Patents by Inventor William A. Bird

William A. Bird 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).

  • Publication number: 20230110220
    Abstract: A network-accessible service provides an enterprise with a view of identity and data activity in the enterprise's cloud accounts. The service enables distinct cloud provider management models to be normalized with centralized analytics and views across large numbers of cloud accounts. Using a domain-specific query language, the system enables rapid interrogation of a complete and centralized data model of all data and identity relationships. The data model also supports a cloud “least privilege and access” framework. Least privilege is a set of minimum permissions that are associated to a given identity; least access is a minimal set of persons that need to have access to given piece data. The framework maps an identity to one or more actions collected in cloud audit logs, and dynamically-build a compete view of an identity's effective permissions. The resulting least privilege and access policies are then applied natively to a given cloud environment to manage access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: Sonrai Securty Inc.
    Inventors: Ben A. Wuest, William A. Bird, Brad J. Peters, Dasharath P. Chavda, Gregory A. Davis
  • Patent number: 11134085
    Abstract: A network-accessible service provides an enterprise with a view of identity and data activity in the enterprise's cloud accounts. The service enables distinct cloud provider management models to be normalized with centralized analytics and views across large numbers of cloud accounts. Using a domain-specific query language, the system enables rapid interrogation of a complete and centralized data model of all data and identity relationships. The data model also supports a cloud “least privilege and access” framework. Least privilege is a set of minimum permissions that are associated to a given identity; least access is a minimal set of persons that need to have access to given piece data. The framework maps an identity to one or more actions collected in cloud audit logs, and dynamically-build a compete view of an identity's effective permissions. The resulting least privilege and access policies are then applied natively to a given cloud environment to manage access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Sonrai Security Inc.
    Inventors: Ben A. Wuest, William A. Bird, Brad J. Peters, Dasharath P. Chavda, Gregory A. Davis
  • Patent number: 10887251
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a method of implementing a packet capture ring. The packet capture ring includes a plurality of appliances, and the plurality of appliances includes a first appliance and a second appliance. The first appliance and the second appliance are both attached to a network tap, and the first appliance works as a master appliance. The master appliance ingests packets from the network tap, encapsulates the packets and forwards encapsulated packets in the packet capture ring. The method includes: detecting, by the second appliance, a failure of the first appliance; working, by the second appliance, as the master appliance; and removing, by the second appliance, the first appliance from a forwarding designation list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne F. Tackabury, Russell Couturier, William A. Bird, Thomas D. Silliman, Alex Omo Agerholm, Michael Milde Lilja, Peter Dahl Ekner, Philip Due Soeberg
  • Publication number: 20200336489
    Abstract: A network-accessible service provides an enterprise with a view of identity and data activity in the enterprise's cloud accounts. The service enables distinct cloud provider management models to be normalized with centralized analytics and views across large numbers of cloud accounts. Using a domain-specific query language, the system enables rapid interrogation of a complete and centralized data model of all data and identity relationships. The data model also supports a cloud “least privilege and access” framework. Least privilege is a set of minimum permissions that are associated to a given identity; least access is a minimal set of persons that need to have access to given piece data. The framework maps an identity to one or more actions collected in cloud audit logs, and dynamically-build a compete view of an identity's effective permissions. The resulting least privilege and access policies are then applied natively to a given cloud environment to manage access.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Sonrai Security Inc.
