local basis.