Patents by Inventor Alan B. Butt

Alan B. Butt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11934463
    Abstract: Methods for identifying potentially sensitive information and protecting such potentially sensitive information include scanning systems that collect and/or disseminate such information. Without limitation, systems collect and/or disseminate personal identification numbers (e.g., personal identification numbers, tax identification numbers, etc.), such as merchant systems, bank systems, healthcare systems, and the like, that collect, use, or disseminate sensitive information may be scanned to identify sequences of data that are likely to be sensitive, and may take actions to protect such sequences of data. Scanning and protection systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SecurityMetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Caldwell, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 11704672
    Abstract: A data string that includes potentially sensitive information, such as an account number for a payment card, may be evaluated to determine whether or not any portion of the data string encodes a known identifier of sensitive information, such as a known bank identification number (BIN). A fixed number of bytes of the data string may be analyzed using a trie algorithm, in which the value of a first byte is compared with the value of a corresponding first character of the known identifier. A second byte is then compared with a set of values of corresponding second characters, which accompany the first character of the known identifier. Then the value of a third byte of the data string is compared with a set of values of corresponding third values, which accompany the first and second characters of the known identifier. The use of a trie algorithm decreases the length of the search process by several orders of magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: SecurityMetrics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan B. Butt
  • Publication number: 20220138269
    Abstract: Methods for identifying potentially sensitive information and protecting such potentially sensitive information include scanning systems that collect and/or disseminate such information. Without limitation, systems collect and/or disseminate personal identification numbers (e.g., personal identification numbers, tax identification numbers, etc.), such as merchant systems, bank systems, healthcare systems, and the like, that collect, use, or disseminate sensitive information may be scanned to identify sequences of data that are likely to be sensitive, and may take actions to protect such sequences of data. Scanning and protection systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley R. Caldwell, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 11170052
    Abstract: Methods for identifying potentially sensitive information and protecting such potentially sensitive information include scanning systems that collect and/or disseminate such information. Without limitation, systems collect and/or disseminate personal identification numbers (e.g., personal identification numbers, tax identification numbers, etc.), such as merchant systems, bank systems, healthcare systems, and the like, that collect, use, or disseminate sensitive information may be scanned to identify sequences of data that are likely to be sensitive, and may take actions to protect such sequences of data. Scanning and protection systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SecurityMetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Caldwell, Alan B. Butt
  • Publication number: 20200302447
    Abstract: A data string that includes potentially sensitive information, such as an account number for a payment card, may be evaluated to determine whether or not any portion of the data string encodes a known identifier of sensitive information, such as a known bank identification number (BIN). A fixed number of bytes of the data string may be analyzed using a trie algorithm, in which the value of a first byte is compared with the value of a corresponding first character of the known identifier. A second byte is then compared with a set of values of corresponding second characters, which accompany the first character of the known identifier. Then the value of a third byte of the data string is compared with a set of values of corresponding third values, which accompany the first and second characters of the known identifier. The use of a trie algorithm decreases the length of the search process by several orders of magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 10679218
    Abstract: A data string that includes potentially sensitive information, such as an account number for a payment card, may be evaluated to determine whether or not any portion of the data string encodes a known identifier of sensitive information, such as a known bank identification number (BIN). A fixed number of bytes of the data string may be analyzed using a trie algorithm, in which the value of a first byte is compared with the value of a corresponding first character of the known identifier. A second byte is then compared with a set of values of corresponding second characters, which accompany the first character of the known identifier. Then the value of a third byte of the data string is compared with a set of values of corresponding third values, which accompany the first and second characters of the known identifier. The use of a trie algorithm decreases the length of the search process by several orders of magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SecurityMetrics, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan B. Butt
  • Publication number: 20200012689