    Inventors: Ben A. Wuest, William A. Bird, Brad J. Peters, Dasharath P. Chavda, Gregory A. Davis
  • Patent number: 10693796
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for network tracking. By using packet capture applications having a flow identifier and a time stamper, one or more raw packets from one or more packet flows intercepted from a network can be tagged with a unique identifier and timestamp that can later be used to aggregate packet flows that have been analyzed by one or more capture applications. The unique identifier can relate to the network interface of the particular capture application and can also have an increasing value, where the increase in value can be monotonic. Later capture applications, while capable of generating secondary timestamps, can disregard those secondary timestamps for the primary timestamp of the first capture application in order to remove complications arising from latency issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Napatech A/S
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Russell Couturier, Vijay Dheap, Patrick V. Johnstone, Ben A. Wuest, Alex Omø Agerholm
  • Patent number: 10601729
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a packet capture ring that provides a single network tap for packet capture and a series of processors (or appliances) for handling serialization and search request processing in a confederated and highly scalable manner. One such appliance (a “primary” appliance) maintains a tap port to the network. Each packet capture appliance has a locally attached repository that stores raw packets and a juxtaposed index that allows for retrieval of those packets. The primary appliance sends a single copy of encapsulated packets in opposite directions around the ring to its descendants. A designation is made across the system as to a “currently designated” appliance for servicing requests for indexing and storage of captured packets. This current designation shifts from appliance to appliance in the system, as a “previously designated” appliance has its storage capacity filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Napatech A/S
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Russell Couturier, Thomas D. Silliman, Wayne Tackabury, Alex Omo Agerholm, Michael Milde Lilja, Peter Dahl Ekner, Philip Due Soeberg
  • Publication number: 20200092227
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a method of implementing a packet capture ring. The packet capture ring includes a plurality of appliances, and the plurality of appliances includes a first appliance and a second appliance. The first appliance and the second appliance are both attached to a network tap, and the first appliance works as a master appliance. The master appliance ingests packets from the network tap, encapsulates the packets and forwards encapsulated packets in the packet capture ring. The method includes: detecting, by the second appliance, a failure of the first appliance; working, by the second appliance, as the master appliance; and removing, by the second appliance, the first appliance from a forwarding designation list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Wayne F. Tackabury, Russell Couturier, William A. Bird, Thomas D. Silliman, Alex Omo Agerholm, Michael Milde Lilja, Peter Dahl Ekner, Philip Due Soeberg
  • Publication number: 20190109794
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for network tracking. By using packet capture applications having a flow identifier and a time stamper, one or more raw packets from one or more packet flows intercepted from a network can be tagged with a unique identifier and timestamp that can later be used to aggregate packet flows that have been analyzed by one or more capture applications. The unique identifier can relate to the network interface of the particular capture application and can also have an increasing value, where the increase in value can be monotonic. Later capture applications, while capable of generating secondary timestamps, can disregard those secondary timestamps for the primary timestamp of the first capture application in order to remove complications arising from latency issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Russell Couturier, Vijay Dheap, Patrick V. Johnstone, Ben A. Wuest, Alex Omø Agerholm
  • Patent number: 10250511
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for network tracking. By using packet capture applications having a flow identifier and a time stamper, one or more raw packets from one or more packet flows intercepted from a network can be tagged with a unique identifier and timestamp that can later be used to aggregate packet flows that have been analyzed by one or more capture applications. The unique identifier can relate to the network interface of the particular capture application and can also have an increasing value, where the increase in value can be monotonic. Later capture applications, while capable of generating secondary timestamps, can disregard those secondary timestamps for the primary timestamp of the first capture application in order to remove complications arising from latency issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Russell Couturier, Vijay Dheap, Patrick V. Johnstone, Ben A. Wuest, Alex Omø Agerholm
  • Publication number: 20180324107
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a packet capture ring that provides a single network tap for packet capture and a series of processors (or appliances) for handling serialization and search request processing in a confederated and highly scalable manner. One such appliance (a “primary” appliance) maintains a tap port to the network. Each packet capture appliance has a locally attached repository that stores raw packets and a juxtaposed index that allows for retrieval of those packets. The primary appliance sends a single copy of encapsulated packets in opposite directions around the ring to its descendants. A designation is made across the system as to a “currently designated” appliance for servicing requests for indexing and storage of captured packets. This current designation shifts from appliance to appliance in the system, as a “previously designated” appliance has its storage capacity filled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Russell Couturier, Thomas D. Silliman, Wayne Tackabury, Alex Omo Agerholm, Michael Milde Lilja, Peter Dahl Ekner, Philip Due Soeberg
  • Patent number: 10044634
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a packet capture ring that provides a single network tap for packet capture and a series of processors (or appliances) for handling serialization and search request processing in a confederated and highly scalable manner. One such appliance (a “primary” appliance) maintains a tap port to the network. Each packet capture appliance has a locally attached repository that stores raw packets and a juxtaposed index that allows for retrieval of those packets. The primary appliance sends a single copy of encapsulated packets in opposite directions around the ring to its descendants. A designation is made across the system as to a “currently designated” appliance for servicing requests for indexing and storage of captured packets. This current designation shifts from appliance to appliance in the system, as a “previously designated” appliance has its storage capacity filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Russell Couturier, Thomas D. Silliman, Wayne Tackabury, Alex Omo Agerholm, Michael Milde Lilja, Peter Dahl Ekner, Philip Due Soeberg
  • Publication number: 20180034716
