US Patent 7483424 Method, for securely maintaining communications network connection data

A method for securely maintaining communications network connection data is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed according to which a user is prompted for network element address substitution data which specifies a substitute network element address for a network element address associated with a network element of a first communications network. The network element address substitution data is then stored within a first storage element, wherein access to the first storage element outside of the first communications network is restricted. Connection monitor data associated with the first communications network is processed utilizing the network element address substitution data. According to the described embodiment, such connection monitor data processing includes identifying metadata of the connection monitor data which specifies the described network element address, and substituting the metadata with metadata which specifies the substitute network element address.