Client VPN Filtering via a Network-Access Proxy Endpoint

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computing devices lack effective mechanisms to manage and filter network communications at the application level, particularly for user applications, without creating an infinite loop of VPN connections.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a network-access application as a remote endpoint of a VPN connection, which allows selective communication management, monitoring, and modification of data packets, using a proxy and filter to enforce VPN usage by all applications except the network-access application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a VPN connection is enforced by the operating system for all applications, then network security and filtering capability are improved, but device complexity and potential infinite loop issues worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments network traffic management by creating a dedicated network-access application that handles VPN traffic separately from other applications. This segmentation allows the OS to enforce VPN connections for user applications while the network-access application manages the connection to remote network resources, avoiding infinite loops and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The network-access application acts as an intermediary between user applications and remote network resources. It receives network traffic from user applications, processes it through the VPN connection, and forwards it to the appropriate remote network resources. This intermediary role enables centralized security enforcement without requiring complex modifications to each application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a network-access application is introduced to manage VPN traffic, then granular control over network communications is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication control capabilityVSAvoidapplication structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network-access application is designed as a multi-functional component that handles multiple tasks: establishing VPN connections, filtering network traffic, routing packets to remote network resources, and managing communication protocols. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into a single application, improving control capability while actually reducing overall system complexity compared to implementing separate solutions for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12574354B2Client filter VPN

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 NETSWEEPER BARBADOS

AI summary

A user application is executed with an operating system. The operating system enables access to a remote network resource via a network interface and enables a virtual private network (VPN) connection. The operating system enforces use of the VPN connection by the user application. A network-access application is set as a remote endpoint of the VPN connection. The network-access application communicates with the remote network resource on behalf of the user application.