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a packet capture ring that provides a single network tap for packet capture and a series of processors (or appliances) for handling serialization and search request processing in a confederated and highly scalable manner. One such appliance (a “primary” appliance) maintains a tap port to the network. Each packet capture appliance has a locally attached repository that stores raw packets and a juxtaposed index that allows for retrieval of those packets. The primary appliance sends a single copy of encapsulated packets in opposite directions around the ring to its descendants. A designation is made across the system as to a “currently designated” appliance for servicing requests for indexing and storage of captured packets. This current designation shifts from appliance to appliance in the system, as a “previously designated” appliance has its storage capacity filled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Russell Couturier, Thomas D. Silliman, Wayne Tackabury, Alex Omo Agerholm, Michael Milde Lilja, Peter Dahl Ekner, Philip Due Soeberg
  • Publication number: 20170359264
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for network tracking. By using packet capture applications having a flow identifier and a time stamper, one or more raw packets from one or more packet flows intercepted from a network can be tagged with a unique identifier and timestamp that can later be used to aggregate packet flows that have been analyzed by one or more capture applications. The unique identifier can relate to the network interface of the particular capture application and can also have an increasing value, where the increase in value can be monotonic. Later capture applications, while capable of generating secondary timestamps, can disregard those secondary timestamps for the primary timestamp of the first capture application in order to remove complications arising from latency issues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: WILLIAM A. BIRD, Russell Couturier, Vijay Dheap, Patrick V. Johnstone, Ben A. Wuest, Alex Omø Agerholm
  • Patent number: 9607144
    Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for identifying risk within an information technology (IT) environment, comprising: analyzing characteristics of a user accessing a system within an IT environment; associating a risk profile with the user based upon the characteristics of the user; determining when the user accesses a system within the IT environment; maintaining a user risk profile record of all systems within the IT environment accessed by the user, the user risk profile record continuing to be associated with the system after access by the user ceases; and, identifying a risk level for all systems within the IT environment based upon the user risk profile record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Rory F. Bray, Jason D. Keirstead, Dwight E. Spencer, Ben A. Wuest
  • Patent number: 9600659
    Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for identifying risk within an information technology (IT) environment, comprising: analyzing characteristics of a user accessing a system within an IT environment; associating a risk profile with the user based upon the characteristics of the user; determining when the user accesses a system within the IT environment; maintaining a user risk profile record of all systems within the IT environment accessed by the user, the user risk profile record continuing to be associated with the system after access by the user ceases; and, identifying a risk level for all systems within the IT environment based upon the user risk profile record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Rory F. Bray, Jason D. Keirstead, Dwight E. Spencer, Ben A. Wuest
  • Patent number: 9497217
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting malware in a network stream to at least one host computer is provided. The method may include initializing a browser profile corresponding with a first website having a first website source and a first plurality of content features. The method may include recording the first plurality of content features and a trusted source based on the first website source. The method may include scanning the network stream for a second content feature within a second plurality of content features associated with a second website. The method may include determining if the second content feature matches a first content feature. The method may include determining if the second plurality of content features is consistent with the first plurality of content features. The method may include determining if a second website source matches the trusted source. The method may include generating an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Rory F. Bray, Jody D. Brownell, Ben A. Wuest
  • Patent number: 9473531
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting malware in a network stream to at least one host computer is provided. The method may include initializing a browser profile corresponding with a first website having a first website source and a first plurality of content features. The method may include recording the first plurality of content features and a trusted source based on the first website source. The method may include scanning the network stream for a second content feature within a second plurality of content features associated with a second website. The method may include determining if the second content feature matches a first content feature. The method may include determining if the second plurality of content features is consistent with the first plurality of content features. The method may include determining if a second website source matches the trusted source. The method may include generating an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Rory F. Bray, Jody D. Brownell, Ben A. Wuest
  • Publication number: 20160142423
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting malware in a network stream to at least one host computer is provided. The method may include initializing a browser profile corresponding with a first website having a first website source and a first plurality of content features. The method may include recording the first plurality of content features and a trusted source based on the first website source. The method may include scanning the network stream for a second content feature within a second plurality of content features associated with a second website. The method may include determining if the second content feature matches a first content feature. The method may include determining if the second plurality of content features is consistent with the first plurality of content features. The method may include determining if a second website source matches the trusted source. The method may include generating an alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Rory F. Bray, Jody D. Brownell, Ben A. Wuest
  • Publication number: 20160142426
    Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for detecting malware in a network stream to at least one host computer is provided. The method may include initializing a browser profile corresponding with a first website having a first website source and a first plurality of content features. The method may include recording the first plurality of content features and a trusted source based on the first website source. The method may include scanning the network stream for a second content feature within a second plurality of content features associated with a second website. The method may include determining if the second content feature matches a first content feature. The method may include determining if the second plurality of content features is consistent with the first plurality of content features. The method may include determining if a second website source matches the trusted source. The method may include generating an alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: William A. Bird, Rory F. Bray, Jody D. Brownell, Ben A. Wuest