    Abstract: Methods for identifying potentially sensitive information and protecting such potentially sensitive information include scanning systems that collect and/or disseminate such information. Without limitation, systems collect and/or disseminate personal identification numbers (e.g., personal identification numbers, tax identification numbers, etc.), such as merchant systems, bank systems, healthcare systems, and the like, that collect, use, or disseminate sensitive information may be scanned to identify sequences of data that are likely to be sensitive, and may take actions to protect such sequences of data. Scanning and protection systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Bradley R. Caldwell, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 10417283
    Abstract: Methods for identifying potentially sensitive information and protecting such potentially sensitive information include scanning systems that collect and/or disseminate such information. Without limitation, systems collect and/or disseminate personal identification numbers (e.g., personal identification numbers, tax identification numbers, etc.), such as merchant systems, bank systems, healthcare systems, and the like, that collect, use, or disseminate sensitive information may be scanned to identify sequences of data that are likely to be sensitive, and may take actions to protect such sequences of data. Scanning and protection systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Securitymetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Caldwell, Alan B. Butt
  • Publication number: 20180018404
    Abstract: Methods for identifying potentially sensitive information and protecting such potentially sensitive information include scanning systems that collect and/or disseminate such information. Without limitation, systems collect and/or disseminate personal identification numbers (e.g., personal identification numbers, tax identification numbers, etc.), such as merchant systems, bank systems, healthcare systems, and the like, that collect, use, or disseminate sensitive information may be scanned to identify sequences of data that are likely to be sensitive, and may take actions to protect such sequences of data. Scanning and protection systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Bradley R. Caldwell, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 9137780
    Abstract: A computing device that is configured for synchronizing multicast data distribution is described. The computing device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory. The computing device reads a block of data and sends the block of data via multicast. It is determined whether a packet in the block of data requires a new mapped file view. This determination is based on the capacity of a current mapped file view on a target node. The computing device delays sending more data if the new mapped file view is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Crimson Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory P. Olsen, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 9083541
    Abstract: A computing device configured for retransmitting lost packets for multicast is described. It includes a processor and instructions in memory. It identifies data, which it begins sending via multicast. No data is resent until all the data has been sent. The computing device requests missed packet lists and waits. It adds missed packets to a map if there are replies. It determines whether there are any missed packets and resends any missed packets. Another computing device for retransmitting lost packets for multicast is described. It includes a processor and instructions in memory. It identifies data for distribution, which it begins sending via multicast. It waits to resend any data until all of the data has been sent. A missed packet indication is requested and received. The computing device updates lists of complete and incomplete target nodes. It determines and sends a peer download instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Crimson Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory P. Olsen, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 8706849
    Abstract: A method and system for polling an administrative system for one or more managed nodes is described. The administrative system is connected to a managed node. The administrative system is polled for data to be downloaded. A node list is sent to the administrative system. A connect list is received from the administrative system. The connect list is multicast to the one or more managed nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Crimson Corporation
    Inventors: Peter E. Johnson, Mark E. Howarth, Alan B. Butt, Plinio Pimentel, Anthony N. Sarra
  • Patent number: 8616443
    Abstract: A data string that includes potentially sensitive information, such as an account number for a payment card, may be evaluated using a delimiter search to provide an increased level of confidence that the data string encodes the sensitive information of interest. A delimiter search may include an evaluation of the bytes adjacent to the beginning and end of the data to determine whether or not those bytes have values that correspond to the values of known delimiters. A data string that is not surrounded by known delimiters may be disregarded (i.e., considered not to comprise sensitive information of interest), while a data string that is surrounded by known delimiters may warrant further evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: SecurityMetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan B. Butt, Nathan K. Stocks
  • Patent number: 8608063
    Abstract: Potentially sensitive information (e.g., account numbers for payment cards, etc.) may be identified from data by use of an “interval scanning” technique, in which a string of data is evaluated in intervals. When a system employs an interval scanning technique, data is evaluated by analyzing bytes of data in periodic sequence (e.g., every thirteenth byte, etc.), while the bytes between the analyzed bytes are initially ignored. If the value of an analyzed byte corresponds to a character of interest (e.g., a decimal numeral or numeric digit (i.e., a character having a value that corresponds to a base-ten, or Arabic, number, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9), etc.), that byte is identified as a “base byte,” from which a more focused evaluation (e.g., a byte-by-byte analysis, or sequential analysis, etc.) may then commence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: SecurityMetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan B. Butt, Nathan K. Stocks
