Public network access server having a user-configurable firewall

Abstract

A user-configurable firewall and method in which a user-changeable security setting for a client computer is maintained by an access server through which a user accesses the public network. The user-changeable security setting can be used to specify which outside computers or network devices may access the client computer and what type of access to the client computer is allowed. If an attempt to access the client computer is made, the user-configurable security setting is checked to determine if the attempted access is allowed by the current security setting. If the attempted access is allowed by the current security setting, access is allowed to the client computer; otherwise, access is not allowed. If the user changes the user-configurable security setting, the changes to the user-configurable security setting are provided to the access server.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A computer-implemented method for regulating access to a client device, comprising:
 receiving an inbound electronic communication from a sender that is addressed to the client device;   accessing a list of sender addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication;   determining whether an address of the sender is included in the list of sender addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication; and   allowing the inbound electronic communication to be sent to the client device based on the determination.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising accessing a configurable list of sender addresses that is configurable by a user of the client device. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising determining whether the address of the sender is included in the configurable list of sender addresses. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from the user to modify the configurable list of sender addresses; and   modifying the configurable list of sender addresses based on the request.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the inbound electronic communication comprises a plurality of data packets. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising:
 encapsulating the plurality of data packets; and   allowing the encapsulated plurality of data packets to be sent to the client device based on the determination.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising sending the inbound electronic communication to the client device based on the determination. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the inbound electronic communication conforms to a first network communications protocol. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising formatting the inbound electronic communication according to a second network communications protocol. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the list of sender addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication comprises a list of Internet Protocol addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication. 
     
     
         56 . A computer-based system for regulating access to a client device, comprising at least one processor and at least one storage medium storing a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions being executable by the at least one processor for:
 receiving an inbound electronic communication from a sender that is addressed to the client device;   accessing a list of sender addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication;   determining whether an address of the sender is included in the list of sender addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication; and   allowing the inbound electronic communication to be sent to the client device based on the determination.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for accessing a configurable list of sender addresses that is configurable by a user of the client device. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for determining whether the address of the sender is included in the configurable list of sender addresses. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57 , further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for:
 receiving a request from the user to modify the configurable list of sender addresses; and   modifying the configurable list of sender addresses based on the request.   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the inbound electronic communication comprises a plurality of data packets. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for:
 encapsulating the plurality of data packets; and   allowing the encapsulated plurality of data packets to be sent to the client device based on the determination.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 56 , further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for sending the inbound electronic communication to the client device based on the determination. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the inbound electronic communication conforms to a first network communications protocol. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor for formatting the inbound electronic communication according to a second network communications protocol. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the list of sender addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication comprises a list of Internet Protocol addresses to which the client device has previously sent at least one outbound electronic communication.