Patent attributes
A connection policy for a communications network has a local connection policy indicating which paths between a given one of the nodes (computer A, router A, host 898) and others of the nodes (computers B, C, filters B1, B2, C1, C2, hosts 890, 892) are allowable paths, by a symbolic expression of ranges endpoint addresses and other local connection policies in respect of other nodes. It is implemented in a distributed manner by determining, for the given node, which of the allowable paths, are dual authorized as allowable by the other local connection policy relating to the other node at the other end of that path, by Boolean operations on the symbolic expressions. For a given message for a given path between two of the nodes having their own local connection policies, both of these nodes determine whether the given path is currently dual authorized. This can provide reassurance that changes in versions of the connection policy won't transiently open a risk of undetected unwanted communication.