  • Patent number: 8341708
    Abstract: A method and system for authenticating credentials for management of a client is disclosed. The credentials are provided to a verification application. The credentials are authenticated to an authentication application. A connection between the authentication application and a security server is established. An authenticator is invoked. Administrative rights associated with the credentials are verified. An authentication certificate indicating the administrative rights is sent to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Crimson Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Eatough, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 8185945
    Abstract: An exemplary method involves an SSL server receiving an SSL session request from an SSL client. It is determined whether the SSL client is going to use certificate-based authentication. This may involve identifying a port at which the SSL session request was received. Alternatively, this may involve identifying an IP address at which the SSL session request was received. Alternatively still, this may involve examining authentication information in the SSL session request. If the SSL client is going to use certificate-based authentication, a certificate is requested from the SSL client. If the SSL client is not going to use certificate-based authentication, the certificate is not requested from the SSL client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Crimson Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Eatough, Alan B. Butt
  • Patent number: 8166177
    Abstract: In an exemplary method, a resident agent receives multiple requests from one or more requesting processes for connections to services. The requested services are hosted by a fast service host. The resident agent establishes multiple connections to the one or more requesting processes for the requested services. The resident agent notifies a single instance of a fast service host of the multiple connections. The resident agent facilitates communication between the requested services on the fast service host and the one or more requesting processes. This may involve establishing one or more routing connections to the fast service host, and routing data between the one or more requesting processes and the requested services on the fast service host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Crimson Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Eatough, Alan B. Butt
  • Publication number: 20120023117
    Abstract: Potentially sensitive information (e.g., account numbers for payment cards, etc.) may be identified from data by use of an “interval scanning” technique, in which a string of data is evaluated in intervals. When a system employs an interval scanning technique, data is evaluated by analyzing bytes of data in periodic sequence (e.g., every thirteenth byte, etc.), while the bytes between the analyzed bytes are initially ignored. If the value of an analyzed byte corresponds to a character of interest (e.g., a decimal numeral or numeric digit (i.e., a character having a value that corresponds to a base-ten, or Arabic, number, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9), etc.), that byte is identified as a “base byte,” from which a more focused evaluation (e.g., a byte-by-byte analysis, or sequential analysis, etc.) may then commence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: SECURITYMETRICS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan B. Butt, Nathan K. Stocks
  • Publication number: 20120016895
    Abstract: A data string that includes potentially sensitive information, such as an account number for a payment card, may be evaluated using a delimiter search to provide an increased level of confidence that the data string encodes the sensitive information of interest. A delimiter search may include an evaluation of the bytes adjacent to the beginning and end of the data to determine whether or not those bytes have values that correspond to the values of known delimiters. A data string that is not surrounded by known delimiters may be disregarded (i.e., considered not to comprise sensitive information of interest), while a data string that is surrounded by known delimiters may warrant further evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SECURITYMETRICS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan B. Butt, Nathan K. Stocks
  • Publication number: 20120016896
    Abstract: A data string that includes potentially sensitive information, such as an account number for a payment card, may be evaluated to determine whether or not any portion of the data string encodes a known identifier of sensitive information, such as a known bank identification number (BIN). A fixed number of bytes of the data string may be analyzed using a trie algorithm, in which the value of a first byte is compared with the value of a corresponding first character of the known identifier. A second byte is then compared with a set of values of corresponding second characters, which accompany the first character of the known identifier. Then the value of a third byte of the data string is compared with a set of values of corresponding third values, which accompany the first and second characters of the known identifier. The use of a trie algorithm decreases the length of the search process by several orders of magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SECURITYMETRICS, INC.
    Inventor: Alan B. Butt