Breaking News -
Security:
NA Granted New U.S. Patent For
Grid Proxy Servers
Network Associates Inc, a leading provider of network security and
availability solutions, announced that the United States Patent and Trademark
Office has granted the company U.S. Patent number 6,510,448 for its technology
invention in the field of proxy servers and context switching.
The technology described in the granted patent, entitled "System, Method
And Computer Program Product For Increasing The Performance Of A Proxy
Server," improves the performance of proxy servers or application-level
gateways by enabling improved context switching. This is accomplished by
utilizing a software 'virtual machine', a self-contained operating environment
that runs separately from the operating system, or other mechanism or
module.
The granted patent covers multiple systems and methods that increase
efficiencies in proxy server traffic. For example, when a process or thread is
blocked, the proxy server can switch to a different process or thread, also
known as a context switch.
The frequent blocking of network read/write operations can result in
frequent context switching, which ultimately reduces the input/output that
occurs on a network. As disclosed in the granted patent, a software virtual
machine or other mechanism or module can increase the efficiency of that
context switching, and in an application to a networking environment, can
improve the efficiency of handling input/output operations through improved
control of switching between contexts.
The performance of context switching in process and thread-based proxies is
an important field of research and development in the security industry
because it helps to reduce cost associated with switching between contexts
while increasing efficiencies in data input/output. The technology in the
granted patent is useful in improving the performance of anti-virus software,
firewalls, intrusion protection or detection, networking software or other
technologies where optimizing speed and minimizing resource demands are
important.
Furthermore, this newly granted patent is applicable to a variety of
computer systems or networks including, but not limited to, firewall systems
such as application-level gateways or proxy servers. "As part of Network
Associates comprehensive technology portfolio, we are dedicated to the
development of cutting-edge technology that monitors network perimeters,
devices and traffic for potential threats, and protects against attacks or
misuse which can damage critical information resources," said Ryan McGee,
director of product marketing for McAfee Security at Network Associates.
"We remain committed to rapidly identifying potential threats and
responding quickly to those threats by incorporating the most innovative
technologies into our comprehensive line of security solutions. This newly
granted patent is another example of this advanced technology that enables us
to provide customers with comprehensive security and increased efficiency on
their networks."
The software virtual machine can support restartable instructions on the
proxy server to ensure that, when resumed, a previously blocked context will
continue with the instruction that had previously been blocked or suspended.
This increased efficiency reduces the overhead expense and delays associated
with traditional context switching, and increases the number of transactions
per second that the proxy server can handle.
With headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif, Network Associates Inc is a
leading supplier of network security and availability solutions. Network
Associates is comprised of three product groups: McAfee Security, delivering
world-class anti-virus and security products; Sniffer Technologies, a leader
in network availability and system security; and Magic Solutions, a leader in
innovative service management solutions.
http://www.networkassociates.com
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