Abstract: A system for controlling network access to products. The system includes a security appliance connected to a product under operational control of a first entity, a product connection platform and a user terminal under operational control of a second entity, the product connection platform being accessed by the user terminal, and a trust relationship established between the first entity and the second entity based on predetermined criteria between the first entity and the second entity, the trust relationship being represented by a certificate or public/private key exchange. Authentication of access by a user of the user terminal of the second entity to the product of the first entity is deferred to the product connection platform of the second entity based on the predetermined criteria of the trust relationship, whereupon if authentication is granted, the user is provided access to the product.

Abstract: A system for controlling network access to products. The system includes a security appliance connected to a product under operational control of a first entity, a product connection platform and a user terminal under operational control of a second entity, the product connection platform being accessed by the user terminal, and a trust relationship established between the first entity and the second entity based on predetermined criteria between the first entity and the second entity, the trust relationship being represented by a certificate or public/private key exchange. Authentication of access by a user of the user terminal of the second entity to the product of the first entity is deferred to the product connection platform of the second entity based on the predetermined criteria of the trust relationship, whereupon if authentication is granted, the user is provided access to the product.

Abstract: Updating of routers is achieved by insuring that the scheduling of router updates is such that a zone of turbulence that occurs where the updating takes place does not prevent reaching any router that may be in need of updating. For IP routers that have a task scheduling capability, this is achieved by estimating the time for communicating update information to all routers that need to be updated, adding that estimate to time of day, and transmitting the update specifications. In arrangements where routers do not have a task scheduling capability, updating is sequenced. One embodiment creates a set of traceroute trees that cover the nodes to be updated, and leaf nodes of the trees are taken up at random, placed in an ordered list and deleted from the trees. Another embodiment is more tree centric, in that once a starting node is identified (and its associated tree), all of its nodes are considered before progressing to another tree.