WIRELESS NETWORK CONTROL AND PROTECTION SYSTEM

摘要

A local area network and method for operating the same is discosed. The local computer network is connected to a wide area network (20) by a node (30) that receives network communications from computers (21-23) on the local network. The node (30) includes a registration systems (12) for assigning one of a plurality of predetermined states to each of the computers (21-23) on the network, the states determining the types of communications allowed by that computer on the wide area network (20). The registration system (12) assigns a first one of the states to one of the computers (21-23) when that computer provides registration information to the registration system (12) and a second state when the computer provides authentication information to an authentication site (25). A computer on the network has restricted access to the wide area network (20) when assigned the first state and less restricted access to the wide area network (20) when assigned the second state.